Share of male vs. female employment in industry in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Share of male vs. female employment in industry was 32.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of male vs. female employment in industry in Republic of Korea, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Republic of Korea recorded 32.5% for share of male vs. female employment in industry in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of male vs. female employment in industry in Republic of Korea peaked at 42.0% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 32.5%, in 2025.
That places Republic of Korea 37th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of male vs. female employment in industry in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 41.3% | — |
| 1992 | 42.0% | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 40.7% | -2.9% |
| 1994 | 40.8% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 41.0% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 40.3% | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 39.6% | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 35.3% | -10.7% |
| 1999 | 34.4% | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 35.4% | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 34.7% | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 34.7% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 35.2% | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 34.9% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 34.9% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 34.5% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 34.1% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 33.6% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 33.0% | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 33.4% | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 33.1% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 33.0% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 33.6% | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 34.0% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 33.8% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 33.8% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 33.8% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 33.9% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 33.4% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 33.5% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 33.4% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 33.3% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 32.8% | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 32.7% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 32.5% | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 39.5% | 34.4% | 42.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 34.5% | 33.0% | 35.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.6% | 33.0% | 34.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.0% | 32.5% | 33.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
- 34 Palestine, State of 33.8% compare
- 35 Portugal 33.7% compare
- 36 Algeria 33.6% compare
- 38 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 32.5% compare
- 39 Cape Verde 32.3% compare
- 40 Türkiye 32.2% compare
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)
- 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)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of male vs. female employment in industry in Republic of Korea?
- Share of male vs. female employment in industry in Republic of Korea was 32.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of male vs. female employment in industry recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 42.0% in 1992.
- What is the lowest share of male vs. female employment in industry recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.5% in 2025.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for share of male vs. female employment in industry?
- Republic of Korea ranks 37th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of male vs. female employment in industry rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Republic of 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 Share of male vs. female employment in industry. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of total employment working in the industry sector.