Editing Demographics of South Korea (section)

===Age structure===
{{Main|Aging of South Korea}}
Population of South Korea by age and sex (demographic pyramid)
<gallery>
File:South Korea 1955 09 01.png|as on 1955-09-01
File:South Korea Age Sex Pyramid 1960.png|as on 1960-11-01
File:South Korea Age Sex Pyramid 1965.png|as on 1965-11-01
File:South Korea 1970 10 01.png|as on 1970-10-01
File:South Korea Age Sex Pyramid 1975.png|as on 1975-11-01
File:South Korea 1980 11 01.png|as on 1980-11-01
File:South Korea 1985 11 01.png|as on 1985-11-01
File:South Korea 1990 11 01.png|as on 1990-11-01
File:South Korea 1995 11 01.png|as on 1995-11-01
File:South Korea Demographic Pyramid 2000.png|as on 2000-11-01
File:South Korea Demographic Pyramid 2005.png|as on 2005-11-01
File:South Korea Demographic Pyramid 2010.png|as on 2010-11-01
File:South Korea Demographic Pyramid 2015.png|as on 2015-11-01
</gallery>

{{Hidden begin 
|title= Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 01.XI.2015): <ref name="auto1">{{cite web | url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/dyb_2020/ | title=UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics | access-date=2022-05-31 | archive-date=2022-04-14 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414000805/https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/dyb_2020/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
|titlestyle = background:#EEBC35;
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="80pt"|Age Group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80pt"|Female
! width="80pt"|Total
! width="80pt"|%
|-
| Total
| align="right" | 25 608 502
| align="right" | 25 460 873 
| align="right" | 51 069 375
| {{percentage bar|100}}
|-
| 0–4
| align="right" | 1 159 011
| align="right" | 1 099 659
| align="right" | 2 258 670
| {{percentage bar|4.42}}
|-
| 5–9
| align="right" | 1 169 770 
| align="right" | 1 098 081
| align="right" | 2 267 851
| {{percentage bar|4.44}}
|-
| 10–14
| align="right" | 1 262 770
| align="right" | 1 165 022
| align="right" | 2 427 792
| {{percentage bar|4.75}}
|-
| 15–19
| align="right" | 1 668 683
| align="right" | 1 525 396
| align="right" | 3 194 079
| {{percentage bar|6.25}}
|-
| 20–24
| align="right" | 1 887 776
| align="right" | 1 643 332
| align="right" | 3 531 108
| {{percentage bar|6.91}}
|-
| 25–29
| align="right" | 1 728 888
| align="right" | 1 536 400
| align="right" | 3 265 288
| {{percentage bar|6.39}}
|-
| 30–34
| align="right" | 1 986 796
| align="right" | 1 824 814
| align="right" | 3 811 610
| {{percentage bar|7.46}}
|-
| 35–39
| align="right" | 2 022 466
| align="right" | 1 904 396
| align="right" | 3 926 862
| {{percentage bar|7.69}}
|-
| 40–44
| align="right" | 2 218 442
| align="right" | 2 120 385
| align="right" | 4 338 827
| {{percentage bar|8.50}}
|-
| 45–49
| align="right" | 2 217 013
| align="right" | 2 171 144
| align="right" | 4 388 157
| {{percentage bar|8.59}}
|-
| 50–54
| align="right" | 2 153 186
| align="right" | 2 110 261
| align="right" | 4 263 447
| {{percentage bar|8.35}}
|-
| 55–59
| align="right" | 1 969 232
| align="right" | 1 987 617
| align="right" | 3 956 849
| {{percentage bar|7.75}}
|-
| 60–64
| align="right" | 1 379 694
| align="right" | 1 441 763
| align="right" | 2 821 457
| {{percentage bar|5.52}}
|-
| 65–69
| align="right" | 1 028 129
| align="right" | 1 115 894
| align="right" | 2 144 023
| {{percentage bar|4.20}}
|-
| 70–74
| align="right" | 793 855
| align="right" | 976 886
| align="right" | 1 770 741
| {{percentage bar|3.47}}
|-
| 75–79
| align="right" | 553 178
| align="right" | 809 491
| align="right" | 1 362 669
| {{percentage bar|2.67}}
|-
| 80–84
| align="right" | 276 627
| align="right" | 537 595
| align="right" | 814 222
| {{percentage bar|1.59}}
|-
| 85–89
| align="right" | 98 855
| align="right" | 274 132
| align="right" | 372 987
| {{percentage bar|0.73}}
|-
| 90–94
| align="right" | 28 759
| align="right" | 95 964
| align="right" | 124 723
| {{percentage bar|0.24}}
|-
| 95–99
| align="right" | 4 923
| align="right" | 19 873
| align="right" | 24 796
| {{percentage bar|0.05}}
|-
| 100+
| align="right" | 449
| align="right" | 2 768
| align="right" | 3 217
| {{percentage bar|0.01}}
|-
! Age group 
! Male
! Female
! Total
! Percent
|-
| 0–14
| align="right" | 3 591 551
| align="right" | 3 362 762
| align="right" | 6 954 313
| {{percentage bar|13.62}}
|-
| 15–64
| align="right" | 19 232 176
| align="right" | 18 265 508
| align="right" | 37 497 684
| {{percentage bar|73.42}}
|-
| 65+
| align="right" | 2 784 775
| align="right" | 3 832 603
| align="right" | 6 617 378
| {{percentage bar|12.96}}
|}
{{Hidden end}}

{{Hidden begin 
|title= Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2018) (Data refer to national projections.): <ref name="auto1"/>
|titlestyle = background:#EEBC35;
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="80pt"|Age Group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80pt"|Female
! width="80pt"|Total
! width="80pt"|%
|-
| Total
| align="right" | 25 863 502
| align="right" | 25 743 131
| align="right" | 51 606 633
| {{percentage bar|100}}
|-
| 0–4
| align="right" | 1 041 546
| align="right" | 990 466
| align="right" | 2 032 012
| {{percentage bar|3.94}}
|-
| 5–9
| align="right" | 1 177 422 
| align="right" | 1 112 213
| align="right" | 2 289 635
| {{percentage bar|4.44}}
|-
| 10–14
| align="right" | 1 172 820
| align="right" | 1 094 921
| align="right" | 2 267 741
| {{percentage bar|4.39}}
|-
| 15–19
| align="right" | 1 469 053
| align="right" | 1 348 192
| align="right" | 2 817 245
| {{percentage bar|5.46}}
|-
| 20–24
| align="right" | 1 856 658
| align="right" | 1 639 906
| align="right" | 3 496 564
| {{percentage bar|6.78}}
|-
| 25–29
| align="right" | 1 868 308
| align="right" | 1 629 072
| align="right" | 3 497 380
| {{percentage bar|6.78}}
|-
| 30–34
| align="right" | 1 766 587
| align="right" | 1 599 914
| align="right" | 3 366 501
| {{percentage bar|6.52}}
|-
| 35–39
| align="right" | 2 116 733
| align="right" | 1 983 849
| align="right" | 4 100 582
| {{percentage bar|7.95}}
|-
| 40–44
| align="right" | 2 023 646
| align="right" | 1 932 121
| align="right" | 3 955 767
| {{percentage bar|7.67}}
|-
| 45–49
| align="right" | 2 311 564
| align="right" | 2 245 193
| align="right" | 4 556 757
| {{percentage bar|8.83}}
|-
| 50–54
| align="right" | 2 076 615
| align="right" | 2 046 927
| align="right" | 4 123 542
| {{percentage bar|7.99}}
|-
| 55–59
| align="right" | 2 163 953
| align="right" | 2 175 966
| align="right" | 4 339 919
| {{percentage bar|8.41}}
|-
| 60–64
| align="right" | 1 669 024
| align="right" | 1 721 804
| align="right" | 3 390 828
| {{percentage bar|6.57}}
|-
| 65–69
| align="right" | 1 133 201
| align="right" | 1 225 188
| align="right" | 2 358 389
| {{percentage bar|4.57}}
|-
| 70–74
| align="right" | 826 425
| align="right" | 969 862
| align="right" | 1 796 287
| {{percentage bar|3.48}}
|-
| 75–79
| align="right" | 664 618
| align="right" | 915 752
| align="right" | 1 580 370
| {{percentage bar|3.06}}
|-
| 80–84
| align="right" | 355 962
| align="right" | 632 408
| align="right" | 988 370
| {{percentage bar|1.92}}
|-
| 85–89
| align="right" | 128 560
| align="right" | 330 914
| align="right" | 459 474
| {{percentage bar|0.89}}
|-
| 90–94
| align="right" | 32 990
| align="right" | 115 467
| align="right" | 148 457
| {{percentage bar|0.29}}
|-
| 95–99
| align="right" | 7 260
| align="right" | 29 581
| align="right" | 36 841
| {{percentage bar|0.07}}
|-
| 100+
| align="right" | 557
| align="right" | 3 415
| align="right" | 3 972
| {{percentage bar|0.01}}
|-
! width="50"|Age group 
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| 0–14
| align="right" | 3 391 788
| align="right" | 3 197 600
| align="right" | 6 589 388
| {{percentage bar|12.77}}
|-
| 15–64
| align="right" | 19 322 141
| align="right" | 18 322 944
| align="right" | 37 645 085
| {{percentage bar|72.95}}
|-
| 65+
| align="right" | 3 149 573
| align="right" | 4 222 587
| align="right" | 7 372 160
| {{percentage bar|14.29}}
|}
{{Hidden end}}

{{Hidden begin 
|title= Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 01.XI.2020) (Data include both Koreans and foreigners. De jure residence refers to expected length of stay of more than three months.): <ref>[https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/#statistics Statistics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724234458/https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/#statistics |date=2018-07-24 }} United Nations</ref>
|titlestyle = background:#EEBC35;
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="80pt"|Age Group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80pt"|Female
! width="80pt"|Total
! width="80pt"|%
|-
| Total
| align="right" | 25 915 207
| align="right" | 25 913 929 
| align="right" | 51 829 136
| {{percentage bar|100}}
|-
| 0–4
| align="right" | 883 196 
| align="right" | 838 885
| align="right" | 1 722 081
| {{percentage bar|3.32}}
|-
| 5–9
| align="right" | 1 161 247 
| align="right" | 1 103 348 
| align="right" | 2 264 595
| {{percentage bar|4.37}}
|-
| 10–14
| align="right" | 1 168 937
| align="right" | 1 098 544
| align="right" | 2 267 481
| {{percentage bar|4.37}}
|-
| 15–19
| align="right" | 1 271 404
| align="right" | 1 178 157
| align="right" | 2 449 561
| {{percentage bar|4.83}}
|-
| 20–24
| align="right" | 1 762 135
| align="right" | 1 602 669
| align="right" | 3 364 804
| {{percentage bar|6.49}}
|-
| 25–29
| align="right" | 1 959 723
| align="right" | 1 706 489
| align="right" | 3 666 212
| {{percentage bar|7.07}}
|-
| 30–34
| align="right" | 1 742 483
| align="right" | 1 558 848
| align="right" | 3 301 331
| {{percentage bar|6.37}}
|-
| 35–39
| align="right" | 1 970 249
| align="right" | 1 835 221
| align="right" | 3 805 470
| {{percentage bar|7.34}}
|-
| 40–44
| align="right" | 1 997 630
| align="right" | 1 909 035
| align="right" | 3 906 665
| {{percentage bar|7.54}}
|-
| 45–49
| align="right" | 2 196 042
| align="right" | 2 129 655
| align="right" | 4 325 697
| {{percentage bar|8.35}}
|-
| 50–54
| align="right" | 2 195 060
| align="right" | 2 176 994
| align="right" | 4 372 054
| {{percentage bar|8.44}}
|-
| 55–59
| align="right" | 2 109 380
| align="right" | 2 101 265
| align="right" | 4 210 645
| {{percentage bar|8.12}}
|-
| 60–64
| align="right" | 1 912 792
| align="right" | 1 972 505
| align="right" | 3 885 297
| {{percentage bar|7.50}}
|-
| 65–69
| align="right" | 1 314 575
| align="right" | 1 419 612
| align="right" | 2 734 187
| {{percentage bar|5.28}}
|-
| 70–74
| align="right" | 946 539
| align="right" | 1 081 140 
| align="right" | 2 027 679 
| {{percentage bar|3.91}}
|-
| 75–79
| align="right" | 684 291
| align="right" | 916 576
| align="right" | 1 600 867
| {{percentage bar|3.09}}
|-
| 80–84
| align="right" | 419 037
| align="right" | 701 744
| align="right" | 1 120 781
| {{percentage bar|2.16}}
|-
| 85–89
| align="right" | 168 643
| align="right" | 395 287
| align="right" | 563 930
| {{percentage bar|1.09}}
|-
| 90–94
| align="right" | 42 951
| align="right" | 149 712
| align="right" | 192 663
| {{percentage bar|0.37}}
|-
| 95–99
| align="right" | 8 024
| align="right" | 33 488
| align="right" | 41 512
| {{percentage bar|0.08}}
|-
| 100+
| align="right" | 869
| align="right" | 4 755
| align="right" | 5 624
| {{percentage bar|0.01}}
|-
! width="50"|Age group 
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| 0–14
| align="right" | 3 213 380
| align="right" | 3 040 777
| align="right" | 6 254 157
| {{percentage bar|12.07}}
|-
| 15–64
| align="right" | 19 116 898
| align="right" | 18 170 838
| align="right" | 37 287 736
| {{percentage bar|71.94}}
|-
| 65+
| align="right" | 3 584 929
| align="right" | 4 702 314
| align="right" | 8 287 243
| {{percentage bar|15.99}}
|}
{{Hidden end}}
South Korea faces the problem of a rapidly aging population. In fact, the speed of aging in Korea is unprecedented in human history,<ref name="South Korean: Ageing Tiger">Thomas Klassen [http://globalbrief.ca/blog/2010/01/12/south-korea-ageing-tiger/ "South Korean: Ageing Tiger"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229010701/http://globalbrief.ca/blog/2010/01/12/south-korea-ageing-tiger/ |date=2017-12-29 }}, ''Global Brief'', January 12, 2010, accessed February 13, 2011.</ref> 18 years to double aging population from 7–14% (fewest years),<ref>Neil Howe, Richard Jackson, Keisuke Nakashima. ''The Aging of Korea: Demographics and retirement policy in the land of the morning calm''. Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2007, p. 7.</ref> overtaking even [[Aging of Japan|Japan]]. Statistics support this observation, the percentage of elderly aged 65 and above, has sharply risen from 3.3% in 1955 to 10.7% in 2009.<ref name="joongangdaily.joins.com">Jung Ha-won [http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2912868 "Statistics highlight scale of the aging population"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713115744/http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2912868 |date=2011-07-13 }}, ''Korea JoongAng Daily'', November 21, 2009, accessed February 14, 2011.</ref> The shape of its population has changed from a pyramid in the 1990s, with more young people and fewer old people, to a diamond shape in 2010, with less young people and a large proportion of middle-age individuals.<ref name="South Korean: Aging Tiger">Thomas Klassen [http://globalbrief.ca/blog/2010/01/12/south-korea-ageing-tiger/ "South Korean: Aging Tiger"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229010701/http://globalbrief.ca/blog/2010/01/12/south-korea-ageing-tiger/ |date=2017-12-29 }}, ''Global Brief'', January 12, 2010, accessed February 13, 2011.</ref>
[[File:South_korea_population_pyramid_1960-2020.gif|thumb|473x473px|South Korea population pyramid 1960–2020]]
There are several implications and issues associated with an aging population. A rapidly aging population is likely to have several negative implications on the labour force. In particular, experts predict that this might lead to a shrinking of the labour force. As an increasing proportion of people enter their 50s and 60s, they either choose to retire or are forced to retire by their companies. As such, there would be a decrease in the percentage of economically active people in the population. Also, with rapid aging, it is highly likely that there would be an imbalance in the young-old percentage of the workforce. This might lead to a lack of vibrancy and innovation in the labour force, since it is helmed mainly by the middle-age workers. Data shows that while there are fewer young people in society, the percentage of economically active population, made up of people ages 15–64, has gone up by 20% from 55.5% to 72.5%.<ref name="joongangdaily.joins.com"/> This shows that the labour force is indeed largely made up of middle-aged workers.

A possible consequence might be that South Korea would be a less attractive candidate for investment. Investors might decide to relocate to countries like Vietnam, where there is an abundance of cheaper, younger labour. If employers were to choose to maintain operations in South Korea, there is a possibility that they might incur higher costs in retraining or upgrading the skills of this group of middle-age workers. On top of that, higher healthcare costs might also be incurred <ref>''Spectre of aging population worries economists''. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, Volume 88, Number 3, March 2010, p. 161–240.</ref> and the government would need to set aside more money to maintain a good healthcare system to cater to the elderly.

Due to the very low birth rate, South Korea is predicted to enter a [[Russian Cross]] pattern once the large generation born in the 1960s starts to die off, with potentially decades of population decline.

Since 2016, the number of elderly people (+65 years old) outnumbered children (0–14 years) and the country became an "aged society". People older than 65 make up more than 14% of the total population.<ref name="Steger"/>