South Korea's elderly population exceeds 20%, working-age population falls below 70% as foreign residents offset decline

South Korea's population is undergoing a dramatic shift, with the proportion of citizens aged 65 and over exceeding 20% for the first time, according to the latest census data. This milestone highlights the nation's rapid aging and declining birthrate, which have led to a decrease in the native population.

Despite a drop of over 54,000 South Koreans, the total population managed a marginal increase of 12,000 to reach 51.81 million. This growth is attributed to a surge of nearly 66,000 foreign residents, bringing their total to over 2.1 million and accounting for 4.1% of the population. The influx of foreigners, particularly students and seasonal workers, has helped fill labor shortages caused by the declining native workforce.

The demographic imbalance is starkly illustrated by the working-age population (15-64), which has fallen below 70% for the first time since 2018. This group now numbers 35.87 million, a decrease of 393,000 from the previous year. The old-age dependency ratio, which measures the number of elderly dependents per 100 working-age individuals, has risen to 29.9, indicating a growing burden on the shrinking workforce.

Regional disparities are also pronounced, with 224 out of 229 administrative districts reporting more elderly residents than children. The aging trend is evident nationwide, with the median age of the population climbing to 46.8 years. Meanwhile, the trend of delayed marriage continues, with over 54% of those aged 30 remaining unmarried, and single-person households reaching a record high, largely driven by an increase in elderly individuals living alone.