Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) (national estimate) in South Korea
South Korea: Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) (national estimate) was 70.7% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
70.7%
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
62nd
of 174 countries
All-time high
74.6%
in 1995
All-time low
68.6%
in 1986
Years of data
46
1980–2025
Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in South Korea, 1980–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in South Korea is 70.7%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in South Korea peaked at 74.6% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 68.6%, in 1986.
That places South Korea 62nd out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) (national estimate) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 71.7% | — |
| 1981 | 71.5% | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 70.9% | -0.8% |
| 1983 | 69.8% | -1.5% |
| 1984 | 68.7% | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 68.7% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 68.6% | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 69.7% | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 70.7% | +1.4% |
| 1989 | 71.2% | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 71.9% | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 73.0% | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 73.6% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 73.2% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 74.2% | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 74.6% | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 74.4% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 73.9% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 69.2% | -6.4% |
| 1999 | 69.1% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 71.1% | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 71.4% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 72.6% | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 72.3% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 72.6% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 72.1% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 71.9% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 71.9% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 71.3% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 70.4% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 70.5% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 70.9% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 71.2% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 71.3% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 71.9% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 71.6% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 71.4% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 71.4% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 70.9% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 70.8% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 69.9% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 70.2% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 71.7% | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 71.5% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 71.0% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 70.7% | -0.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 70.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 65.0%, 1.1× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 70.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 68.9%, 1.0× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 70.1% | 68.6% | 71.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 72.7% | 69.1% | 74.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 71.8% | 70.4% | 72.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.2% | 70.5% | 71.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 70.8% | 69.9% | 71.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 59 Palau 70.8% compare
- 60 New Zealand 70.8% compare
- 61 Jamaica 70.8% compare
- 63 Armenia 70.5% compare
- 64 Netherlands 70.3% compare
- 65 Uzbekistan 70.3% compare
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 70.7% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 74.6% in 1995.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 68.6% in 1986.
- How does South Korea rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%)?
- South Korea ranks 62nd out of 174 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 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) (national 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.