South Korea’s Population Rebounds in 2023 Census

South Korea’s Population Rebounds in 2023 Census

South Korea’s total population rebounded in 2023, driven by significant growth in foreign residents, according to data released Monday by the statistical office.

The total population increased by 0.2 percent, or 82,000 people, from the previous year, reaching 51,775,000 as of November 2023, per the Statistics Korea census.

Foreign residents, defined as those staying for at least three months, rose by 10.4 percent to 1,935,000 during this period. The increase follows the government’s expansion of working visa programs post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Conversely, the number of local residents declined by 0.2 percent to 49,839,000 due to a persistently low birth rate and an aging population, continuing a three-year downward trend. South Korea has faced a chronically low birth rate as young couples delay having children due to economic challenges like high housing costs and unemployment.

The working-age population (15-64) decreased by 0.4 percent to 36,546,000, accounting for 70.6 percent of the total population, a decline that has persisted since 2018. Meanwhile, the elderly population (65 and above) increased by 5.1 percent to 9,609,000, while the population aged 14 and younger dropped by 4.1 percent to 5,619,000.

The aging index, which measures the number of people aged 65 and older per 100 people aged 14 and younger, jumped to 171.0 in 2023 from 113.9 in 2018.

The total number of households grew by 1.5 percent to 22,728,000 in 2023. Households in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area accounted for 49.7 percent of the total. The average household size decreased to 2.21 members, with single-person households rising by 4.4 percent to 7,829,000, making up 35.5 percent of all households.

The increase in single-person households is attributed to the aging population and a growing reluctance among younger generations to marry. Single-person households are most common among those in their 20s and younger (18.6 percent), followed by those in their 30s and 60s (both 17.3 percent). Those in their 80s and older made up 8.1 percent, and those in their 70s accounted for 11.0 percent.