Poverty and living standards in Seoul, South Korea: official figures
465,567 people in Seoul in 357,228 households were eligible for the basic livelihood security programme (customised benefits) in December 2025, or 50.2 for every 1,000 registered residents (South Korea: 55.4). Eligible means entitled to benefits, whether or not they were paid out. Seoul ranks 9th lowest share eligible of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.
How many people in Seoul get housing benefit?
In December 2025 262,924 people in Seoul were eligible for medical aid and 453,187 for housing benefit, or 28.3 and 48.8 for every 1,000 registered residents (South Korea: 30.2 and 52.1). Seoul ranks 10th lowest share eligible for housing benefit of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.
Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copyHow many older people in Seoul receive the basic pension?
1,019,072 people in Seoul were eligible for the basic pension for older people in December 2025, equal to 51.8% of residents aged 65 or over (South Korea: 62.2%). Seoul ranks 2nd lowest share of older people eligible of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.
Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copyHow many people with disabilities in Seoul get the disability pension?
48,892 people in Seoul were eligible for the disability pension in December 2025, or 5.3 for every 1,000 registered residents (South Korea: 6.8). Seoul ranks 2nd lowest share eligible for the disability pension of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.
Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copyHow many low-income people in Seoul are just above the benefit line?
In December 2025 the near-poor groups just above the benefit line in Seoul included 18,828 people with disabilities, 47,572 people with reduced medical co-payments and 714 in self-sufficiency programmes: 7.2 for every 1,000 registered residents across the three groups (South Korea: 8.8). Seoul ranks 10th lowest near-poor share of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.
Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copyHow many children in Seoul get school cost support for low-income families?
34,787 people in Seoul were eligible for the basic livelihood education benefit (school costs for low-income families) in December 2025, or 34.6 for every 1,000 residents under 18 (South Korea: 47.1). Seoul ranks 3rd lowest share eligible of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.
Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copyHow Seoul compares with other cities in South Korea
Basic livelihood programme: eligible people per 1,000 residents (Dec 2025)
Seoul ranks 28 of 36, highest first.
| Rank | City | Basic livelihood programme: eligible people per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Yangsan | 56.2 |
| 26 | Changwon | 54.5 |
| 27 | Geoje | 51.1 |
| 28 | Seoul | 50.2 |
| 29 | Ulsan | 45.8 |
| 30 | Asan | 42.9 |
| 31 | Gumi | 42.7 |
Housing benefit: eligible people per 1,000 residents (Dec 2025)
Seoul ranks 27 of 36, highest first.
| Rank | City | Housing benefit: eligible people per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Jinju | 53.9 |
| 25 | Yangsan | 53.9 |
| 26 | Changwon | 50.5 |
| 27 | Seoul | 48.8 |
| 28 | Geoje | 46.6 |
| 29 | Ulsan | 43.6 |
| 30 | Gumi | 40.2 |
Basic pension: eligible people as a share of residents aged 65+ (Dec 2025)
Seoul ranks 35 of 36, highest first.
| Rank | City | Basic pension: eligible people as a share of residents aged 65+ |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Icheon | 60.1% |
| 31 | Cheonan | 59.5% |
| 32 | Ulsan | 59.5% |
| 33 | Seogwipo | 59.3% |
| 34 | Jeju | 56.5% |
| 35 | Seoul | 51.8% |
| 36 | Sejong | 49.5% |
Disability pension: eligible people per 1,000 residents (Dec 2025)
Seoul ranks 35 of 36, highest first.
| Rank | City | Disability pension: eligible people per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Incheon | 6.2 |
| 31 | Ulsan | 5.8 |
| 32 | Asan | 5.7 |
| 33 | Cheonan | 5.5 |
| 34 | Gumi | 5.5 |
| 35 | Seoul | 5.3 |
| 36 | Sejong | 3.7 |
Near-poor groups (three programmes) per 1,000 residents (Dec 2025)
Seoul ranks 27 of 36, highest first.
| Rank | City | Near-poor groups (three programmes) per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Changwon | 8.6 |
| 25 | Jinju | 8.0 |
| 26 | Geoje | 7.3 |
| 27 | Seoul | 7.2 |
| 28 | Gyeongju | 6.8 |
| 29 | Ulsan | 6.8 |
| 30 | Gumi | 6.6 |
More on Seoul: 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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