South Korea’s Youth Population to Halve by 2050

South Korea is bracing for a significant demographic shift, with the number of young citizens forecasted to halve by 2050, according to a report from the national statistics agency. The analysis by Statistics Korea reveals that the population aged 19-34, which was 10.21 million in 2020, is expected to plummet to 5.21 million in three decades.

In 2020, young people constituted 20.4% of the total population, but this proportion is anticipated to decline sharply to 11% by 2050. The decline has been consistent over the past decades, with the number of young people dropping from 13.85 million in 1990 to 10.21 million in 2020.

The data also highlights a rising trend of unmarried individuals within this age group. In 2020, 81.5% of young people, totaling 7.84 million, were unmarried, marking a significant increase from 54.5% in 2000 and 68.9% in 2010.

However, the report also points to a positive shift in the workforce, particularly among young women. The rate of economically active young women has surged from 42.3% in 2000 to 61.1% in 2020.

South Korea’s total fertility rate has hit a record low of around 0.7 in 2023, reflecting a challenging environment for population growth. The nation now faces the complex task of addressing an aging population, declining birthrates, and evolving societal dynamics to ensure a sustainable future.