Male labor participation rate in South Korea
South Korea: Male labor participation rate was 72 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
72
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
71st
of 186 countries
All-time high
74.25
in 1995
All-time low
70.71
in 2009
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Male labor participation rate in South Korea, 1990–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, male labor participation rate in South Korea stood at 72.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, male labor participation rate in South Korea peaked at 74.25 in 1995 and was at its lowest, 70.71, in 2009.
That places South Korea 71st out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Male labor participation rate in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 71.41 | — |
| 1991 | 72.83 | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 73.4 | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 73.47 | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 74.15 | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 74.25 | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 74.17 | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 74.01 | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 73.07 | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 72.46 | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 71.95 | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 72.02 | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 72.68 | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 72.57 | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 72.82 | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 72.29 | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 71.94 | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 71.83 | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 71.12 | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 70.71 | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 70.74 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 71.14 | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 71.47 | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 71.94 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 72.71 | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 72.8 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 72.74 | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 72.81 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 72.36 | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 72.29 | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 71.5 | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 71.55 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 72.66 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 72.58 | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 72.18 | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 72 | -0.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 72 is above the median for high income countries, which is 68.77, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 72 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 72, 1.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 73.32 | 71.41 | 74.25 | 10 |
| 2000s | 71.99 | 70.71 | 72.82 | 10 |
| 2010s | 72.1 | 70.74 | 72.81 | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.08 | 71.5 | 72.66 | 6 |
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 male labor participation rate in South Korea?
- Male labor participation rate in South Korea was 72 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest male labor participation rate recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 74.25 in 1995.
- What is the lowest male labor participation rate recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 70.71 in 2009.
- How does South Korea rank for male labor participation rate?
- South Korea ranks 71st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is male labor participation rate rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Male labor participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).