Overview

• The total population reached 51.81 million as of Nov. 1, 2024, marking a 0.1 percent increase and the second consecutive year of growth.
• The number of foreign residents rose 5.6 percent to 2.04 million, driven by expanded work visa programs.
• South Korean nationals declined by 0.2 percent to 49.76 million, extending a four-year downward trend.
• The working-age population fell by 290,000 to 36.26 million, continuing a decrease that began in 2018.
• Citizens aged 65 and older climbed to 10.12 million—19.5 percent of the population—pushing the senior index to a record 186.7.