Health in Busan, South Korea: official figures
The Ministry of Health and Welfare estimates 69,629 people aged 65 or over in Busan had dementia in 2025, or 8.7% of the 797,382 people in that age group (close to the national figure of 9.1%). The figure is an estimate that applies national age-and-sex rates from the 2023 dementia survey to the local population. Busan ranks 8th lowest estimated dementia rate of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.
Is dementia increasing in Busan?
The estimated number of people aged 65 or over with dementia in Busan rose by 5.0% between 2024 and 2025 (66,323 to 69,629), while the number of people aged 65 or over rose by 4.8% (Ministry of Health and Welfare estimates).
Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare (Republic of Korea) · saved copyHow many people are treated for diabetes in Busan?
Health insurance paid for diabetes treatment of 297,590 patients at clinics and hospitals located in Busan in 2025, which is 92.2 for every 1,000 registered residents (South Korea: 86.8). Claims came to 93.2 billion won, or about 313,000 won per patient. The count follows the location of the clinic, not where the patient lives. Busan ranks 14th most diabetes patients treated per resident of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.
Source: Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) · saved copyHow many hospitals and clinics are there in Busan?
Busan had 2,707 clinics (uiwon), 30 general hospitals (including top-tier teaching hospitals) and 143 other hospitals registered with the health insurance review service at the end of 2025: 8.4 clinics per 10,000 registered residents (South Korea: 7.3). Busan ranks 4th most clinics per resident of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.
Source: Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) · saved copyHow many pharmacies and dentists are there in Busan?
Busan had 1,719 pharmacies, 1,333 dental clinics and 1,139 Korean-medicine clinics registered at the end of 2025, or 5.3 pharmacies, 4.1 dental clinics and 3.5 Korean-medicine clinics per 10,000 registered residents (South Korea: 5.0, 3.8 and 2.9). Busan ranks 11th most pharmacies per resident of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.
Source: Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) · saved copyHow many nursing hospitals are there in Busan?
Busan had 152 long-term care hospitals (yoyang byeongwon) registered at the end of 2025, or 4.7 per 100,000 registered residents (South Korea: 2.6); these are hospitals that mainly look after older and chronically ill patients. Busan ranks 7th most care hospitals per resident of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.
Source: Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) · saved copyHow many road accidents happen in Busan each year?
Police recorded 10,667 road accidents with casualties in Busan in 2025, with 111 people dead within 30 days and 14,322 injured (Korea Road Traffic Authority; only accidents with human injury are counted). South Korea recorded 193,889 such accidents and 2,549 deaths. Busan ranks 12th lowest accident rate per resident of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.
Source: Korea Road Traffic Authority · saved copyHow many people die in traffic accidents in Busan?
Busan had 3.4 road deaths per 100,000 registered residents in 2025, below the national figure of 5.0 (Korea Road Traffic Authority deaths within 30 days; the rate uses residents, so visitors and through traffic raise it). Busan ranks 6th lowest road death rate of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.
Source: Korea Road Traffic Authority · saved copyHow Busan compares with other cities in South Korea
Estimated dementia rate among people aged 65 or over (2025)
Busan ranks 29 of 36, highest first. Ministry of Health and Welfare estimate: national age-and-sex rates applied to each city.
| Rank | City | Estimated dementia rate among people aged 65 or over |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Daejeon | 8.8% |
| 27 | Sejong | 8.8% |
| 28 | Incheon | 8.7% |
| 29 | Busan | 8.7% |
| 30 | Yangsan | 8.6% |
| 31 | Gumi | 8.6% |
| 32 | Gimhae | 8.5% |
Diabetes patients treated per 1,000 residents (2025)
Busan ranks 14 of 36, highest first. Patients treated at clinics and hospitals located in the city, per 1,000 registered residents; the clinic location, not the patient home, decides the city.
| Rank | City | Diabetes patients treated per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Tongyeong | 96.0 |
| 12 | Seoul | 93.4 |
| 13 | Gongju | 92.5 |
| 14 | Busan | 92.2 |
| 15 | Sacheon | 92.1 |
| 16 | Gwangju | 91.7 |
| 17 | Dangjin | 91.1 |
Clinics per 10,000 residents (2025)
Busan ranks 4 of 36, highest first. Clinics registered with HIRA at the end of 2025 over registered population at 30 September 2026.
| Rank | City | Clinics per 10,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seoul | 11.3 |
| 2 | Daegu | 8.9 |
| 3 | Jeonju | 8.7 |
| 4 | Busan | 8.4 |
| 5 | Daejeon | 8.0 |
| 6 | Jeju | 7.9 |
| 7 | Gwangju | 7.7 |
Hospitals per 100,000 residents (2025)
Busan ranks 5 of 36, highest first. Top-tier teaching hospitals, general hospitals and other hospitals (excluding long-term care and psychiatric hospitals).
| Rank | City | Hospitals per 100,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Miryang | 7.1 |
| 3 | Jinju | 6.3 |
| 4 | Changwon | 5.8 |
| 5 | Busan | 5.4 |
| 6 | Yeongju | 5.2 |
| 7 | Tongyeong | 5.2 |
| 8 | Jeongeup | 5.0 |
Long-term care hospitals per 100,000 residents (2025)
Busan ranks 7 of 36, highest first.
| Rank | City | Long-term care hospitals per 100,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Jeonju | 5.2 |
| 5 | Miryang | 5.1 |
| 6 | Gimhae | 4.9 |
| 7 | Busan | 4.7 |
| 8 | Sacheon | 4.6 |
| 9 | Andong | 4.6 |
| 10 | Gwangju | 4.3 |
Road deaths per 100,000 residents (2025)
Busan ranks 31 of 36, highest first. Deaths within 30 days of police-recorded accidents; visitors and through traffic count against the city where the accident happened.
| Rank | City | Road deaths per 100,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Yeongju | 4.2 |
| 29 | Yangsan | 4.2 |
| 30 | Geoje | 3.9 |
| 31 | Busan | 3.4 |
| 32 | Gwangju | 3.3 |
| 33 | Daegu | 3.2 |
| 34 | Incheon | 2.7 |
More on Busan: overview · poverty and living standards · all cities in South Korea
Sources
- Ministry of Health and Welfare (Republic of Korea): Dementia status by city, county and district, 2016-2025 (open file on the Public Data Portal), read 30 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 85455041c38b…)
- Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA): Diabetes treatment statistics by city, county and district, 2025 (open file on the Public Data Portal), read 30 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 547bd6a4555a…)
- Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA): Health-care institutions registered with the insurance service, as of 31 December 2025 (open file on the Public Data Portal), read 30 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bb10d7930007…)
- Korea Road Traffic Authority: Road traffic accident statistics by city, county and district, 2025 (open file on the Public Data Portal), read 30 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 077c48b46c23…)
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