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.
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
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 64.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 72.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 78.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 56.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 71.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 77.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 64.4% (2025)
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).