The Growing Number of Single Households in South Korea
Photo by Yonhap: A customer looking at convenience lunch boxes at a supermarket.
In recent years, South Korea has seen a significant rise in the number of single households. This trend can be attributed to the rapidly aging population and an increasing number of people choosing to live independently. According to data from the Ministry of Interior and Safety of South Korea, the number of single-person households reached a record high of 10,021,413 in March, accounting for 41.8% of the total 24 million households in the country. This figure has risen from 9,981,702 in February.
Age Distribution
The data also reveals that individuals aged 60-69 constitute the highest proportion of single-person households, with 1.85 million households. This is followed by individuals aged 30-39, with 1.68 million households. It is worth noting that densely populated areas such as Kyunggi and Seoul have higher rates of single-person households, with approximately 2.25 million and 2 million households respectively.
Changes in Household Composition
While the number of two-person households increased from around 5.89 million in February to 5.91 million in March, the number of four-person households decreased from 3.12 million to 3.11 million during the same period.
Reasons for the Increase
The South Korean government attributes the rising number of single households to the growing population of elderly individuals living alone and the increasing number of unmarried individuals. To address this trend, the government has pledged to implement policies that ensure stable housing for its citizens.
Economic Factors
Younger individuals in South Korea are increasingly hesitant to get married or choose to remain single due to challenging economic conditions. Factors such as rising housing prices and a persistently high youth unemployment rate contribute to this trend. The average annual income for single individuals in South Korea is 26.91 million won (approximately $20,350).
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