Korea, Rep. — Labor participation
Labor Force Participation Rate for Korea, Rep., 1990–2025.
Labor participation for Korea, Rep. was 64.35% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 36 years, from 1990 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 64.47% in 2024. The lowest was 59.38% in 1990 (about 1.1× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 0.23% per year.
Korea, Rep. ranks 71 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 38%. The median for East Asia & Pacific is 64.35%, so Korea, Rep. sits level with it. It peaked in 2024 and has fallen 0% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved up 3%. Within East Asia & Pacific it ranks 15 of 29 economies; Brunei Darussalam (64.23%) is just below it.
Data highlights
World ranking. Climbed: 106th of 187 in 1990 → 96th of 187 in 2000 → 101st of 187 in 2010 → 76th of 187 in 2020 → 70th of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2025
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 64.35% | -0.1 pp |
| 2024 | 64.47% | +0.2 pp |
| 2023 | 64.27% | +0.5 pp |
| 2022 | 63.79% | +1.2 pp |
| 2021 | 62.55% | +0.3 pp |
| 2020 | 62.27% | -0.7 pp |
| 2019 | 62.99% | +0.2 pp |
| 2018 | 62.76% | -0.2 pp |
| 2017 | 62.91% | +0.3 pp |
| 2016 | 62.63% | +0.0 pp |
| 2015 | 62.58% | +0.3 pp |
| 2014 | 62.28% | +0.9 pp |
| 2013 | 61.4% | +0.5 pp |
| 2012 | 60.93% | +0.3 pp |
| 2011 | 60.64% | +0.3 pp |
| 2010 | 60.33% | +0.1 pp |
| 2009 | 60.22% | -0.6 pp |
| 2008 | 60.81% | -0.5 pp |
| 2007 | 61.32% | -0.1 pp |
| 2006 | 61.46% | -0.1 pp |
| 2005 | 61.56% | -0.3 pp |
| 2004 | 61.82% | +0.7 pp |
| 2003 | 61.11% | -0.5 pp |
| 2002 | 61.62% | +0.5 pp |
| 2001 | 61.11% | +0.4 pp |
| 2000 | 60.75% | +0.6 pp |
| 1999 | 60.18% | -0.0 pp |
| 1998 | 60.21% | -1.8 pp |
| 1997 | 62.02% | +0.4 pp |
| 1996 | 61.67% | +0.2 pp |
| 1995 | 61.46% | +0.3 pp |
| 1994 | 61.13% | +0.7 pp |
| 1993 | 60.41% | +0.0 pp |
| 1992 | 60.39% | +0.3 pp |
| 1991 | 60.11% | +0.7 pp |
| 1990 | 59.38% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Korea, Rep.’s Labor participation in 1991?
60.11% (1991). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of population ages 15+, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Korea, Rep.’s Labor participation growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2025 the series was growing overall: +8.4% in total — about 0.2% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 64.35%; 2024: 64.47%; 2023: 64.27%; 2022: 63.79%; 2021: 62.55%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SL.TLF.CACT.ZS — Labor Force Participation Rate. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.