Four in 10 Older Women Living Alone Are Seniors, While Men Face 5.3 Times the Risk of Lonely Deaths

Older people account for four in 10 women living alone in South Korea, while men face a far higher risk of dying alone, according to figures released during the country’s Gender Equality Week.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said one-person households totaled 8.244 million last year, or 36.6% of all general households. The number has risen 58.4% from 5.203 million in 2015, amid increases linked to unmarried, divorced and widowed people living alone.

The proportion of women living alone who were aged 65 or older rose from 38.8% in 2024 to 40.1% last year. Among men living alone, the share of seniors increased from 18.1% to 19.4% over the same period.

Lonely deaths, meaning people dying alone, were concentrated among middle-aged men. In 2024, 3,205 men died alone, compared with 605 women, giving men a rate 5.3 times higher. Men aged 50 to 60 accounted for 66.1% of male lonely deaths, while women in the same age group represented 47.6% of female cases.

The figures also showed weaker reported support networks among men. When they needed help with housework because of illness, 26.5% said they had no one to ask. The shares rose to 24.5% for those needing someone to talk to during discouragement or depression and 49.3% for those who suddenly needed to borrow a large amount of money. Among women, the corresponding figures were 23.2%, 17.8% and 47.8%.