Unemployment rate (9/26/2025) in South Korea
South Korea: Unemployment rate (9/26/2025) was 2.8 in 2031. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in South Korea, 1980–2031
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in South Korea is 2.8, measured in 2031.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 23.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in South Korea peaked at 6.95 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 2.06, in 1996.
South Korea ranks 18th of 22 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 52 years of available data.
Unemployment rate (9/26/2025) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 5.2 | — |
| 1981 | 4.5 | -13.5% |
| 1982 | 4.13 | -8.2% |
| 1983 | 4.12 | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 3.85 | -6.5% |
| 1985 | 4.03 | +4.5% |
| 1986 | 3.84 | -4.6% |
| 1987 | 3.11 | -19.1% |
| 1988 | 2.52 | -18.8% |
| 1989 | 2.58 | +2.3% |
| 1990 | 2.46 | -4.8% |
| 1991 | 2.45 | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 2.52 | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 2.9 | +14.9% |
| 1994 | 2.48 | -14.7% |
| 1995 | 2.07 | -16.5% |
| 1996 | 2.06 | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 2.62 | +27.1% |
| 1998 | 6.95 | +165.6% |
| 1999 | 6.58 | -5.3% |
| 2000 | 4.42 | -32.8% |
| 2001 | 4 | -9.6% |
| 2002 | 3.26 | -18.5% |
| 2003 | 3.55 | +9.0% |
| 2004 | 3.66 | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 3.75 | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 3.48 | -7.3% |
| 2007 | 3.26 | -6.2% |
| 2008 | 3.17 | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 3.63 | +14.4% |
| 2010 | 3.71 | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 3.41 | -8.1% |
| 2012 | 3.23 | -5.4% |
| 2013 | 3.1 | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 3.49 | +12.6% |
| 2015 | 3.59 | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 3.67 | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 3.68 | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 3.83 | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 3.78 | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 3.96 | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 3.67 | -7.1% |
| 2022 | 2.88 | -21.5% |
| 2023 | 2.71 | -6.1% |
| 2024 | 2.8 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | 2.79 | -0.3% |
| 2026 | 2.8 | +0.3% |
| 2027 | 2.9 | +3.6% |
| 2028 | 2.8 | -3.4% |
| 2029 | 2.8 | +0.0% |
| 2030 | 2.8 | +0.0% |
| 2031 | 2.8 | +0.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 2.8 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.67, 1.0× the median. (7 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 2.8 is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.98, 70% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment rate (9/26/2025) in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +165.6% | 2.62 | 6.95 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.79 | 2.52 | 5.2 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.31 | 2.06 | 6.95 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.62 | 3.17 | 4.42 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.55 | 3.1 | 3.83 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.01 | 2.71 | 3.96 | 10 |
| 2030s | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2 |
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 unemployment rate in South Korea?
- Unemployment rate in South Korea was 2.8 in 2031, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 6.95 in 1998.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.06 in 1996.
- How does South Korea rank for unemployment rate?
- South Korea ranks 18th out of 22 countries with data for 2031.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Unemployment rate (9/26/2025). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The World Economic Outlook (WEO) database is created during the biannual WEO exercise, which begins in January and June of each year and results in the April and September/October WEO publication. Selected series from the publication are available in a database format.