Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates ilo wdi in South Korea
South Korea: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates ilo wdi was 78.86 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates ilo wdi in South Korea, 1990–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates ilo wdi in South Korea is 78.86, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 9.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rates ilo wdi in South Korea peaked at 78.86 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 64.19, in 1993.
South Korea ranks 97th 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.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates ilo wdi in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 66.11 | — |
| 1991 | 64.84 | -1.9% |
| 1992 | 64.3 | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 64.19 | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 64.61 | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 65.25 | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 65.99 | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 67.33 | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 64.49 | -4.2% |
| 1999 | 65.79 | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 68.59 | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 69.43 | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 69.31 | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 68.18 | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 69.53 | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 70.08 | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 70.66 | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 70.51 | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 70.8 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 70.11 | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 70.35 | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 70.28 | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 70.37 | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 70.62 | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 71.3 | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 71.96 | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 72.27 | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 72.89 | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 73.56 | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 74.38 | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 74.31 | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 74.98 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 75.74 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 77.21 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 78.73 | +2.0% |
| 2025 | 78.86 | +0.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 78.86 is below the median for high income countries, which is 83.35, 95% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 78.86 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 83.18, 95% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 65.29 | 64.19 | 67.33 | 10 |
| 2000s | 69.72 | 68.18 | 70.8 | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.8 | 70.28 | 74.38 | 10 |
| 2020s | 76.64 | 74.31 | 78.86 | 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 ratio of female to male labor force participation rates ilo wdi in South Korea?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates ilo wdi in South Korea was 78.86 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates ilo wdi recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 78.86 in 2025.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates ilo wdi recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.19 in 1993.
- How does South Korea rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates ilo wdi?
- South Korea ranks 97th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates ilo wdi rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates ilo wdi. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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