South Korea’s population aged 100 and older topped 8,600 last year, increasing 2.7-fold over the past decade. Women accounted for more than 80 percent of centenarians, while South Jeolla Province and Jeju Island had the highest numbers relative to their populations.

Centenarians cited a controlled diet as the top secret to longevity. Seven in 10 centenarians living at home said they had no intention of moving into a long-term care facility, even if their health deteriorated or they required care.

According to the Ministry of Data and Statistics, the number of centenarians had reached 8,604 as of November 2025, up 5,445, or 172.4 percent, from 3,159 in 2015. Relative to the total population, the number of centenarians per 100,000 residents rose 2.7-fold, from 6.4 in 2015 to 17.3 last year.

Women accounted for 7,176, or 83.4 percent, of the total, while men numbered 1,428, or 16.6 percent.


don@heraldcorp.com