The year 2025 marks the return of the "Census." Also known as the "National Population and Housing Census," this is the largest national statistical survey conducted by the Statistics Korea every five years involving the entire nation. The statistics obtained through the Census provide extremely "basic" information about our lives, such as population, households, and dwellings, yet they also serve as the most "important" records for understanding the society and economy of the time. It has already been 100 years since the Census was first implemented. What does the history of the Republic of Korea, as shown by the Census over the past century, look like? We will revisit this through the "100 years of the Census." [Editor's note]
On October 1, 1925, at 12 a.m., the first "Census" in Korea was recorded. At that time, the total population was 19,522,945, with 10,029,943 men and 9,502,002 women. The population was less than half compared to today, and the gender ratio shows that there were more men than women, reflecting the unfamiliar realities of that era. Although it holds historical value, the story behind this initial Korean Census is not particularly pleasant.
◇ 1925~1940 | The Japanese general government survey is the beginning of the "modern Census"
The first Census was conducted by the Japanese general government during the occupation. The survey was known as the "Simple National Census." Population statistics are fundamental to "governance." It is likely that the Japanese utilized this information to exploit labor and economically plunder Korea.
Regarding why the 1925 survey is viewed as the beginning of modern Censuses, a Statistics Korea official noted, "The principles set by the United Nations recommend that 'everyone in the territory should be surveyed' (universality) and 'should be based on a specific point in time' (simultaneity)," adding that "(the Simple National Census) largely followed these basic principles."
The official further stated, "Population surveys conducted during the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties were not inclusive as they did not count slaves, women, or the elderly, so they cannot be considered modern Censuses."
◇ 1944~1955 | Population plunges after the division of Korea… Many men lost a leg during the war
The Census that began 100 years ago has been conducted every five years since then. However, it is noted that the surveys in the 1940s did not align perfectly with the five-year intervals. Surveys that should have been conducted in 1945 and 1950 took place in 1944 and 1949, respectively. This is closely related to the history of war and liberation. During the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1944, the surveys were likely conducted a year earlier for mobilizing personnel and materials, and in 1949, shortly after the establishment of the Republic of Korea, to operate the nation effectively. After 1949, the responsible entity for conducting the Census changed to what was then the Statistical Office of the Ministry of Public Information.
Census records also illustrate the reality of the division of Korea. The population, which consistently increased to 25.9 million by 1944, plummeted to 20,189,000 in 1949. This change occurred around the time when the Korean Peninsula was divided into North and South Korea following the liberation on August 15, 1945. The 1944 Census was the last statistic combining the populations of both North and South Korea. However, experts estimate that the population did not decrease by half due to the special circumstances of high population movement immediately after liberation.
The 1955 Census also bears the scars of the Korean War (the 6.25 War). About 1% of the population, approximately 180,000 people, were labeled as "disabled" (people with incomplete bodies, as noted at the time), and 70% of these were men. Both genders had the highest number classified as "deaf-mute" (those who cannot hear or speak), with men predominantly losing a leg ("amputee") or being blind in one eye ("blind").
◇ 1960~1995 | Surge in births leads to the foundation of "family planning policies"… Apartment emerges as a major dwelling type
In the 1960s, the government began to actively utilize Census results in national policies. This period marked the onset of the first baby boom generation, as the post-war surge in birth rates emerged as a social issue.
The total population, which had been increasing by approximately 6% every five years, surged by over 16% between 1955 and 1960. The 'First Five-Year Economic Development Plan,' announced in 1962, included this issue in its objectives, stating 'we will utilize the data from the national Census.'
Naturally, future population projections began during this period. This entails predicting future populations based on Census data, considering births, deaths, and population movements. According to the first official population projection released by the government in 1964, titled "New Population Projection of Korea" (1960-2000), it was estimated that the population peak would occur in 1980 with 41.93 million.
The Census in the rapidly industrializing 1970s began to measure the 'wealth' of households in earnest. In 1970, among 5,576,000 households, the most commonly owned electronic devices were radios (4,043,000 households) and sewing machines (2,446,000 households). Homes with pianos and organs (61,000 households) or refrigerators (127,000 households) were rare. A Statistics Korea official explained that "this became a measure of the cultural aspects of the public or the scale of the middle class."
During the 1980s and 1990s, rapid urbanization and population concentration became prominent issues. In 1985, the population density per square kilometer by city was overwhelmingly highest in Seoul at 15,921.1, followed by Busan (8,088.8), Incheon (6,713), and Daegu (4,460.6). Today, the population density in Busan and Daegu has halved compared to back then, while Gyeonggi Province has tripled during the same period.
In the 1990s, when apartments began to spring up everywhere, 23% (1,628,117) of all dwellings (7,160,386) were apartments. Although single-family homes accounted for the majority at 66% (4,726,933), apartments became the second most common type of dwelling in the country. Today, however, the proportion of apartments (64%) is the largest.
◇ 2000~2025 | 93% of married women say, “No more children” … 1 in 3 households lives alone
In 2000, Korea faced concerns over the "Y2K" (Year 2000 computer bug), yet the speed of personal computer (PC) distribution was rapid. Of all households (14,311,126), 21.7% (3,109,559 households) were reported to have internet connections.
Starting in 2005, the low birthrate issue began to surface prominently. Of the 14,413,990 married women aged 15 and older, 93% (13,343,585) responded that they had "no plans for additional children." The individualization of society has also progressed rapidly, with the proportion of single-person households increasing significantly from just 4.2% in 1975 to one in three households (31.7%) by 2020.
The 21st and 100th Census, the "2025 National Population and Housing Census," will be conducted this year in October and November. The results derived from this Census are expected to add another chapter to the history written so far. Kim Seo-young, head of the Population Census Division at Statistics Korea, stated, "The Census reflects the changes in our country over the past 100 years," and added, "I believe that the fundamental role of the Census is to record the history of how society and the economy evolve."