Poverty and living standards in Ulsan, South Korea: official figures
35,497 households in Ulsan received National Basic Livelihood Security benefits in 2025, 1.8% of the 2,013,319 recipient households nationwide (3rd lowest of 17).
How many people living alone receive basic livelihood benefits in Ulsan?
75.8% of recipient households in Ulsan were one-person households (26,896 households), 5th 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 Ulsan?
Elderly households made up 29.9% of recipient households in Ulsan in 2025 (10,606 households), 8th 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 Ulsan?
9.9% of recipient households in Ulsan were disabled households (3,518 households), 2nd 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 Ulsan?
Mother-and-child households were 11.2% of recipient households in Ulsan in 2025 (3,980 households), 7th highest 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 Ulsan?
24.0% of recipient households in Ulsan had no recorded income in 2025 (8,509 households), 2nd lowest of 17 (national: 26.8%).
Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare, published on KOSIS · saved copyHow long do households in Ulsan stay on basic livelihood benefits?
14.5% of recipient households in Ulsan had been receiving benefits for 10 years or more in 2025 (5,137 households), the lowest of 17 (national: 19.9%).
Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare, published on KOSIS · saved copyHow Ulsan compares with other metropolitan cities
Households receiving basic livelihood benefits (2025)
Ulsan ranks 15 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Gwangju | 70,547 |
| 12 | Gangwon State | 66,573 |
| 13 | North Chungcheong Province | 61,289 |
| 14 | Daejeon | 59,045 |
| 15 | Ulsan | 35,497 |
| 16 | Jeju Special Self-Governing Province | 26,261 |
| 17 | Sejong | 6,332 |
One-person households as a share of recipient households (2025)
Ulsan ranks 5 of 17, highest first.
| Rank | Region | One-person households as a share of recipient households |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 8 | North Chungcheong Province | 75.1% |
More on Ulsan: 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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