Health in Gwangju, South Korea: official figures
The Ministry of Health and Welfare estimates 22,935 people aged 65 or over in Gwangju had dementia in 2025, or 9.0% of the 253,623 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. Gwangju ranks 17th lowest estimated dementia rate of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.
Is dementia increasing in Gwangju?
The estimated number of people aged 65 or over with dementia in Gwangju rose by 5.3% between 2024 and 2025 (21,791 to 22,935), while the number of people aged 65 or over rose by 5.7% (Ministry of Health and Welfare estimates).
Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare (Republic of Korea) · saved copyHow many people are treated for diabetes in Gwangju?
Health insurance paid for diabetes treatment of 126,875 patients at clinics and hospitals located in Gwangju in 2025, which is 91.7 for every 1,000 registered residents (South Korea: 86.8). Claims came to 43.9 billion won, or about 346,000 won per patient. The count follows the location of the clinic, not where the patient lives. Gwangju ranks 16th 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 Gwangju?
Gwangju had 1,061 clinics (uiwon), 25 general hospitals (including top-tier teaching hospitals) and 81 other hospitals registered with the health insurance review service at the end of 2025: 7.7 clinics per 10,000 registered residents (South Korea: 7.3). Gwangju ranks 7th 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 Gwangju?
Gwangju had 735 pharmacies, 648 dental clinics and 326 Korean-medicine clinics registered at the end of 2025, or 5.3 pharmacies, 4.7 dental clinics and 2.4 Korean-medicine clinics per 10,000 registered residents (South Korea: 5.0, 3.8 and 2.9). Gwangju ranks 12th 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 Gwangju?
Gwangju had 60 long-term care hospitals (yoyang byeongwon) registered at the end of 2025, or 4.3 per 100,000 registered residents (South Korea: 2.6); these are hospitals that mainly look after older and chronically ill patients. Gwangju ranks 10th 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 Gwangju each year?
Police recorded 6,778 road accidents with casualties in Gwangju in 2025, with 45 people dead within 30 days and 10,118 injured (Korea Road Traffic Authority; only accidents with human injury are counted). South Korea recorded 193,889 such accidents and 2,549 deaths. Gwangju ranks 7th highest 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 Gwangju?
Gwangju had 3.3 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). Gwangju ranks 5th lowest road death rate of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.
Source: Korea Road Traffic Authority · saved copyHow Gwangju compares with other cities in South Korea
Estimated dementia rate among people aged 65 or over (2025)
Gwangju ranks 20 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Gunsan | 9.2% |
| 18 | Jeonju | 9.1% |
| 19 | Gyeongsan | 9.1% |
| 20 | Gwangju | 9.0% |
| 21 | Daegu | 9.0% |
| 22 | Icheon | 9.0% |
| 23 | Cheonan | 8.9% |
Diabetes patients treated per 1,000 residents (2025)
Gwangju ranks 16 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Gongju | 92.5 |
| 14 | Busan | 92.2 |
| 15 | Sacheon | 92.1 |
| 16 | Gwangju | 91.7 |
| 17 | Dangjin | 91.1 |
| 18 | Cheonan | 89.3 |
| 19 | Gyeongju | 87.9 |
Clinics per 10,000 residents (2025)
Gwangju ranks 7 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Busan | 8.4 |
| 5 | Daejeon | 8.0 |
| 6 | Jeju | 7.9 |
| 7 | Gwangju | 7.7 |
| 8 | Jeongeup | 7.4 |
| 9 | Nonsan | 7.0 |
| 10 | Seogwipo | 7.0 |
Hospitals per 100,000 residents (2025)
Gwangju ranks 1 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gwangju | 7.7 |
| 2 | Miryang | 7.1 |
| 3 | Jinju | 6.3 |
| 4 | Changwon | 5.8 |
| 5 | Busan | 5.4 |
| 6 | Yeongju | 5.2 |
| 7 | Tongyeong | 5.2 |
Long-term care hospitals per 100,000 residents (2025)
Gwangju ranks 10 of 36, highest first.
| Rank | City | Long-term care hospitals per 100,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Busan | 4.7 |
| 8 | Sacheon | 4.6 |
| 9 | Andong | 4.6 |
| 10 | Gwangju | 4.3 |
| 11 | Gyeongju | 4.1 |
| 12 | Jeongeup | 4.0 |
| 13 | Changwon | 3.6 |
Road deaths per 100,000 residents (2025)
Gwangju ranks 32 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Yangsan | 4.2 |
| 30 | Geoje | 3.9 |
| 31 | Busan | 3.4 |
| 32 | Gwangju | 3.3 |
| 33 | Daegu | 3.2 |
| 34 | Incheon | 2.7 |
| 35 | Sejong | 2.6 |
More on Gwangju: 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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