Jennifer Mendoza
Research expert covering health, pharma and medtech
Death in South Korea - statistics & facts
Suicide and cancer are two leading causes of death in South Korea. While the COVID-19 period saw mortality rates accelerate, they had already been increasing since an all-time recorded low in the late 2010s. Simultaneously, life expectancy at birth has been steadily climbing, reaching 83.5 years in 2023. South Korea is one of several countries struggling with an aging population, which may affect mortality rates as well as causes of death more commonly seen among the elderly. Other demographic problems compound the issue.
