Number of female sole proprietors in South Korea
South Korea: Number of female sole proprietors was 537,913 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Number of female sole proprietors in South Korea, 2014–2023
Source: World Bank's Entrepreneurship Survey and database (https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/entrepreneurship). Downloaded on May 2, 2026.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 537,913 for number of female sole proprietors in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.0% on the previous year and up 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of female sole proprietors in South Korea peaked at 660,254 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 481,036, in 2014.
South Korea ranks 2nd of 78 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Number of female sole proprietors in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 481,036 | — |
| 2015 | 514,452 | +6.9% |
| 2016 | 531,855 | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 562,244 | +5.7% |
| 2018 | 606,544 | +7.9% |
| 2019 | 567,251 | -6.5% |
| 2020 | 660,254 | +16.4% |
| 2021 | 626,133 | -5.2% |
| 2022 | 571,945 | -8.7% |
| 2023 | 537,913 | -6.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 537,913 is above the median for high income countries, which is 12,223, 44.0× the median. (28 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 537,913 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3,643, 147.7× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 543,897 | 481,036 | 606,544 | 6 |
| 2020s | 599,061 | 537,913 | 660,254 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 1 Philippines 573,116 compare
- 3 Russia 433,168 compare
- 4 Kazakhstan 287,631 compare
- 5 Mexico 279,730 compare
More private sector data for South Korea
- Merchandise trade 71.6% (2025)
- Food imports 6.5% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 62.1% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 631.89 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 183.44 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 1.7% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 88.0% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 709.33 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 149.31 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 13,724 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of female sole proprietors in South Korea?
- Number of female sole proprietors in South Korea was 537,913 in 2023, according to World Bank's Entrepreneurship Survey and database (https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/entrepreneurship). Downloaded on May 2, 2026.
- What is the highest number of female sole proprietors recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 660,254 in 2020.
- What is the lowest number of female sole proprietors recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 481,036 in 2014.
- How does South Korea rank for number of female sole proprietors?
- South Korea ranks 2nd out of 78 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of female sole proprietors rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank's Entrepreneurship Survey and database (https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/entrepreneurship). Downloaded on May 2, 2026, published as part of Number of female sole proprietors. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of female sole proprietors is the number of newly registered sole proprietors owned by female individuals in the calendar year. A sole proprietorship is a business entity owned and managed by a single individual who is indistinguishable from the business and personally liable.