Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) (modeled ILO estimate) in South Korea
South Korea: Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) (modeled ILO estimate) was 70.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
70.1%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
58th
of 187 countries
All-time high
72.5%
in 1995
All-time low
67.3%
in 1999
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in South Korea, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
South Korea recorded 70.1% for employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in 2025.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in South Korea peaked at 72.5% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 67.3%, in 1999.
South Korea ranks 58th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) (modeled ILO estimate) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 70.9% | — |
| 1992 | 71.4% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 71.1% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 72.0% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 72.5% | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 72.4% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 71.9% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 67.4% | -6.3% |
| 1999 | 67.3% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 68.6% | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 69.0% | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 70.2% | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 70.0% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 70.2% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 69.6% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 69.3% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 69.4% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 68.7% | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 68.0% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 68.2% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 68.8% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 69.3% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 69.6% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 70.4% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 70.2% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 70.0% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 70.1% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 69.5% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 69.5% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 68.7% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 69.0% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 70.7% | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 70.7% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 70.2% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 70.1% | -0.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 70.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 64.5%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 70.1% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 69.6%, 1.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 70.8% | 67.3% | 72.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 69.3% | 68.0% | 70.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.6% | 68.2% | 70.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.9% | 68.7% | 70.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More work & labour data for South Korea
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 16,840 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 63.91 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 29,824 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 2.96 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 0.78 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 97,052 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 65,686 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 62.02 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 0.9719 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate -0.1065 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in South Korea?
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in South Korea was 70.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 72.5% in 1995.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 67.3% in 1999.
- How does South Korea rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%)?
- South Korea ranks 58th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed.