Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 was 28.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Republic of Korea, 1960–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Republic of Korea stood at 28.6%.
That represents a change of down 6.0% on the previous year and down 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Republic of Korea peaked at 51.2% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 27.3%, in 2009.
That places Republic of Korea 116th out of 171 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 32 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 27.9% | — |
| 1966 | 33.3% | +19.3% |
| 1970 | 41.9% | +25.8% |
| 1975 | 51.2% | +22.2% |
| 1980 | 43.3% | -15.5% |
| 1990 | 33.7% | -22.2% |
| 2000 | 35.3% | +4.7% |
| 2001 | 37.0% | +4.9% |
| 2002 | 37.6% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 37.6% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 38.1% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 36.8% | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 33.8% | -8.1% |
| 2007 | 30.5% | -9.7% |
| 2008 | 28.8% | -5.6% |
| 2009 | 27.3% | -5.3% |
| 2010 | 27.9% | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 27.8% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 28.7% | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 28.9% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 30.1% | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 31.9% | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 32.0% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 31.6% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 31.6% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 30.7% | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 29.3% | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 31.4% | +7.1% |
| 2022 | 32.7% | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 31.4% | -3.9% |
| 2024 | 30.5% | -3.2% |
| 2025 | 28.6% | -6.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 30.6% | 27.9% | 33.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 46.6% | 41.9% | 51.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 43.3% | 43.3% | 43.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 33.7% | 33.7% | 33.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 34.3% | 27.3% | 38.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.1% | 27.8% | 32.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.7% | 28.6% | 32.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
More work & labour data for Republic of 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)
- 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)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Republic of Korea?
- Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Republic of Korea was 28.6% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 51.2% in 1975.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.3% in 2009.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023?
- Republic of Korea ranks 116th out of 171 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.