Demographic Shift in Households

According to the National Statistical Portal‌ (KOSIS) of Statistics Korea and⁤ the ‘Future Household Estimation 2022-2052’, the number of households with a head of household aged 80 or older in 2052 is ‌predicted to be 4,876,000 households.

This represents an increase of 3,682,000 households compared to 1,194,000 households in 2022. The number of households in their ‌80s is expected to increase more than threefold from 1,087,000 in ‍2022 to 3,792,000‍ in 2052.

During the same period, the number of households ‌in their 90s is ‌expected to increase from 106,000 to 1,052,000, and the number of households over 100 is‌ expected to increase ‌from​ 2,000 to 32,000.

Single-Person Elderly Households ‍on the Rise

The number of single-person elderly households is increasing rapidly, and by 2052, most of the second baby boomers (born between 1964 and⁢ 1974)⁢ will be in their 80s or older.

If all goes as planned,⁣ 20.9% of the 23,277,000 households in 2052 will be households with people aged 80 or older. The proportion of households with people aged 80⁤ or older was 5.5% in 2022, but it is expected to exceed⁢ 10% in 2036 and⁣ enter the 20% ‌range in 2051.

Household Composition in 2052

If we analyze households over 80 by the number of household members in 2052, single-person households will be the most numerous. Single-person households over 80 are expected to reach 2,285,000 households, or 23.8% of ⁤all single-person households (9,620,000 households).

Next‌ are expected to be 2,007,000 households of two people, 473,000 households⁢ of three people, 91,000 households of four people, and 20,000 households of five or more people.

Decline in Younger Households

The number of households headed by young people in⁤ their 30s or younger is estimated to ‌decrease from 4.988 ‌million households in 2022 to 2.744 million households in 2052. Their share of all households is expected to decrease⁤ from 23% to 11.8%.