Labor force participation rate by age in South Korea
South Korea: Labor force participation rate by age was 25.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in South Korea, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, labor force participation rate by age in South Korea stood at 25.8%.
The figure is down 4.2% on the previous year and down 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in South Korea peaked at 36.8% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 22.6%, in 2009.
That places South Korea 164th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 35.0% | 31.7% | 36.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.9% | 22.6% | 32.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.9% | 22.7% | 28.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.9% | 25.8% | 28.6% | 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 labor force participation rate by age in South Korea?
- Labor force participation rate by age in South Korea was 25.8% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 36.8% in 1992.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.6% in 2009.
- How does South Korea rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- South Korea ranks 164th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).