Female labor force by age in South Korea
South Korea: Female labor force by age was 1.90 million people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Female labor force by age in South Korea, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, female labor force by age in South Korea stood at 1.90 million people. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.7% on the previous year and up 103.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force by age in South Korea peaked at 1.90 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 244,902 people, in 1990.
That places South Korea 7th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Female labor force by age in South Korea, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 244,902 people | — |
| 1991 | 255,603 people | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 277,301 people | +8.5% |
| 1993 | 272,653 people | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 299,985 people | +10.0% |
| 1995 | 328,317 people | +9.4% |
| 1996 | 358,083 people | +9.1% |
| 1997 | 394,190 people | +10.1% |
| 1998 | 366,162 people | -7.1% |
| 1999 | 415,189 people | +13.4% |
| 2000 | 503,620 people | +21.3% |
| 2001 | 525,175 people | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 553,215 people | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 537,029 people | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 589,497 people | +9.8% |
| 2005 | 622,304 people | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 661,025 people | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 705,073 people | +6.7% |
| 2008 | 712,592 people | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 729,655 people | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 744,233 people | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 765,856 people | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 823,625 people | +7.5% |
| 2013 | 878,060 people | +6.6% |
| 2014 | 935,336 people | +6.5% |
| 2015 | 949,930 people | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 984,998 people | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 1.06 million people | +7.5% |
| 2018 | 1.12 million people | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 1.24 million people | +10.9% |
| 2020 | 1.38 million people | +10.7% |
| 2021 | 1.47 million people | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 1.56 million people | +6.0% |
| 2023 | 1.72 million people | +10.2% |
| 2024 | 1.90 million people | +10.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1.90 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 39,049 people, 48.7× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 1.90 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 79,298 people, 24.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 321,238 people | 244,902 people | 415,189 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 613,918 people | 503,620 people | 729,655 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 950,514 people | 744,233 people | 1.24 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.61 million people | 1.38 million people | 1.90 million people | 5 |
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 female labor force by age in South Korea?
- Female labor force by age in South Korea was 1.90 million people in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force by age recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.90 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest female labor force by age recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 244,902 people in 1990.
- How does South Korea rank for female labor force by age?
- South Korea ranks 7th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female labor force by age rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 103.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed).