Countries
Republic of Korea
Map
This map is an approximation of actual country borders.
The population of the Republic of Korea, as of 2010, was 48 874 530, with a population density of 489 persons per square kilometre. The Republic saw its population grow by an annual rate of 3% during the 1960s, but growth slowed to 2% over the next decade. In 2010, the rate stood at 0.26% and it is expected to decline further, to 0.02%, by 2020.
A notable trend in the population structure is that it is getting increasingly older. In 2010, it was estimated that 12.9% of the total population was 65 years or older, while those aged 15 to 64 years of age accounted for 70.9%. In the 1960s, the country's population distribution formed a pyramid shape, with a high fertility rate and relatively short life expectancy. However, age-group distribution is now shaped more like a bell because of the low fertility rate and extended life expectancy. Youths (15 and younger) will make up a decreasing portion of the total by 2020, while senior citizens (65 and older) will account for some 15.6% of the total.
In recent years, a low fertility rate has emerged as a serious social challenge. The total fertility rate dropped from 4.53 in the 1970s to 1.22 in 2010, among the lowest in member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development (OECD). The Government is working to tackle the issue by establishing comprehensive plans to create family-friendly workplace environments and to bolster child care policies.
Country health information profile
Health information and intelligence platform (HIIP)
News and press releases
Publications
The Republic of Korea joined WHO on 17 August 1949. It was covered by the WHO Representative Office in Taipei, China (Taiwan) from 1959 to 1 January 1965, when the WHO Representative Office in Seoul, Republic of Korea was established.
The WHO Country Liaison Office was established in 1962, became a Representative Office in 1965, and changed back to a Country Liaison Office in 1999. Since 17 January 2004, the Office has been maintained by an administrative assistant, and all major communications have been handled by the Western Pacific Regional Office under the Office of the Director, Programme Management.
WHO Country Office
Office address:
Director, Programme Management
World Health Organization
Regional Office for the Western Pacific
United Nations Avenue P.O. Box 2932, 1000 Manila, the Philippines
Telephone number:
(632) 5288 001
(632) 3031 000
Fax number:
(632) 5260 279
Office hours:
07:00-15:30
Email:
postmaster@wpro.who.int
Website:
http://www.wpro.who.int
Ministry of Health and Welfare
Address:
Hyundai Bldg., 75 Yulgong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Telephone number:
(822) 2023-7223 to 7233Fax number:
(822) 2023-7234
Website:
http://www.mw.go.krSources
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Health information and intelligence platform
Access data by country and year from the WHO Western Pacific Region and the Global Health Observatory data repositories
Statistics
| Estimated Population ('000s) ( 2010 ) | 48874.53 |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Population 5-14 years old ( 2010 ) | 11.67 |
| Life expectancy at birth (years) ( 2009 ) | 80.55 |
| Under-five mortality rate (per 1000 livebirths) ( 2009 ) | 4.47 |
| Total health expenditure as % of GDP ( 2009 ) | 6.92 |
| General gov't expenditure on health as % of total general gov't expenditure ( 2009 ) | 12.17 |
| Human development index ( 2010 ) | 0.88 |
| Per capita GDP (US$) at current market prices ( 2009 ) | 17086.3 |
| Population below national poverty line | not available |
| Adult literacy rate (%) ( 2002 ) | 97.9 |
| Maternal mortality ratio (per 100 000 livebirths) ( 2008 ) | 12.4 |
| Proportion of population with sustainable access to improved water source ( 2008 ) | 98 |
| Proportion of population with access to improved sanitation ( 2008 ) | 100 |