Low pay rate in South Korea
South Korea: Low pay rate was 15.83 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Low pay rate in South Korea, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for low pay rate in South Korea is 15.83, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.6% on the previous year and down 32.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, low pay rate in South Korea peaked at 26.04 in 2007 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1990.
That places South Korea 54th out of 84 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Low pay rate in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 22.35 | — |
| 1993 | 23.13 | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 22.55 | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 22.25 | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 22.64 | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 22.88 | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 23.14 | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 23.41 | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 24.58 | +5.0% |
| 2001 | 24.24 | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 24.48 | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 24.27 | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 24.2 | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 25.37 | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 24.94 | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 26.04 | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 25.47 | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 24.99 | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 24.71 | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 23.8 | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 23.91 | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 24.66 | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 23.7 | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 23.5 | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 23.5 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 22.3 | -5.1% |
| 2018 | 19.04 | -14.6% |
| 2019 | 16.96 | -10.9% |
| 2020 | 15.96 | -5.9% |
| 2021 | 15.63 | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 16.94 | +8.4% |
| 2023 | 16.24 | -4.1% |
| 2024 | 16.08 | -1.0% |
| 2025 | 15.83 | -1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.23 | 0 | 23.41 | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.86 | 24.2 | 26.04 | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.61 | 16.96 | 24.71 | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.11 | 15.63 | 16.94 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More gender data for South Korea
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 4,318 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -3.79 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 119,025 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 125,732 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 116,471 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 122,813 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 119,098 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 125,514 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 124,678 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 131,322 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is low pay rate in South Korea?
- Low pay rate in South Korea was 15.83 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest low pay rate recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 26.04 in 2007.
- What is the lowest low pay rate recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1990.
- How does South Korea rank for low pay rate?
- South Korea ranks 54th out of 84 countries with data for 2025.
- Is low pay rate rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Low pay rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This measure of earnings dispersion refers to the proportion of employees whose hourly earnings at all jobs were less than two-thirds of median hourly earnings. For more information, refer to the Wages and Working Time Statistics (COND) database description.