South Korea has officially entered the ranks of “super-aged” societies, with one in five of its citizens now aged 65 or older, according to new data released on Tuesday. This marks a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing demographic challenges.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety reported that the number of people aged 65 and above has reached 10.24 million, making up 20% of South Korea’s population of 51 million. The United Nations defines a “super-aged” society as one where over 20% of the population is 65 or older, a category South Korea now belongs to.
This demographic shift is compounded by South Korea’s historically low birth rates, which dropped to just 0.72 children per woman in 2023, the lowest rate in the world. To maintain a stable population without immigration, a fertility rate of 2.1 is needed, but South Korea’s birth rate has long fallen short of that mark.
The data also highlights gender disparities within the elderly population: 22% of women are aged 65 or older, compared to nearly 18% of men.
South Korea is facing a looming demographic crisis, similar to other East Asian nations like Japan and China, where rapid industrialization has given way to aging populations. While many European countries are addressing this issue through immigration, South Korea has largely avoided large-scale immigration policies.
In response to the crisis, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol recently called for the establishment of a new government ministry to address what he described as a “national emergency.”
Experts point to several contributing factors to the country’s demographic shift, including demanding work cultures, stagnating wages, the rising cost of living, changing views on marriage and gender roles, and a general sense of disillusionment among younger generations.
Despite significant government investment—over $200 billion spent over the last 16 years—efforts to boost the birth rate, such as extended paid paternity leave, monetary incentives for new parents, and campaigns promoting gender equality in childcare and housework, have failed to reverse the trend.
