South Korea: housing

What share of South Korean households own a home?

56.9% of South Korean households owned a home in 2024, up 0.5 points from 2023, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics' 2024 Statistics of House Ownership, released 14 November 2025. 12.684 million households owned at least one home and 9.61 million owned none.

The statistics are compiled from administrative data and cover general households only. Ownership means owning a dwelling, not necessarily the one a household lives in. 86.3% of individual owners lived in the same city or province as the home they owned.

Official sources: Ministry of Data and Statistics: 2024 Statistics of House Ownership

How many South Koreans own more than one home?

2.377 million South Koreans owned two or more homes in 2024, 14.9% of all home owners, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics' 2024 Statistics of House Ownership. 13.599 million owned exactly one.

Counted by household, 3.304 million households, or 26.0% of owning households, held two or more homes. Owners held 1.07 homes each on average. In total 15.976 million individuals owned 17.058 million homes, 85.8% of the country's 19.873 million housing units; the rest are not owned by individuals.

Official sources: Ministry of Data and Statistics: 2024 Statistics of House Ownership

Does South Korea have enough housing?

South Korea's housing supply ratio was 102.9% in 2024, up from 102.5% in 2023, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics' Social Indicators in 2025. There were 442.8 housing units per 1,000 people, up from 437.0.

The supply ratio compares the number of homes with the number of households; above 100% means there are more homes than households nationally. It does not show whether homes are in the places people want to live or at prices they can pay, and regional ratios can differ from the national figure.

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

How affordable are homes in South Korea?

The house price to income ratio in South Korea was 6.3 in 2024, unchanged from 2023, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics' Social Indicators in 2025. It means a typical home cost 6.3 years of household income.

The ratio compares house prices with annual household income; a higher number means homes are harder to afford. It is a national average, so it does not show differences between regions. In the 2024 Social Survey, 33.4% of people named housing support as the most effective response to low fertility.

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

How much of their income do South Korean renters pay in rent?

South Korean renters spent 15.8% of their income on rent in 2024, the same as in 2023, according to the rent to income ratio in the Ministry of Data and Statistics' Social Indicators in 2025.

Korea has two main rental systems: jeonse, where tenants pay a large lump-sum deposit returned at the end of the lease, and monthly rent (wolse), often with a smaller deposit. The ratio measures rent as a share of household income. Utility costs are measured separately; in the September 2026 consumer price index housing, water, electricity and gas prices were 1.9% higher than a year earlier.

Official sources: Ministry of Data and Statistics: Social Indicators in 2025 · Ministry of Data and Statistics: Consumer Price Index, September 2026

What is South Korea's urbanisation rate?

In 2025, the share of people living in urban areas in South Korea was 81.2%, according to the UN Population Division. Its high point since 2005 was 2010, at 82.0%; its low point was 2021, at 81.2%. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 63.1%, and South Korea placed 6th highest of 30. Worldwide: 39th of 193.

How many people in South Korea live in slums?

In 2022, the share of city dwellers living in slums in South Korea was 4.5%, according to UN-Habitat. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2006. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 17.9%, and South Korea placed 17th highest of 27. Worldwide: 109th of 170.

What share of people in South Korea have electricity?

100.0%: that is the share of people with access to electricity in South Korea for 2024, according to the World Bank. The figure has been the same every year since 2005. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 100.0%, and South Korea placed 1st highest of 30. Worldwide: 1st of 193.

What is access to safe water in South Korea?

99.3%: that is the share of people using safely managed drinking water in South Korea for 2024, according to WHO and UNICEF. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 3rd highest of 20 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 45.9%. Of 134 countries with 2024 data, 24th highest.

How many people in South Korea have a safe toilet?

The latest figure from WHO and UNICEF, for 2024, is 99.3%. The peak was 99.3% in 2023 and the low 89.9% in 2005. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 60.5%, and South Korea placed 2nd highest of 21. Worldwide: 8th of 134.

What is access to clean cooking in South Korea?

In 2024, the share of people using clean cooking fuels in South Korea was 100.0%, according to the WHO. It has not changed since 2005. East Asia & Pacific median: 82.0%; South Korea is 1st highest of 30. World rank, highest first: 1st of 192.