South Korea Labor Force Participation Rate (2025)
South Korea's Labor Force Participation Rate: 64.4 % of population ages 15+ in 2025, -0.1pp YoY. World Bank (SL.TLF.CACT.ZS), 1990–2025.
South Korea (2025)
64.4
% of population ages 15+
-0.1pp YoY
YoY Change
-0.1pp
percentage points
Trend
down
Series length
36
years of data
Data
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 64.4 | -0.1pp |
| 2024 | 64.5 | +0.2pp |
| 2023 | 64.3 | +0.5pp |
| 2022 | 63.8 | +1.3pp |
| 2021 | 62.5 | +0.2pp |
| 2020 | 62.3 | -0.7pp |
| 2019 | 63 | +0.2pp |
| 2018 | 62.8 | -0.1pp |
| 2017 | 62.9 | +0.3pp |
| 2016 | 62.6 | unchanged |
| 2015 | 62.6 | +0.3pp |
| 2014 | 62.3 | +0.9pp |
| 2013 | 61.4 | +0.5pp |
| 2012 | 60.9 | +0.3pp |
| 2011 | 60.6 | +0.3pp |
| 2010 | 60.3 | +0.1pp |
| 2009 | 60.2 | -0.6pp |
| 2008 | 60.8 | -0.5pp |
| 2007 | 61.3 | -0.2pp |
| 2006 | 61.5 | -0.1pp |
About this Dataset
South Korea recorded 64.4 % of population ages 15+ in 2025. The latest change was -0.1pp. Across 1990–2025 the series ranges from 59.4 in 1990 to 64.5 in 2024.
This page tracks the labour force participation rate (share of working-age population that is employed or actively seeking work) in South Korea from 1990 to present. Participation rates reveal slack in the labour market and the untapped workforce potential.
Data sourced from World Bank via Open Data API. Values use World Bank standardised methodology intended for cross-country comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
This page tracks the labour force participation rate (share of working-age population that is employed or actively seeking work) in South Korea from 1990 to present. Participation rates reveal slack in the labour market and the untapped workforce potential. It is published by World Bank and updated annually.
The most recent observation covers 2025. World Bank typically publishes this series with a lag of several months after the reference period. The series runs 1990–2025 (36 observations).
The series peaked at 64.5 % of population ages 15+ in 2024 and reached its lowest recorded value of 59.4 in 1990. The latest reading of 64.4 in 2025 represents a change of -0.1pp.