Economically Active Population to Decrease After 2007; More Women Remain Unwed

The economically active population aged 25-49 is reportedly expected to decrease after 2007, and the working age population between the ages of 15 and 64 will also begin to wane starting in 2016.

As more and more people are getting married later in their life, 46 percent of women aged 25 to 29 are not married. Among women in their 20s, almost 70 percent are unwed.

Growth Engine Diminishes-.

According to the report titled, “The Demographic Situation in Korea and the World” released yesterday by the National Statistical Office, the working age population in Korea amounts to 34,671,000 or 71.8 percent of the total population.

The proportion of the working age population will remain stable until 2016 when the number reaches 36,496,000 (73.2 percent) and will begin to decrease. The report anticipated that in 2020, the number will dwindle to 35,838,000 (71.7 percent) and will further shrink to 22,755,000 (53.7 percent) in 2050.

The economically active population aged 25-49 amounts to 20,661,000 (59.6 percent of the working age population) and will reach its peak in 2007, making up 59.4 percent of the working age population with 20,825,000 people. It will decrease to 18,395,000 (51.3 percent) in 2020 and 10,295,000 (42.5 percent) in 2050.

Kim Dong-hee, the head oaf the demographic trend department in the National Statistical Office, said, “Due to the low birthrate, the pressure of an aging society is right upon us,” and added, “When the working population decreases, the economy will possibly lose vitality, which is a cause of concern.”

One fertile woman in Korea gives birth to 1.19 children on average as of 2003, which is much lower than 2.08 children required to maintain the current population level.

Almost 70 Percent of 20-Something Women Unmarried-

The National Statistical Office estimated that 69.3 percent of Korean women in their 20s are unmarried. This figure is 7.1 percent higher than the 63.2 percent mark recorded in 2000, and more than doubled from 34.6 percent in the 1970s.

Among women between the ages of 20 to 24, 92.6 percent are unwed. Between the most marriageable ages of 25 to 29, 46.2 percent remain single.

Among women aged 30 to 34 and 35 to 39, the unmarried still accounts for 13.1 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively.

Korea Accounts for Lesser Percentage in Global Population-

The Korean population accounts for 0.7 percent of the world’s population with 48 million people, but in 2050, that number is expected to drop to 42 million, giving Korea only 0.5 percent of the world’s total.

Chi-Young Shin higgledy@donga.com