More than half of the population of farming, fishing, and forestry households was recorded as being 65 years or older last year. The number of people in their 70s engaged in agriculture, forestry, and fishing is increasing, while a trend of leaving these sectors continues among all age groups under 60.

According to the 2024 agriculture, forestry, and fishing survey results released by Statistics Korea on the 17th, the proportion of elderly people (65 years or older) in farming households reached 55.8%. Fishing households recorded 50.9%, and forestry households saw 56.4%. This exceeds the overall elderly population ratio in South Korea (19.2%) by about 30 percentage points.

Specifically, last year, there were 974,000 farming households, which is a 2.5% decrease from the previous year (999,000 households). The farming population last year was 2,004,000, down 4.1% from the previous year. In contrast, the proportion of elderly people reached 55.8%, an increase from the previous year's 52.6%. Those aged 70 and older accounted for 39.2% of the total farming population.

Statistics Korea noted, “The reduction in the farming population is due to elderly individuals abandoning agriculture and transitioning to other professions.” They explained, “When examining the farming population by age last year, only those in their 70s increased, while decreases were seen in all other age groups.”

The situation for fishing households is no different. Last year, there were 40,900 fishing households, a 2.1% decrease compared to the previous year. The fishing population also declined to 84,000, down 3.6% from the previous year.

In contrast, the proportion of elderly people rose from 48% to 50%. By age, individuals in their 60s constituted the largest share of the fishing population at 34.6% (29,000 people). Those aged 70 and older also represented 32.3%, totaling 27,000 individuals. Although the population aged 70 and over increased by 5.1% from the previous year, all age groups under 60 saw a decrease in the fishing population.

Last year, there were 98,000 forestry households, a decrease of 1.2% compared to the previous year. During the same period, the forestry population (199,800 people) decreased by 2.2%, but the ratio of elderly individuals increased by 3.5 percentage points to record 56.4%.

Among forestry populations, those aged 70 and older had the largest share at 38.3%, followed by those in their 60s (34%) and 50s (14.2%). In forestry, the population aged 70 and older increased by 5.5% compared to the previous year, but all age groups under 60 saw a decline in the forestry population.