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

34,398 people in Pohang in 25,702 households were eligible for the basic livelihood security programme (customised benefits) in December 2025, or 70.7 for every 1,000 registered residents (South Korea: 55.4). Eligible means entitled to benefits, whether or not they were paid out. Pohang ranks 13th highest share eligible of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.

How many people in Pohang get housing benefit?

In December 2025 18,757 people in Pohang were eligible for medical aid and 32,262 for housing benefit, or 38.5 and 66.3 for every 1,000 registered residents (South Korea: 30.2 and 52.1). Pohang ranks 13th 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 Pohang receive the basic pension?

80,776 people in Pohang were eligible for the basic pension for older people in December 2025, equal to 66.1% of residents aged 65 or over (South Korea: 62.2%). Pohang ranks 18th 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 Pohang get the disability pension?

3,997 people in Pohang were eligible for the disability pension in December 2025, or 8.2 for every 1,000 registered residents (South Korea: 6.8). Pohang ranks 13th 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 Pohang are just above the benefit line?

In December 2025 the near-poor groups just above the benefit line in Pohang included 1,556 people with disabilities, 2,848 people with reduced medical co-payments and 118 in self-sufficiency programmes: 9.3 for every 1,000 registered residents across the three groups (South Korea: 8.8). Pohang ranks 17th lowest near-poor share of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

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

4,157 people in Pohang were eligible for the basic livelihood education benefit (school costs for low-income families) in December 2025, or 64.2 for every 1,000 residents under 18 (South Korea: 47.1). Pohang ranks 16th highest share eligible of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

How Pohang compares with other cities in South Korea

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

Pohang ranks 13 of 36, highest first.

Rank	City	Basic livelihood programme: eligible people per 1,000 residents
10	Miryang	75.6
11	Daegu	73.0
12	Jeonju	72.1
13	Pohang	70.7
14	Sacheon	69.0
15	Gimcheon	68.5
16	Gongju	67.8

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

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

Pohang ranks 13 of 36, highest first.

Rank	City	Housing benefit: eligible people per 1,000 residents
10	Jeonju	70.3
11	Daegu	69.9
12	Miryang	67.7
13	Pohang	66.3
14	Sacheon	63.0
15	Incheon	61.9
16	Seogwipo	59.6

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

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

Pohang ranks 19 of 36, highest first.

Rank	City	Basic pension: eligible people as a share of residents aged 65+
16	Gyeongsan	66.6%
17	Incheon	66.5%
18	Daegu	66.4%
19	Pohang	66.1%
20	Gumi	65.6%
21	Gimhae	64.8%
22	Jinju	64.7%

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

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

Pohang ranks 13 of 36, highest first.

Rank	City	Disability pension: eligible people per 1,000 residents
10	Tongyeong	9.4
11	Gunsan	8.9
12	Gyeongju	8.8
13	Pohang	8.2
14	Jinju	8.1
15	Gyeongsan	8.1
16	Seosan	7.9

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

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

Pohang ranks 20 of 36, highest first.

Rank	City	Near-poor groups (three programmes) per 1,000 residents
17	Jeju	10.3
18	Gyeongsan	9.6
19	Daejeon	9.4
20	Pohang	9.3
21	Gongju	9.2
22	Incheon	9.1
23	Gimhae	8.8

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

More on Pohang: 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…)

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.