Population: 43,134,386 (July 1991), growth rate 0.8% (1991)

Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 23 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 67 years male, 73 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Korean(s); adjective--Korean

Ethnic divisions: homogeneous; small Chinese minority (about 20,000)

Religion: strong Confucian tradition; vigorous Christian minority (28% of the total population); Buddhism; pervasive folk religion (Shamanism); Chondokyo (religion of the heavenly way), eclectic religion with nationalist overtones founded in 19th century, claims about 1.5 million adherents

Language: Korean; English widely taught in high school

Literacy: 96% (male 99%, female 94%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 16,900,000; 52% services and other; 27% mining and manufacturing; 21% agriculture, fishing, forestry (1987)

Organized labor: about 10% of nonagricultural labor force in government-sanctioned unions

NOTE: The information regarding Korea, South on this page is re-published from the 1991 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Korea, South People 1991 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Korea, South People 1991 should be addressed to the CIA.