One in five Seoul residents in their 40s and 50s is unmarried, with professionals who have established financial footing increasingly choosing single-person households, according to a new analysis that found life satisfaction rises sharply with income.
According to the "Life of Middle-Aged Unmarried Residents in Seoul" analysis released by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Monday, the city's population aged 40 to 59 totaled approximately 2.74 million as of last year. Of these, about 560,000 were unmarried, accounting for 20.5% of the total. The unmarried ratio has continued to rise annually, from 18.3% in 2022 to 19.4% in 2023.
The unmarried rate was particularly pronounced among men. Some 24.1% of middle-aged men were unmarried, significantly higher than the 16.9% figure for women. The trend of choosing independent lives over marriage was also clear. The share of single-person households among unmarried middle-aged residents expanded from 61.3% in 2015 to 80.5% this year. Meanwhile, the proportion of two-generation or larger households living with parents fell from 33.5% to 17.7% over the same period.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government analyzed that this change is particularly evident among management, professional, and white-collar workers. The proportion of management and professional workers among unmarried single-person households has increased significantly compared to a decade ago. The city said this shift confirms a tendency among middle-aged people with job stability and economic foundations to prioritize individual lifestyle and independence over marriage.
"Life Satisfaction Rises with Higher Income"…Divided by Earnings
The report also confirmed that life satisfaction and happiness indices vary significantly by income level. The higher the monthly income, the greater the life satisfaction and happiness, while loneliness clearly tended to decrease.
Life satisfaction among middle-aged unmarried single-person households stood at just 5.5 out of 10 for those earning less than 2 million won ($1,450) per month. In contrast, the score rose to 7.7 for those earning 8 million won or more. The happiness index also showed a wide gap, at 5.0 for those earning less than 2 million won but 7.8 for those earning 8 million won or more.
The gap was also evident in leisure activities. Management and professional workers had the highest response rate for actively enjoying leisure time, and their participation in exercise or sports activities was also higher than in other occupational groups. More respondents with higher incomes also said they maintained a good work-life balance.
"Alone but Lacking Connection"…Middle-Aged Men Feel Loneliest
However, social isolation among middle-aged unmarried single-person households was still cited as a challenge. Their sense of belonging to the local community scored 3.4 out of 10, lower than that of married couple households. Unmarried single-person households of men in their 40s recorded the lowest level at 3.0.
Participation rates in clubs or group activities were also lower than in married households with children. Despite their financial comfort, their social networks are relatively weak. Experts view that the increase in middle-aged single-person households is not merely a demographic change but is likely to lead to problems of isolation and loneliness.
In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is expanding isolation prevention initiatives such as "Seoul Maeum Convenience Store," "Loneliness Hello 120," and the "365-Day Seoul Challenge."
"Middle-aged unmarried people are no longer an exceptional group but are becoming Seoul's new household standard," a city official said. "The need for policy responses encompassing not only living stability but also social relationships and emotional support is growing."
