The number of centenarians - people who have reached 100 years of age or more - in Korea has surpassed 8,600. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on September 11, the number of centenarians as of August 31 this year is 8,604, up 1,024 from last year's 7,580. By region, Seoul had the most centenarians with 2,044, followed by Gyeonggi Province with 1,479, South Jeolla Province with 618, North Jeolla Province with 576, and Busan with 544. The top five most common surnames among centenarians were Kim, Lee, Park, Choi, and Kang. The average lifespan of centenarians was 100.7 years, with women outnumbering men by a significant margin - 7,637 women to 967 men. When asked about their longevity, most centenarians cited their "moderate eating habits" as a key factor. The survey also showed that 97.6% of centenarians are able to perform daily tasks on their own without difficulty. The number of centenarians has been on the rise over the past 10 years, with an average annual growth rate of 8.8%. Experts say that centenarians' lifestyles, which typically include moderate eating, regular exercise, and an optimistic outlook, hold the secret to their longevity. Centenarians are also more likely to have higher education and economic levels than the general population. Ministry officials said, "We plan to use this data to develop various policies to help the elderly lead better lives."
In 2025, there were 8604 individuals over the age of 100 in South Korea, a 2.7-fold increase from the 3,159 recorded ten years prior in 2015. Women accounted for 83.4% of this demographic, with 7,176 individuals. The region with the highest concentration of centenarians was Gyeonggi Province, with 2,052 individuals, followed by Seoul (1,268) and Gyeongbuk (559).
Of the 4,280 centenarians living in homes rather than facilities, 59.7% attributed their longevity to a balanced lifestyle and active social connections. This included meeting family and friends an average of 12.7 times a month, with more than half (50.8%) meeting 10 or more times a month. Nearly 78.4% engaged in daily activities such as watching television or listening to the radio, while 78.4% also participated in regular outdoor activities like walking or visiting local centers for seniors.
Nearly 75.1% of centenarians lived with their families, with 80.2% relying on support from children or relatives for their living expenses, followed by government and local government assistance (67.2%) and self-funding (9.8%).
The subjective health of centenarians had worsened compared to a decade ago, with 31.2% reporting they were in poor health, up from 21.8% in the previous survey. The most common chronic conditions among centenarians were hypertension (56.7%), arthritis (39.9%), dementia (29.1%), and diabetes (15.7%). When asked about their willingness to enter a facility in the future, 70.7% responded "no," citing reasons such as family support (28.6%), a desire to stay in familiar surroundings (23.3%), and a reluctance or negative perception of facilities (23.0%).
Written by urgent.news from Hankyoreh's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
