Poverty and living standards in Gwangju, South Korea: official figures

105,181 people in Gwangju in 73,014 households were eligible for the basic livelihood security programme (customised benefits) in December 2025, or 76.0 for every 1,000 registered residents (South Korea: 55.4). Eligible means entitled to benefits, whether or not they were paid out. Gwangju ranks 9th highest share eligible of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.

How many people in Gwangju get housing benefit?

In December 2025 58,600 people in Gwangju were eligible for medical aid and 101,675 for housing benefit, or 42.4 and 73.5 for every 1,000 registered residents (South Korea: 30.2 and 52.1). Gwangju ranks 9th highest share eligible for housing benefit of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

How many older people in Gwangju receive the basic pension?

169,515 people in Gwangju were eligible for the basic pension for older people in December 2025, equal to 62.6% of residents aged 65 or over (South Korea: 62.2%). Gwangju ranks 11th lowest share of older people eligible of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

How many people with disabilities in Gwangju get the disability pension?

10,732 people in Gwangju were eligible for the disability pension in December 2025, or 7.8 for every 1,000 registered residents (South Korea: 6.8). Gwangju ranks 18th highest share eligible for the disability pension of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

How many low-income people in Gwangju are just above the benefit line?

In December 2025 the near-poor groups just above the benefit line in Gwangju included 3,961 people with disabilities, 11,295 people with reduced medical co-payments and 303 in self-sufficiency programmes: 11.2 for every 1,000 registered residents across the three groups (South Korea: 8.8). Gwangju ranks 13th highest near-poor share of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

How many children in Gwangju get school cost support for low-income families?

14,048 people in Gwangju were eligible for the basic livelihood education benefit (school costs for low-income families) in December 2025, or 72.1 for every 1,000 residents under 18 (South Korea: 47.1). Gwangju ranks 11th highest share eligible of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

How Gwangju compares with other cities in South Korea

Basic livelihood programme: eligible people per 1,000 residents (Dec 2025)

Gwangju ranks 9 of 36, highest first.

Rank	City	Basic livelihood programme: eligible people per 1,000 residents
6	Gunsan	82.0
7	Andong	80.1
8	Busan	79.4
9	Gwangju	76.0
10	Miryang	75.6
11	Daegu	73.0
12	Jeonju	72.1

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

Housing benefit: eligible people per 1,000 residents (Dec 2025)

Gwangju ranks 9 of 36, highest first.

Rank	City	Housing benefit: eligible people per 1,000 residents
6	Busan	76.8
7	Yeongju	75.3
8	Andong	74.8
9	Gwangju	73.5
10	Jeonju	70.3
11	Daegu	69.9
12	Miryang	67.7

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

Basic pension: eligible people as a share of residents aged 65+ (Dec 2025)

Gwangju ranks 26 of 36, highest first.

Rank	City	Basic pension: eligible people as a share of residents aged 65+
23	Dangjin	64.4%
24	Asan	63.7%
25	Changwon	63.2%
26	Gwangju	62.6%
27	Geoje	61.0%
28	Daejeon	60.4%
29	Jeonju	60.3%

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

Disability pension: eligible people per 1,000 residents (Dec 2025)

Gwangju ranks 18 of 36, highest first.

Rank	City	Disability pension: eligible people per 1,000 residents
15	Gyeongsan	8.1
16	Seosan	7.9
17	Seogwipo	7.8
18	Gwangju	7.8
19	Busan	7.7
20	Daegu	7.6
21	Daejeon	7.3

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

Near-poor groups (three programmes) per 1,000 residents (Dec 2025)

Gwangju ranks 13 of 36, highest first.

Rank	City	Near-poor groups (three programmes) per 1,000 residents
10	Sacheon	12.2
11	Seogwipo	12.0
12	Daegu	11.9
13	Gwangju	11.2
14	Busan	11.1
15	Yangsan	10.7
16	Nonsan	10.4

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

More on Gwangju: overview · health · all cities in South Korea

Sources

Korea Social Security Information Service: People eligible for welfare programmes by city, county and district, December 2025 (open file on the Public Data Portal), read 30 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 157ececacb6e…)

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