South Korea: health and care

How much does South Korea spend on health?

South Korea's current health spending was 8.7% of GDP in 2024, according to the World Bank's health expenditure data, up from 8.6% in 2023.

The measure covers spending by government, compulsory health insurance and households on health goods and services, but not investment in hospitals or equipment. Korea has a single national health insurance scheme, and patients pay part of the cost of most treatments. Comparisons across countries are based on the System of Health Accounts used by the OECD, the WHO and Eurostat.

Official sources: World Bank: current health expenditure, Korea

How many doctors does South Korea have?

South Korea had 2.6 physicians per 1,000 people in 2022, according to the World Bank's physicians indicator, up from 2.5 in 2021.

The indicator counts doctors in general and specialist practice; definitions vary between countries, for example in whether they include doctors working outside patient care. The World Bank series is updated with a delay of several years, so it does not show recent changes in medical school places or in the number of doctors working in hospitals.

Official sources: World Bank: physicians per 1,000 people, Korea

What is the leading cause of death in South Korea?

Cancer was the leading cause of death in South Korea in 2024, at 174.3 deaths per 100,000 people, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics' Social Indicators in 2025. The crude death rate was 7.1 per 1,000 people in 2025, a preliminary figure, up from 7.0.

The crude death rate rises as the population ages, even if health at each age improves; life expectancy at birth reached 83.7 years in 2024, up 0.2 years. Detailed cause-of-death tables are published in the ministry's annual causes of death statistics.

Official sources: Ministry of Data and Statistics: Social Indicators in 2025

How healthy do South Koreans feel?

53.8% of South Koreans aged 13 and over considered themselves healthy in 2024, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics' 2024 Social Survey. 38.4% felt stress in their daily lives, 6.5 points fewer than in 2022.

36.3% said they worried about getting cancer, up 0.8 points. The Social Survey asks people about health, crime, environment and other topics every two years, so it measures how people see their own situation rather than diagnosed illness. 5.8% reported limitations in daily activities, down 0.8 points.

Official sources: Ministry of Data and Statistics: 2024 Social Survey

How many people are dying in South Korea each year?

207,744 people died in South Korea between January and July 2026, 2.6% fewer than in the same period of 2025, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics' monthly population trends for July 2026. In July alone there were 28,921 deaths, up 3.0%.

Births in July were 24,275, so the population fell by 4,647 through natural change that month. Monthly death counts vary with the weather and seasonal illnesses such as influenza, so year-on-year comparisons of several months together give a steadier picture. The monthly figures are preliminary.

Official sources: Ministry of Data and Statistics: Population Trends, July 2026

What is South Korea's suicide rate?

South Korea's suicide rate was 27.5 per 100,000 people in 2021, according to the World Bank's suicide mortality indicator, which uses WHO estimates. The rate was 27.2 in 2020 and 28.4 in 2019.

The World Bank series is updated with a delay of several years, and its estimates can differ from rates in national death registration data. Newer national figures appear in the Ministry of Data and Statistics' annual causes of death statistics, which are based on death registrations.

Official sources: World Bank: suicide mortality rate, Korea

How long do people live in South Korea?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2024, is 83.6 years. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 2nd highest of 30 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 71.5 years. Worldwide: 11th of 193.

What is South Korea's infant mortality rate?

The UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation puts the infant mortality rate in South Korea at 2.3 per 1,000 in 2024. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 13.9 per 1,000, and South Korea placed 28th highest of 30. Worldwide: 176th of 192.

What is the maternal mortality rate in South Korea?

The WHO puts the maternal mortality ratio in South Korea at 4.0 per 100,000 in 2023. No year since 2005 has been lower. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 82.0 per 100,000, and South Korea placed 28th highest of 30. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 171st highest.

How much does South Korea spend on health?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2024, is 8.7% of GDP. Since 2005 it has ranged from 4.7% of GDP (2005) to 8.9% of GDP (2022).

How much of health care in South Korea do patients pay for?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2024, is 33.7%. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 44.4%; its low point was 2022, at 29.3%.

How many doctors per person does South Korea have?

According to the WHO, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in South Korea was 2.6 per 1,000 in 2022. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 2.6 per 1,000, and South Korea placed 7th highest of 11. World rank, highest first: 59th of 125.

What is hospital capacity in South Korea?

12.8 per 1,000: that is hospital beds per 1,000 people in South Korea for 2022, according to the WHO. That is the highest since at least 2005. East Asia & Pacific median: 2.7 per 1,000; South Korea is 1st highest of 12. Of 110 countries with 2022 data, 1st highest.

What is measles vaccine coverage in South Korea?

97.0%: that is measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in South Korea for 2024, according to WHO and UNICEF. Since 2005 it has ranged from 92.0% (2007) to 99.0% (2005). East Asia & Pacific median: 91.0%; South Korea is 6th highest of 30. World rank, highest first: 31st of 191.