SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in South Korea
South Korea: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) was 2.79 in 2025. ▼ Falling
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in South Korea, 2014–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in South Korea is 2.79, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in South Korea peaked at 3.93 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.67, in 2023.
South Korea ranks 66th of 74 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 3.08 | — |
| 2015 | 3.55 | +15.1% |
| 2016 | 3.65 | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 3.65 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 3.82 | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 3.75 | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 3.93 | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 3.64 | -7.4% |
| 2022 | 2.86 | -21.5% |
| 2023 | 2.67 | -6.4% |
| 2024 | 2.78 | +4.1% |
| 2025 | 2.79 | +0.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 2.79 is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.87, 57% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 2.79 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.63, 77% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 3.58 | 3.08 | 3.82 | 6 |
| 2020s | 3.11 | 2.67 | 3.93 | 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 sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in South Korea?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in South Korea was 2.79 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 3.93 in 2020.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.67 in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition)?
- South Korea ranks 66th out of 74 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.