Youth working-age population in South Korea
South Korea: Youth working-age population was 7,614 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Youth working-age population in South Korea, 2015–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 7,614 for youth working-age population in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 15.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth working-age population in South Korea peaked at 9,038 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 7,614, in 2025.
That places South Korea 12th out of 58 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Youth working-age population in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 9,038 | — |
| 2016 | 9,032 | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 8,961 | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 8,829 | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 8,748 | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 8,551 | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 8,418 | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 8,215 | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 7,997 | -2.6% |
| 2024 | 7,788 | -2.6% |
| 2025 | 7,614 | -2.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 7,614 is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,472, 5.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 8,922 | 8,748 | 9,038 | 5 |
| 2020s | 8,097 | 7,614 | 8,551 | 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)
- Population 46,871 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 46,871 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.0957 % 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth working-age population in South Korea?
- Youth working-age population in South Korea was 7,614 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest youth working-age population recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 9,038 in 2015.
- What is the lowest youth working-age population recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,614 in 2025.
- How does South Korea rank for youth working-age population?
- South Korea ranks 12th out of 58 countries with data for 2025.
- Is youth working-age population rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Youth working-age population. 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 series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. The youth working-age population is defined as persons aged between 15 and 29 years old. Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Youth Labour Market Indicators (YouthSTATS) database description.