Unemployment rate in South Korea
South Korea: Unemployment rate was 2.7% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
2.7%
Change on year
down 3.6%
World rank
158th
of 186 countries
All-time high
7.0%
in 1998
All-time low
2.0%
in 1996
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment rate in South Korea, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate in South Korea stood at 2.7%.
The figure is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 24.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in South Korea peaked at 7.0% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 1996.
South Korea ranks 158th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.4% | 2.0% | 7.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.4% | 3.0% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.4% | 2.8% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.1% | 2.7% | 3.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More work & labour data for South Korea
- 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)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 64.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 72.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 78.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 56.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 71.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 77.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 64.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in South Korea?
- Unemployment rate in South Korea was 2.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 7.0% in 1998.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 1996.
- How does South Korea rank for unemployment rate?
- South Korea ranks 158th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South 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 Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.