Approximately four out of five young adults in South Korea are unmarried, with the rate of singlehood among those in their early to mid-30s tripling over the past two decades. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEJONG, Jun. 28 (Korea Bizwire) – A recent analysis by Statistics Korea’s Statistics Research Institute reveals that approximately four out of five young adults in South Korea are unmarried, with the rate of singlehood among those in their early to mid-30s tripling over the past two decades.
The report, titled “How Has the Face of South Korea’s Youth Changed?”, paints a picture of a rapidly evolving demographic landscape.
The proportion of young adults in the total population has been steadily declining since its peak of 31.9% in 1990. By 2020, it had fallen to 20.4%, with projections suggesting a further drop to 11% by 2050 if current trends continue.
Marriage rates among young adults have also seen a significant decline. As of 2020, 81.5% of young adults were unmarried, with 86.1% of men and 76.8% of women in this demographic remaining single.
The most dramatic increase in singlehood was observed among 30-34 year-olds, with the rate rising from 18.7% in 2000 to 56.3% in 2020.
Education levels have risen, with over half of young adults holding a college degree or higher since 2010. By 2020, this figure reached 53%, with a higher proportion of men (58.4%) than women (47.8%) attaining this level of education.
The report also highlighted the mental health challenges facing youth in the capital region. In 2021, 39.7% of children and adolescents (ages 0-17) in the Seoul metropolitan area reported experiencing stress, slightly higher than the 37.9% reported in other regions. Gyeonggi Province showed the highest stress levels at 40.2%.
Overall life satisfaction among metropolitan youth decreased from 62.5% in 2020 to 60.5% in 2022, though 71.9% reported satisfaction with their friendships.
The analysis also examined household spending on leisure and cultural activities. After a sharp decline in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, expenditures in this category have rebounded, reaching 201,000 won per month in 2023.
Group travel expenses now account for the largest share at 24.3%, followed by cultural services (22.7%) and sports and recreation services (15.7%).
Reflecting changing lifestyles, monthly spending on pets increased from 14,000 won in 2019 to 21,000 won in 2023, mirroring a rise in pet ownership.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
