The number of Koreans aged 100 and over has nearly tripled in a decade, amid improvements in healthcare and living conditions, according to data released by the South Korean Ministry of Data and Statistics on August 20.
The survey results show that as of November 1, 2025, South Korea has 8,604 people aged 100 and over. This number increased by 172.4%, equivalent to an additional 5,445 people, compared to 3,159 people recorded in the 2015 survey.
Data also shows that the growth rate of people aged 100 and over has somewhat slowed down. The average annual growth rate decreased from 11.5% in 2015 to 10.5% in 2025.
However, in terms of population size, the number of people aged 100 and over per 100,000 people has increased sharply. This index increased from 6.4 people in 2015 to 17.3 people in 2025, showing that the group of people of very high age is increasingly accounting for a larger proportion.
This increase takes place in the context of South Korea undergoing a rapid population aging process. Increased life expectancy and improvements in healthcare and living conditions are seen as factors supporting the continued increase in the number of people living to be 100 years old or older.
Gender-divided data shows that women dominate in the group of people aged 100 and over. Out of a total of 8,604 people recorded, there are 7,176 women, equivalent to 83.4%.
Meanwhile, the number of men aged 100 and over is 1,428 people, significantly lower than women.
The gap between the two genders also shows that women tend to account for a higher proportion in the group of people living to very old age. This is a common feature in older population groups, where the average life expectancy of women is often higher than men.
The survey was conducted based on information collected directly from households, instead of just using administrative registration data. The South Korean Ministry of Data and Statistics noted that this method may make the results different from the age recorded in the residence registration system.
The sharp increase in the number of people aged 100 and over in 10 years reflects a significant change in the population structure of South Korea. Along with the trend of increasing the number of people of very high age, this country is facing increasingly large problems related to health care, social security and adaptation to an aging population society.
