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Women in South Korea - statistics & facts

As in many other countries worldwide, women in South Korea have been taking a more active role in society and the workplace. This process is not yet finished and continues to this day. For example, the labor force participation rate for women in South Korea and the ratio of wages compared to men have risen steadily. In addition, women are less likely to start families and have children, traditionally a significant reason why a woman would quit her job and end her career. The Me Too movement in 2016 sparked more open discussion on women's rights and gender equality in South Korea.

The changing role of women in South Korea

In recent years, there has been a significant decrease in the number of South Korean women starting a family and giving birth. A survey conducted in 2023 found that financial constraints and simply not feeling the need were the most common reasons for avoiding marriage. This is well reflected in the country's birth rate, which has plummeted to a record low of 0.78 births per woman in 2022, making it the lowest in the world. At the same time, more and more women in South Korea are joining the workforce. While the employment rate of South Korean women is still lower than that of men, it has been steadily rising over the past decade.

Gender inequality

Despite recent advancements in gender equality, women in South Korea continue to face significant challenges. They are underrepresented in various fields, more likely to be paid less for their work, and often overlooked for promotions. The issue of the "glass ceiling" is still a topic of widespread discussion in society. Although the percentage of companies with female board members has increased in recent years, the majority of companies did not have women on their boards. Additionally, only about 19 percent of seats in South Korea's National Assembly were held by women.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by L. Yoon, Feb 19, 2024

Key insights

Gender pay gap (women's-to-men's)
65%
Employment rate of women
54.1%
Life expectancy of women at birth
85.6yrs
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Number of male births per 100 female births in South Korea from 2000 to 2022

Demographics

Sex ratio at birth South Korea 2000-2022

Average number of births per woman in South Korea from 1970 to 2022

Births, Deaths, Life Expectancy

Birth rate in South Korea 1970-2022

Reasons why people did not get married in South Korea as of May 2023, by gender

Marriage & Divorce

Reasons for not getting married South Korea 2023, by gender

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