Yves here. As advanced economies continue to age, young women are increasingly opting for fewer children. Many do not fully acknowledge that we live in an era where birth control and professional opportunities allow women to prioritize careers over child-rearing. The physical demands of motherhood, along with the uncertainty that comes with parenting—such as the unpredictability of raising well-adjusted children—are contributing factors. Moreover, traditional gender roles haven’t sufficiently evolved to accommodate this shift; women typically remain the primary caregivers, while men have the luxury of deciding how involved they wish to be.
Neoliberal policies have exacerbated this trend. Many couples who wish to start families are deterred by the costs associated with raising children, especially amid job instability. Additionally, potential economic downturns, like a global depression that might arise from political shifts, could further decrease birth rates. As a result, the issue of an aging population might become more pronounced than currently anticipated.
By Jeongmin Park, PhD Candidate in Health and Human Development, Penn State and Alexis R. Santos, Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, Demography and Public Policy, Penn State. Originally published at The Conversation
As of December 2024, over 20% of South Koreans were aged 65 and older, marking the country as a “super-aged society.” By August 2026, this figure had climbed to 22.1%.
While the term may seem alarming, aging populations are not intrinsically problematic. In fact, it often signifies demographic progress: improvements in healthcare and living standards contribute to longer lifespans. Thus, a growing elderly demographic can indicate a society that is becoming safer and healthier.
The pressing concern lies not merely in the aging population itself, but in the speed of this aging process and the societal readiness to accommodate it. South Korea transitioned from an aging society, where 7% to 13% of the population is over 64, to a super-aged society in just 24 years—a significantly quicker pace than Japan’s 35-year shift. It is projected that by 2060, older adults will constitute 23.4% of the U.S. population.
Estimates indicate that by 2060, approximately 41% of South Koreans will be 65 or older, potentially positioning the country as the most aged in the world. This demographic shift will inevitably place immense strain on pensions, healthcare systems, workplaces, and caregiving resources, leaving little time for adjustment.
Our research examines the dynamics of population health and aging. In our most recent study, published in July 2026, we explored how South Korea is addressing its aging population. While South Korea is not the first country to attain a super-aged status, the rapidity of its demographic shift provides a valuable preview of the challenges many societies will soon face.
Changing Family Life
In the 1990s, the largest age demographic included individuals aged 15 to 34. Today, just over three decades later, the younger members of this group have crossed into their 45-plus years, while the oldest have reached the retirement age of 60. Significantly, the proportion of individuals aged 30 and younger continues to decline.
The aging trend in South Korea is also tied to evolving norms around fertility, family structures, and lifestyles. With increased autonomy in shaping their lives, many people are transitioning towards sustained lower fertility, delayed marriages and parenthood, and more diverse familial arrangements. Currently, South Korea boasts one of the world’s lowest fertility rates.
Economic Challenges
South Korea grapples with the financial implications of its super-aged status.
The national pension framework largely depends on the National Pension Service, which is funded through worker, employer, and self-employed contributions, and the Basic Pension, a separate taxpayer-funded benefit for lower-income citizens aged 65 and above.
However, if current conditions persist, the national pension fund is expected to be exhausted by 2054. Many seniors face incomplete pension histories that result in only modest financial support. Among individuals born before 1950, poverty rates are alarmingly high due to insufficient access to pension plans and wealth accumulation.
Recent data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development reveals that South Korea has the highest income poverty rate for older adults among the OECD’s 38 member nations, with 39.7% of those aged 66 and older living on less than half the national median household disposable income, in stark contrast to the OECD average of 14.8%.
Despite multiple policy reform attempts, economic insecurity still looms over older adults in South Korea.
With many seniors being asset rich but cash poor—holding over 80% of their wealth in real estate, but only 12.4% in savings—many are turning to reverse mortgages to convert their assets into spendable income.
Raising the Retirement Age
The inadequacy of pensions has resulted in a high employment rate among older adults in South Korea.
Generally, older South Koreans remain in the workforce longer compared to their peers in other OECD countries. While men usually exit their longest-held job around age 51, they continue to work until approximately age 72, often transitioning to lower-paying and less secure “second careers.”
Merely increasing the retirement age won’t solve the challenges. South Korea is currently discussing a gradual raise of the statutory retirement age from 60 to 65. This would allow individuals to stay in their initial careers longer, helping to close the gap between retirement age and pension eligibility.
While such a move could mitigate financial burdens and enhance income security for older workers, it might also hinder upward mobility for younger employees if older individuals retain senior roles for longer periods.
To address existing challenges, South Korea has already begun reforming pension financing and late-career employment. A pension overhaul set for 2025 will gradually increase the national pension contribution rate from 9% to 13% by 2033 and establish a target replacement rate – the portion of pre-retirement income that the pension aims to replace – at 43%.
New Healthcare Needs
Healthcare presents one of the greatest challenges for South Korea’s swiftly aging population.
In 2008, the country launched long-term care insurance to support home care, nursing, rehabilitation, daycare, assistive technologies, and residential care for individuals with physical or cognitive needs. This program is funded through a combination of National Health Insurance, government support, and user copays.
To qualify, adults aged 65 and older must demonstrate difficulties with daily tasks or possess specific age-related health conditions, such as dementia or cerebrovascular disease. Eligibility is based on need rather than income, although lower-income beneficiaries may be required to pay reduced or no copays.
As demand for services escalates, in 2024, 10.8% of individuals aged 65 and older and 31.9% of those aged 80 or older had been certified for benefits. These percentages are expected to rise in the coming years.
Nevertheless, the system has its shortcomings: families still shoulder a considerable amount of care, and the workforce within the care sector is largely made up of older women in precarious jobs. Additionally, rural areas often face a scarcity of services and insufficient infrastructure to address burgeoning needs. Many older South Koreans also fear becoming a financial burden on their families.
Staying Connected
Mental health and social connection have become critical aspects of South Korea’s approach to addressing population aging. The country currently has the highest suicide rate in the OECD, with rates among adults aged 65 and older surpassing those of other age brackets.
Social isolation is an increasing concern. According to a 2023 national survey, 6.6% of adults aged 65 and above had no one to turn to during times of illness, emotional distress, or financial crises. This figure rose from 4.6% for those aged 65-69 to 12.9% for individuals aged 85 and older.
The same survey indicated that 4.8% of older adults experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse within the previous year, while 26.3% encountered age discrimination in everyday contexts. These vulnerabilities can complicate access to care, particularly for those with limited income or functional impairments.
People living alone, those in ill health, and rural residents face heightened risks and vulnerabilities. While visits, phone calls, and community programs offer some support, these cannot replace the essential needs for adequate income, reliable transportation, healthcare, housing, or robust social and family relationships.
Takeaways for Other Countries
When we analyzed South Korea’s experiences in comparison to other aging societies at various stages of demographic transition, it became evident that the specific policies of South Korea cannot be effortlessly replicated elsewhere.
However, the broader lessons emanating from South Korea can serve as guidance for nations that are still early in their demographic transitions and therefore have time to prepare.
South Korea underscores the importance of building long-term care infrastructure before current systems are overwhelmed. It further highlights the necessity of synchronizing pension reforms with employment policies instead of attempting to tackle one issue in isolation. The need to design inclusive programs for older adults, particularly in rural and underserved populations, is also paramount.
The most critical lesson from South Korea revolves around timing: Aging societies have more options when they take proactive measures before fiscal pressures, labor shortages, and unmet care needs become acute. South Korea has established vital institutions and continually adapts its system in response to changing needs, especially in terms of long-term care. However, its journey also serves as a reminder of the repercussions of allowing policies and public attitudes to lag behind demographic realities.
