As South Korea officially entered a super-aged society with the proportion of residents aged 65 and older surpassing 20%, elderly individuals crowded in front of Wongaksa’s free meal center at Tapgol Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on December 24, waiting for their meals. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea entered 2025 as a “super-aged society,” with over 20% of its population aged 65 or older, according to data from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
While the birth rate rebounded slightly in 2024 for the first time in nine years, the nation continues to grapple with rapid aging and declining youth populations.
The total registered population stood at 51.22 million in 2024, with 10.67% under 14 years old, 69.3% in the working-age group (15–64), and 20.03% aged 65 or older.
The elderly population grew by 5.41% last year, while the working-age and youth groups shrank by 1.21% and 3.52%, respectively.
The aging trend is more pronounced in non-metropolitan areas, where 56.4% of the elderly population resides. Nine regions, including South Jeolla (27.2%), North Gyeongsang (26.04%), and Gangwon (25.36%), have the highest elderly ratios.
Conversely, metropolitan areas like Seoul (19.44%) are on the brink of entering a super-aged status.
Rural areas also dominate in the proportion of elderly residents, with North Gyeongsang’s Uiseong County leading at 47.48%. Urban districts like Gwangju’s Gwangsan-gu (12.1%) and Daejeon’s Yuseong-gu (12.33%) have the lowest elderly ratios.
Aging is reflected in the rise of elderly single-person households, which accounted for 29.6% (nearly 3 million) of all single households in 2024. Women led this demographic, outnumbering men by nearly one million.
Meanwhile, the number of children entering primary school continues to decline, with 334,145 six-year-olds set to enroll in 2025, down 8.39% from the previous year and the second consecutive year below 400,000.
Experts warn that South Korea’s twin challenges of low birth rates and rapid aging require urgent policy interventions.
Without significant reforms to bolster regional economies, education, and infrastructure, the demographic divide between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas is likely to widen, further straining the country’s socio-economic balance.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
