Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in South Korea
South Korea: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 2.7% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Korea, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Korea is 2.7%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 24.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Korea peaked at 7.0% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 1996.
That places South Korea 159th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.4% | — |
| 1992 | 2.5% | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 2.9% | +14.5% |
| 1994 | 2.5% | -14.0% |
| 1995 | 2.1% | -16.7% |
| 1996 | 2.0% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 2.6% | +27.3% |
| 1998 | 7.0% | +167.0% |
| 1999 | 6.3% | -8.9% |
| 2000 | 4.1% | -35.9% |
| 2001 | 3.7% | -9.0% |
| 2002 | 3.0% | -17.7% |
| 2003 | 3.3% | +9.9% |
| 2004 | 3.4% | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 3.5% | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 3.3% | -6.5% |
| 2007 | 3.0% | -7.4% |
| 2008 | 3.0% | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 3.4% | +13.7% |
| 2010 | 3.3% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 3.0% | -10.0% |
| 2012 | 2.8% | -6.0% |
| 2013 | 3.1% | +9.1% |
| 2014 | 3.1% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 3.5% | +15.1% |
| 2016 | 3.6% | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 3.7% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 3.8% | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 3.7% | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 3.9% | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 3.6% | -7.4% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | -21.5% |
| 2023 | 2.7% | -6.4% |
| 2024 | 2.8% | +4.1% |
| 2025 | 2.7% | -3.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 2.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.0%, 53% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 2.7% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.0%, 88% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +167.0% | 2.6% | 7.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.4% | 2.0% | 7.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.4% | 3.0% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.4% | 2.8% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.1% | 2.7% | 3.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
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 unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Korea?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Korea was 2.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 7.0% in 1998.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 1996.
- How does South Korea rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- South Korea ranks 159th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.