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

49,702 people in Ulsan in 36,890 households were eligible for the basic livelihood security programme (customised benefits) in December 2025, or 45.8 for every 1,000 registered residents (South Korea: 55.4). Eligible means entitled to benefits, whether or not they were paid out. Ulsan ranks 8th lowest share eligible of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.

How many people in Ulsan get housing benefit?

In December 2025 24,529 people in Ulsan were eligible for medical aid and 47,313 for housing benefit, or 22.6 and 43.6 for every 1,000 registered residents (South Korea: 30.2 and 52.1). Ulsan ranks 8th lowest 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 Ulsan receive the basic pension?

127,719 people in Ulsan were eligible for the basic pension for older people in December 2025, equal to 59.5% of residents aged 65 or over (South Korea: 62.2%). Ulsan ranks 5th 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 Ulsan get the disability pension?

6,304 people in Ulsan were eligible for the disability pension in December 2025, or 5.8 for every 1,000 registered residents (South Korea: 6.8). Ulsan ranks 6th lowest 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 Ulsan are just above the benefit line?

In December 2025 the near-poor groups just above the benefit line in Ulsan included 2,384 people with disabilities, 4,782 people with reduced medical co-payments and 245 in self-sufficiency programmes: 6.8 for every 1,000 registered residents across the three groups (South Korea: 8.8). Ulsan ranks 8th 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 Ulsan get school cost support for low-income families?

3,374 people in Ulsan were eligible for the basic livelihood education benefit (school costs for low-income families) in December 2025, or 22.2 for every 1,000 residents under 18 (South Korea: 47.1). Ulsan ranks 2nd lowest share eligible of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

How Ulsan compares with other cities in South Korea

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

Ulsan ranks 29 of 36, highest first.

Rank	City	Basic livelihood programme: eligible people per 1,000 residents
26	Changwon	54.5
27	Geoje	51.1
28	Seoul	50.2
29	Ulsan	45.8
30	Asan	42.9
31	Gumi	42.7
32	Seosan	39.9

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

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

Ulsan ranks 29 of 36, highest first.

Rank	City	Housing benefit: eligible people per 1,000 residents
26	Changwon	50.5
27	Seoul	48.8
28	Geoje	46.6
29	Ulsan	43.6
30	Gumi	40.2
31	Asan	39.9
32	Dangjin	36.1

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

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

Ulsan ranks 32 of 36, highest first.

Rank	City	Basic pension: eligible people as a share of residents aged 65+
29	Jeonju	60.3%
30	Icheon	60.1%
31	Cheonan	59.5%
32	Ulsan	59.5%
33	Seogwipo	59.3%
34	Jeju	56.5%
35	Seoul	51.8%

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

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

Ulsan ranks 31 of 36, highest first.

Rank	City	Disability pension: eligible people per 1,000 residents
28	Geoje	6.3
29	Gimhae	6.3
30	Incheon	6.2
31	Ulsan	5.8
32	Asan	5.7
33	Cheonan	5.5
34	Gumi	5.5

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

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

Ulsan ranks 29 of 36, highest first.

Rank	City	Near-poor groups (three programmes) per 1,000 residents
26	Geoje	7.3
27	Seoul	7.2
28	Gyeongju	6.8
29	Ulsan	6.8
30	Gumi	6.6
31	Seosan	6.5
32	Icheon	5.4

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

More on Ulsan: 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.