Unemployment rate: South Korea
2.683% in 2025, the latest year published. Figures for 35 years from 1991 to 2025 are below.
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Source and method · All countries and regions.
Every year
| Year | Value (%) |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.683 |
| 2024 | 2.784 |
| 2023 | 2.675 |
| 2022 | 2.857 |
| 2021 | 3.639 |
| 2020 | 3.931 |
| 2019 | 3.746 |
| 2018 | 3.824 |
| 2017 | 3.653 |
| 2016 | 3.65 |
| 2015 | 3.546 |
| 2014 | 3.082 |
| 2013 | 3.067 |
| 2012 | 2.812 |
| 2011 | 2.992 |
| 2010 | 3.324 |
| 2009 | 3.363 |
| 2008 | 2.959 |
| 2007 | 3.013 |
| 2006 | 3.254 |
| 2005 | 3.482 |
| 2004 | 3.42 |
| 2003 | 3.348 |
| 2002 | 3.046 |
| 2001 | 3.699 |
| 2000 | 4.063 |
| 1999 | 6.342 |
| 1998 | 6.963 |
| 1997 | 2.608 |
| 1996 | 2.048 |
| 1995 | 2.063 |
| 1994 | 2.476 |
| 1993 | 2.878 |
| 1992 | 2.513 |
| 1991 | 2.407 |