Abstract

Korea is facing profound demographic challenges, including a historically low birth rate, rapid population aging, and widening regional depopulation. The projected total fertility rate is 0.68, the lowest among 198 countries, and the average age is expected to exceed 55 years by 2050. More than half of the population resides in just 11.8% of the country’s land area, creating severe regional imbalances. Migration and mobility have become increasingly critical in shaping demographic dynamics in non-urban areas, yet existing statistics often fail to capture these patterns in a timely and comprehensive way.

To support region-driven initiatives and provide timely evidence for policy responses, our division developed the Living Population indicator. Unlike traditional resident registration counts, this indicator measures the de facto population present in a specific region, regardless of official residence, thereby offering a more realistic view of population distribution and mobility.

The Living Population is composed of three categories: the resident population, the staying population, and the foreign population. The resident population consists of individuals officially registered under the national resident registration system. The staying population includes those who spend at least three hours in a specific area at least once a month, regardless of their registered address. The foreign population consists of foreign nationals registered under immigration law, as well as overseas Koreans with a domestic residence. To compile this indicator, we integrated both public and private data sources. Public registration data provide accurate demographic attributes with near real-time updates on age, gender, residence, and nationality. Private-sector data, such as mobile phone records and credit card transactions, allow us to identify mobility patterns, activity characteristics, and consumption behavior. Data were pseudonymized, validated, and integrated through database construction before final compilation to ensure reliability and comparability.

The Living Population indicator enables the measurement of population presence and activity at a finer temporal and spatial resolution. By reflecting the de facto population, it captures daily and seasonal mobility patterns that are not observed in traditional statistics. The indicator also offers practical applications, supporting disaster management, transportation planning, and commercial analysis, while enhancing understanding of regional disparities. This tool provides valuable insights to design financial and administrative measures tailored to non-urban areas and encourages inter-ministerial collaboration for comprehensive responses.

The Living Population indicator represents a new approach to demographic statistics in Korea. By combining high-quality public registration data with dynamic private-sector data, it offers a robust and timely tool for understanding population distribution and mobility. This integrated framework contributes to evidence-based policymaking aimed at revitalizing regional vitality and addressing Korea’s structural demographic shifts, with potential relevance for other countries facing similar demographic challenges.