South Korean adults scored an average of 58.6 out of 100 on the Healthy Eating Index in 2022-2024, with little change from 58.9 in 2019-2021, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
The index measures how closely adults aged 19 and older follow recommended dietary guidelines. The 100-point score is based on their intake across 14 dietary categories, including vegetables, fresh fruit, sodium, saturated fat and carbohydrates, with higher scores indicating healthier eating habits.
Scores improved for fresh fruit consumption and sodium intake, while scores for vegetables, saturated fat and carbohydrate intake declined slightly.
Men averaged 57.6 points, compared with 59.6 for women. Adults in their 20s recorded the lowest score at 50.3, followed by those in their 30s at 52.8. Scores generally increased with age, reaching 66.1 among people aged 70 and older.
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