Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in South Korea
South Korea: Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate was 81.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
81.2%
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
65th
of 236 countries
All-time high
82.0%
in 2010
All-time low
20.5%
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in South Korea, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in South Korea is 81.2%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in South Korea peaked at 82.0% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 20.5%, in 1950.
South Korea ranks 65th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 20.5% | — |
| 1951 | 21.3% | +3.9% |
| 1952 | 22.1% | +3.6% |
| 1953 | 22.9% | +3.4% |
| 1954 | 23.6% | +3.3% |
| 1955 | 24.4% | +3.1% |
| 1956 | 25.0% | +2.8% |
| 1957 | 25.7% | +2.6% |
| 1958 | 26.3% | +2.5% |
| 1959 | 27.0% | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 27.7% | +2.6% |
| 1961 | 28.4% | +2.8% |
| 1962 | 29.2% | +2.8% |
| 1963 | 30.1% | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 31.0% | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 32.0% | +3.3% |
| 1966 | 33.1% | +3.6% |
| 1967 | 34.6% | +4.4% |
| 1968 | 36.5% | +5.7% |
| 1969 | 38.7% | +6.0% |
| 1970 | 40.7% | +5.2% |
| 1971 | 42.3% | +4.0% |
| 1972 | 43.8% | +3.4% |
| 1973 | 45.1% | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 46.5% | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 48.0% | +3.1% |
| 1976 | 49.6% | +3.3% |
| 1977 | 51.3% | +3.5% |
| 1978 | 53.1% | +3.5% |
| 1979 | 54.9% | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 56.7% | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 58.3% | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 60.0% | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 61.5% | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 63.1% | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 64.8% | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 66.6% | +2.7% |
| 1987 | 68.6% | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 70.6% | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 72.5% | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 74.0% | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 75.2% | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 76.2% | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 77.1% | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 77.9% | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 78.4% | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 78.8% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 79.0% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 79.2% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 79.4% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 79.6% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 79.9% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 80.3% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 80.7% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 81.1% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 81.4% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 81.6% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 81.7% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 81.8% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 81.9% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 82.0% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 82.0% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 81.9% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 81.8% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 81.7% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 81.6% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 81.6% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 81.5% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 81.4% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 81.3% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 81.2% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 81.2% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 81.2% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 81.2% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 81.2% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 81.2% | +0.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 81.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 81.3%, 100% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 81.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 65.4%, 1.2× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 23.9% | 20.5% | 27.0% | 10 |
| 1960s | 32.1% | 27.7% | 38.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 47.5% | 40.7% | 54.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 64.3% | 56.7% | 72.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 77.5% | 74.0% | 79.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 81.0% | 79.6% | 81.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.7% | 81.3% | 82.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 81.2% | 81.2% | 81.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 62 Germany 82.1% compare
- 63 Falkland Islands 81.5% compare
- 64 Bahamas 81.3% compare
- 66 Bonaire Sint Eustatius and Saba 81.1% compare
- 67 Spain 80.5% compare
- 68 American Samoa 80.5% compare
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 urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in South Korea?
- Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in South Korea was 81.2% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban population vs. female labor force participation rate recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 82.0% in 2010.
- What is the lowest urban population vs. female labor force participation rate recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.5% in 1950.
- How does South Korea rank for urban population vs. female labor force participation rate?
- South Korea ranks 65th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population vs. female labor force participation rate rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.