Female labor force by age in South Korea
South Korea: Female labor force by age was 1.90 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.90 million
Change on year
up 10.7%
World rank
7th
of 188 countries
All-time high
1.90 million
in 2024
All-time low
244,902
in 1990
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Female labor force by age in South Korea, 1990–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, female labor force by age in South Korea stood at 1.90 million. 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 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 244,902, 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 | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 244,902 | — |
| 1991 | 255,603 | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 277,301 | +8.5% |
| 1993 | 272,653 | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 299,985 | +10.0% |
| 1995 | 328,317 | +9.4% |
| 1996 | 358,083 | +9.1% |
| 1997 | 394,190 | +10.1% |
| 1998 | 366,162 | -7.1% |
| 1999 | 415,189 | +13.4% |
| 2000 | 503,620 | +21.3% |
| 2001 | 525,175 | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 553,215 | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 537,029 | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 589,497 | +9.8% |
| 2005 | 622,304 | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 661,025 | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 705,073 | +6.7% |
| 2008 | 712,592 | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 729,655 | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 744,233 | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 765,856 | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 823,625 | +7.5% |
| 2013 | 878,060 | +6.6% |
| 2014 | 935,336 | +6.5% |
| 2015 | 949,930 | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 984,998 | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 1.06 million | +7.5% |
| 2018 | 1.12 million | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 1.24 million | +10.9% |
| 2020 | 1.38 million | +10.7% |
| 2021 | 1.47 million | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 1.56 million | +6.0% |
| 2023 | 1.72 million | +10.2% |
| 2024 | 1.90 million | +10.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1.90 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 39,049, 48.7× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 1.90 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 79,298, 24.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 321,238 | 244,902 | 415,189 | 10 |
| 2000s | 613,918 | 503,620 | 729,655 | 10 |
| 2010s | 950,514 | 744,233 | 1.24 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.61 million | 1.38 million | 1.90 million | 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 in 2024, according to 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 in 2024.
- What is the lowest female labor force by age recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 244,902 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 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).