Poverty and living standards in Seoul, South Korea: official figures
347,628 households in Seoul received National Basic Livelihood Security benefits in 2025, 17.3% of the 2,013,319 recipient households nationwide (2nd highest of 17).
How many people living alone receive basic livelihood benefits in Seoul?
77.2% of recipient households in Seoul were one-person households (268,354 households), the highest of 17 (national: 74.7%).
Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare, published on KOSIS · saved copyHow many older households receive basic livelihood benefits in Seoul?
Elderly households made up 29.8% of recipient households in Seoul in 2025 (103,734 households), 7th lowest of 17 (national: 30.0%).
Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare, published on KOSIS · saved copyHow many disabled households receive basic livelihood benefits in Seoul?
10.2% of recipient households in Seoul were disabled households (35,370 households), 4th lowest of 17 (national: 11.5%).
Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare, published on KOSIS · saved copyHow many single-mother households receive basic livelihood benefits in Seoul?
Mother-and-child households were 9.1% of recipient households in Seoul in 2025 (31,479 households), 2nd lowest of 17 (national: 10.5%).
Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare, published on KOSIS · saved copyHow many households with no income receive basic livelihood benefits in Seoul?
26.7% of recipient households in Seoul had no recorded income in 2025 (92,872 households), 8th highest of 17 (national: 26.8%).
Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare, published on KOSIS · saved copyHow long do households in Seoul stay on basic livelihood benefits?
19.3% of recipient households in Seoul had been receiving benefits for 10 years or more in 2025 (67,130 households), 6th lowest of 17 (national: 19.9%).
Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare, published on KOSIS · saved copyHow Seoul compares with other special cities
Households receiving basic livelihood benefits (2025)
Seoul ranks 2 of 17, highest first. Counts rise with population; see the share rankings on each region page for comparisons.
| Rank | Region | Households receiving basic livelihood benefits |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gyeonggi Province | 380,151 |
| 2 | Seoul | 347,628 |
| 3 | Busan | 190,214 |
| 4 | South Gyeongsang Province | 140,409 |
| 5 | Incheon | 134,755 |
| 6 | Daegu | 121,496 |
| 7 | North Gyeongsang Province | 119,240 |
One-person households as a share of recipient households (2025)
Seoul ranks 1 of 17, highest first.
| Rank | Region | One-person households as a share of recipient households |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seoul | 77.2% |
| 2 | North Gyeongsang Province | 76.6% |
| 3 | Gangwon State | 76.3% |
| 4 | Busan | 76.1% |
| 5 | Ulsan | 75.8% |
| 6 | South Jeolla Province | 75.8% |
| 7 | South Chungcheong Province | 75.4% |
More on Seoul: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · South Korea
Sources
- Ministry of Health and Welfare, published on KOSIS: National Basic Livelihood Security recipient households by province and household characteristics, 2025 (table DT_11714_N004), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 59fb13cf0bc8…)
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