Proportion of labor force who are women in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Proportion of labor force who are women was 44.36 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Proportion of labor force who are women in Republic of Korea, 1990–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of labor force who are women in Republic of Korea is 44.36, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of labor force who are women in Republic of Korea peaked at 44.36 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 38.74, in 1993.
Republic of Korea ranks 104th 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.
Proportion of labor force who are women in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 39.52 | — |
| 1991 | 39.02 | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 38.8 | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 38.74 | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 38.87 | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 39.08 | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 39.34 | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 39.82 | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 38.79 | -2.6% |
| 1999 | 39.25 | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 40.24 | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 40.54 | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 40.53 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 40.16 | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 40.64 | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 40.85 | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 41.06 | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 41 | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 41.09 | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 40.85 | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 40.93 | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 40.95 | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 41.08 | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 41.27 | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 41.61 | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 41.93 | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 42.08 | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 42.31 | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 42.56 | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 42.86 | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 42.88 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 43.13 | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 43.38 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 43.82 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 44.3 | +1.1% |
| 2025 | 44.36 | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 39.12 | 38.74 | 39.82 | 10 |
| 2000s | 40.7 | 40.16 | 41.09 | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.76 | 40.93 | 42.86 | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.64 | 42.88 | 44.36 | 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)
- 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 (2023)
- Criminal penalties or civil remedies sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 64.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of labor force who are women in Republic of Korea?
- Proportion of labor force who are women in Republic of Korea was 44.36 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest proportion of labor force who are women recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 44.36 in 2025.
- What is the lowest proportion of labor force who are women recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.74 in 1993.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for proportion of labor force who are women?
- Republic of Korea ranks 104th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of labor force who are women rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Proportion of labor force who are women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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