South Korea vs Sweden: Median age
Median age in 2023: 44.5 years in South Korea and 39.9 years in Sweden, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in South Korea, by 4.6 years, or 1.11 times that in Sweden.
South KoreaSweden
Watch it change on the mapLatest figures
years · UN
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2023 | Projected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | 44.5 2023 | 38.5 | 19 of 229 | 59.9 2100 |
| Sweden | 39.9 2023 | 39.9 | 53 of 229 | 48.6 2100 |
| World | 30.4 2023 | 27.8 | 42.1 2100 |
What the numbers say
- South Korea has been higher since 2016, when it overtook Sweden.
- In 2023, South Korea ranked 19 and Sweden ranked 53 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts South Korea at 59.9 years and Sweden at 48.6 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 30.4 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | South Korea | Sweden | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 44.5 | 39.9 | 30.4 |
| 2022 | 43.9 | 39.7 | 30.1 |
| 2021 | 43.4 | 39.6 | 29.8 |
| 2020 | 42.8 | 39.6 | 29.6 |
| 2019 | 42.2 | 39.5 | 29.3 |
| 2018 | 41.6 | 39.6 | 29 |
| 2017 | 41.1 | 39.7 | 28.8 |
| 2016 | 40.5 | 39.9 | 28.5 |
| 2015 | 39.9 | 39.9 | 28.3 |
| 2014 | 39.2 | 39.9 | 28.1 |
| 2013 | 38.5 | 39.9 | 27.8 |
| 2012 | 37.9 | 39.9 | 27.6 |
| 2011 | 37.2 | 39.8 | 27.4 |
| 2010 | 36.6 | 39.7 | 27.2 |
| 2009 | 36 | 39.7 | 27 |
| 2008 | 35.4 | 39.7 | 26.7 |
| 2007 | 34.8 | 39.5 | 26.5 |
| 2006 | 34.2 | 39.4 | 26.3 |
| 2005 | 33.6 | 39.2 | 26.1 |
| 2004 | 32.9 | 39 | 25.9 |
| 2003 | 32.3 | 38.8 | 25.7 |
| 2002 | 31.7 | 38.6 | 25.5 |
| 2001 | 31.2 | 38.5 | 25.3 |
| 2000 | 30.7 | 38.4 | 25.1 |
| 1999 | 30.2 | 38.2 | 24.9 |
| 1998 | 29.7 | 38 | 24.7 |
| 1997 | 29.2 | 37.8 | 24.4 |
| 1996 | 28.8 | 37.7 | 24.2 |
| 1995 | 28.3 | 37.5 | 24 |
| 1994 | 27.9 | 37.4 | 23.8 |
| 1993 | 27.4 | 37.4 | 23.5 |
| 1992 | 26.9 | 37.4 | 23.3 |
| 1991 | 26.3 | 37.4 | 23.1 |
| 1990 | 25.8 | 37.4 | 22.9 |
| 1989 | 25.3 | 37.4 | 22.8 |
| 1988 | 24.8 | 37.3 | 22.6 |
| 1987 | 24.3 | 37.2 | 22.4 |
| 1986 | 23.8 | 37 | 22.2 |
| 1985 | 23.3 | 36.7 | 22 |
| 1984 | 22.8 | 36.4 | 21.9 |
| 1983 | 22.3 | 36.1 | 21.8 |
| 1982 | 21.8 | 35.8 | 21.7 |
| 1981 | 21.4 | 35.4 | 21.6 |
| 1980 | 20.9 | 35.1 | 21.5 |
| 1979 | 20.5 | 34.8 | 21.3 |
| 1978 | 20 | 34.6 | 21.1 |
| 1977 | 19.6 | 34.4 | 21 |
| 1976 | 19.2 | 34.3 | 20.8 |
| 1975 | 18.9 | 34.3 | 20.7 |
| 1974 | 18.5 | 34.3 | 20.5 |
| 1973 | 18.2 | 34.3 | 20.4 |
| 1972 | 18 | 34.2 | 20.4 |
| 1971 | 17.8 | 34.3 | 20.3 |
| 1970 | 17.7 | 34.4 | 20.3 |
| 1969 | 17.6 | 34.6 | 20.3 |
| 1968 | 17.6 | 34.8 | 20.4 |
| 1967 | 17.5 | 34.9 | 20.5 |
| 1966 | 17.5 | 35 | 20.6 |
| 1965 | 17.5 | 35.2 | 20.8 |
| 1964 | 17.7 | 35.3 | 21 |
| 1963 | 17.9 | 35.4 | 21.2 |
| 1962 | 18.1 | 35.3 | 21.4 |
| 1961 | 18.3 | 35.2 | 21.4 |
| 1960 | 18.3 | 35.1 | 21.5 |
| 1959 | 18.3 | 34.9 | 21.5 |
| 1958 | 18.3 | 34.7 | 21.5 |
| 1957 | 18.2 | 34.6 | 21.6 |
| 1956 | 18 | 34.3 | 21.7 |
| 1955 | 17.9 | 34.1 | 21.8 |
| 1954 | 17.7 | 33.8 | 21.9 |
| 1953 | 17.6 | 33.6 | 22 |
| 1952 | 17.5 | 33.5 | 22.1 |
| 1951 | 17.5 | 33.3 | 22.1 |
| 1950 | 17.7 | 33.2 | 22.2 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | South Korea | Sweden | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 45.145–45.1 | 40.140.1–40.2 | 30.6 |
| 2025 | 45.645.5–45.8 | 40.340.1–40.4 | 30.9 |
| 2026 | 46.245.9–46.5 | 40.540.2–40.7 | 31.1 |
| 2027 | 46.846.4–47.2 | 40.740.2–41 | 31.3 |
| 2028 | 47.346.8–47.9 | 40.940.3–41.3 | 31.6 |
| 2029 | 47.947.2–48.6 | 41.140.4–41.7 | 31.8 |
| 2030 | 48.547.6–49.3 | 41.340.5–42.1 | 32 |
| 2031 | 4948–50 | 41.640.7–42.4 | 32.2 |
| 2032 | 49.648.4–50.8 | 41.940.8–42.8 | 32.4 |
| 2033 | 50.148.7–51.5 | 42.240.9–43.3 | 32.6 |
| 2034 | 50.749–52.2 | 42.541.1–43.7 | 32.8 |
| 2035 | 51.249.2–52.9 | 42.741.1–44.1 | 33 |
| 2036 | 51.649.4–53.6 | 4341.2–44.6 | 33.2 |
| 2037 | 52.149.7–54.2 | 43.241.2–45 | 33.4 |
| 2038 | 52.549.8–54.9 | 43.441.1–45.4 | 33.6 |
| 2039 | 52.950–55.5 | 43.640.9–45.8 | 33.8 |
| 2040 | 53.350.2–56.1 | 43.740.7–46.3 | 34 |
| 2041 | 53.750.4–56.7 | 43.840.5–46.7 | 34.2 |
| 2042 | 5450.6–57.2 | 43.840.3–47 | 34.4 |
| 2043 | 54.450.8–57.7 | 43.840.1–47.4 | 34.6 |
| 2044 | 54.751–58.2 | 43.840–47.7 | 34.8 |
| 2045 | 5551.2–58.7 | 43.840–48 | 35 |
| 2046 | 55.351.4–59.2 | 43.840–48.3 | 35.2 |
| 2047 | 55.751.6–59.6 | 43.840–48.6 | 35.4 |
| 2048 | 5651.8–60.1 | 43.940.1–48.9 | 35.6 |
| 2049 | 56.452–60.5 | 4440.2–49.2 | 35.9 |
| 2050 | 56.752.2–60.9 | 44.140.3–49.4 | 36.1 |
| 2051 | 57.152.4–61.4 | 44.240.4–49.7 | 36.3 |
| 2052 | 57.552.6–61.8 | 44.440.5–49.9 | 36.5 |
| 2053 | 57.852.7–62.2 | 44.640.7–50.1 | 36.7 |
| 2054 | 58.252.9–62.6 | 44.740.8–50.4 | 36.9 |
| 2055 | 58.553–63.1 | 44.940.9–50.7 | 37.1 |
| 2056 | 58.853.1–63.5 | 45.141–51 | 37.3 |
| 2057 | 59.253.1–63.9 | 45.341.1–51.3 | 37.5 |
| 2058 | 59.553.1–64.4 | 45.541.3–51.6 | 37.6 |
| 2059 | 59.853.1–64.9 | 45.741.4–52 | 37.8 |
| 2060 | 60.153.1–65.4 | 45.941.5–52.3 | 37.9 |
| 2061 | 60.353.1–65.8 | 46.141.6–52.6 | 38 |
| 2062 | 60.653.2–66.3 | 46.341.7–53 | 38.1 |
| 2063 | 60.853.2–66.7 | 46.541.8–53.3 | 38.3 |
| 2064 | 60.953.2–67.1 | 46.641.9–53.6 | 38.4 |
| 2065 | 6153.3–67.5 | 46.842–54 | 38.5 |
| 2066 | 61.153.4–67.9 | 4742.1–54.3 | 38.6 |
| 2067 | 61.253.5–68.3 | 47.242.1–54.7 | 38.7 |
| 2068 | 61.353.5–68.7 | 47.342.1–55 | 38.8 |
| 2069 | 61.453.5–69 | 47.542.1–55.3 | 38.9 |
| 2070 | 61.553.6–69.4 | 47.642.1–55.6 | 39 |
| 2071 | 61.653.6–69.7 | 47.742.1–55.9 | 39.1 |
| 2072 | 61.853.5–70 | 47.742.1–56.2 | 39.2 |
| 2073 | 61.953.4–70.2 | 47.742.1–56.5 | 39.3 |
| 2074 | 62.153.3–70.3 | 47.742.1–56.8 | 39.4 |
| 2075 | 62.253.1–70.4 | 47.742.2–57.2 | 39.5 |
| 2076 | 62.452.9–70.4 | 47.742.2–57.5 | 39.6 |
| 2077 | 62.652.7–70.4 | 47.742.2–57.7 | 39.7 |
| 2078 | 62.752.5–70.4 | 47.742.2–58 | 39.8 |
| 2079 | 62.952.3–70.4 | 47.642.3–58.3 | 40 |
| 2080 | 6352.2–70.4 | 47.642.3–58.6 | 40.1 |
| 2081 | 6352–70.4 | 47.542.4–58.8 | 40.2 |
| 2082 | 6351.9–70.5 | 47.542.5–59 | 40.3 |
| 2083 | 62.951.8–70.6 | 47.542.5–59.1 | 40.4 |
| 2084 | 62.751.7–70.7 | 47.542.6–59.3 | 40.5 |
| 2085 | 62.551.7–70.8 | 47.542.6–59.4 | 40.6 |
| 2086 | 62.251.7–70.8 | 47.542.7–59.5 | 40.7 |
| 2087 | 61.951.6–70.8 | 47.542.7–59.6 | 40.9 |
| 2088 | 61.651.5–70.9 | 47.542.8–59.7 | 41 |
| 2089 | 61.451.5–70.7 | 47.642.9–59.8 | 41.1 |
| 2090 | 61.251.5–70.2 | 47.743–59.8 | 41.2 |
| 2091 | 6151.4–69.6 | 47.843.1–59.9 | 41.3 |
| 2092 | 60.951.3–69 | 47.843.1–59.9 | 41.4 |
| 2093 | 60.751.3–68.3 | 47.943.2–60 | 41.5 |
| 2094 | 60.651.3–67.6 | 4843.3–60 | 41.6 |
| 2095 | 60.551.2–67 | 48.143.4–60 | 41.7 |
| 2096 | 60.451.2–66.4 | 48.243.4–60.1 | 41.8 |
| 2097 | 60.251.1–65.9 | 48.343.5–60.1 | 41.9 |
| 2098 | 60.151.1–65.3 | 48.443.5–60.1 | 42 |
| 2099 | 6051.1–64.7 | 48.543.6–60 | 42 |
| 2100 | 59.951–64.1 | 48.643.6–60.1 | 42.1 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- Half the people are older than this age and half are younger.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time