Labor force, total, annual growth rate in South Korea
South Korea: Labor force, total, annual growth rate was 0.1002 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Labor force, total, annual growth rate in South Korea, 1991–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force, total, annual growth rate in South Korea is 0.1002 % change on previous year, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 88.0% on the previous year and down 93.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total, annual growth rate in South Korea peaked at 3.08 % change on previous year in 1991 and was at its lowest, -1.66 % change on previous year, in 1998.
South Korea ranks 146th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Labor force, total, annual growth rate in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.08 % change on previous year | — |
| 1992 | 2.25 % change on previous year | -27.0% |
| 1993 | 1.68 % change on previous year | -25.2% |
| 1994 | 2.88 % change on previous year | +70.9% |
| 1995 | 2.32 % change on previous year | -19.2% |
| 1996 | 2.09 % change on previous year | -10.2% |
| 1997 | 2.22 % change on previous year | +6.5% |
| 1998 | -1.66 % change on previous year | -174.4% |
| 1999 | 1.09 % change on previous year | -166.0% |
| 2000 | 2.11 % change on previous year | +92.8% |
| 2001 | 1.65 % change on previous year | -21.9% |
| 2002 | 1.78 % change on previous year | +8.3% |
| 2003 | 0.1255 % change on previous year | -93.0% |
| 2004 | 2.06 % change on previous year | +1543.3% |
| 2005 | 0.3948 % change on previous year | -80.9% |
| 2006 | 1.05 % change on previous year | +166.7% |
| 2007 | 0.9886 % change on previous year | -6.1% |
| 2008 | 0.6611 % change on previous year | -33.1% |
| 2009 | 0.2365 % change on previous year | -64.2% |
| 2010 | 1.35 % change on previous year | +471.8% |
| 2011 | 2 % change on previous year | +47.8% |
| 2012 | 1.74 % change on previous year | -13.1% |
| 2013 | 1.86 % change on previous year | +7.3% |
| 2014 | 2.62 % change on previous year | +40.6% |
| 2015 | 1.53 % change on previous year | -41.6% |
| 2016 | 0.9473 % change on previous year | -38.1% |
| 2017 | 1.13 % change on previous year | +19.4% |
| 2018 | 0.5401 % change on previous year | -52.2% |
| 2019 | 1.08 % change on previous year | +99.2% |
| 2020 | -0.6726 % change on previous year | -162.5% |
| 2021 | 0.6733 % change on previous year | -200.1% |
| 2022 | 2.24 % change on previous year | +233.1% |
| 2023 | 1.32 % change on previous year | -41.0% |
| 2024 | 0.8385 % change on previous year | -36.6% |
| 2025 | 0.1002 % change on previous year | -88.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.1002 % change on previous year is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.3799 % change on previous year, 26% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.1002 % change on previous year is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.7314 % change on previous year, 14% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Labor force, total, annual growth rate in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +1543.3% | 0.1255 % change on previous year | 2.06 % change on previous year |
| 2010 | +471.8% | 0.2365 % change on previous year | 1.35 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.77 % change on previous year | -1.66 % change on previous year | 3.08 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.11 % change on previous year | 0.1255 % change on previous year | 2.11 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.48 % change on previous year | 0.5401 % change on previous year | 2.62 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7508 % change on previous year | -0.6726 % change on previous year | 2.24 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 143 Nepal 0.2391 % change on previous year compare
- 144 French Polynesia 0.2143 % change on previous year compare
- 145 Croatia 0.1068 % change on previous year compare
- 147 France 0.0097 % change on previous year compare
- 148 China -0.012 % change on previous year compare
- 149 Japan -0.0357 % change on previous year compare
More education data for South Korea
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 233,046 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 76 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 434,627 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 412,067 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.66 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.51 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -4.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0484 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total, annual growth rate in South Korea?
- Labor force, total, annual growth rate in South Korea was 0.1002 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest labor force, total, annual growth rate recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 3.08 % change on previous year in 1991.
- What is the lowest labor force, total, annual growth rate recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.66 % change on previous year in 1998.
- How does South Korea rank for labor force, total, annual growth rate?
- South Korea ranks 146th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total, annual growth rate rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 93.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Labor force, total, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Labor force, total. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Labor force, total International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Labor force, total. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.