Labor force participation rate in South Korea
South Korea: Labor force participation rate was 64.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate in South Korea, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in South Korea is 64.4%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in South Korea peaked at 64.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 59.4%, in 1990.
South Korea ranks 71st of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 60.7% | 59.4% | 62.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 61.2% | 60.2% | 61.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.9% | 60.3% | 63.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.6% | 62.3% | 64.5% | 6 |
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 in South Korea?
- Labor force participation rate in South Korea was 64.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 64.5% in 2024.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.4% in 1990.
- How does South Korea rank for labor force participation rate?
- South Korea ranks 71st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).