South Korea Population (LIVE)

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South Korea Population (1950 - 2024)
Yearly Population Growth Rate (%)
  • The current population of the Republic of Korea is 51,696,247 as of Monday, December 2, 2024, based on Worldometer's elaboration of the latest United Nations data1.
  • South Korea 2024 population is estimated at 51,717,590 people at mid year.
  • South Korea population is equivalent to 0.63% of the total world population.
  • South Korea ranks number 29 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population.
  • The population density in South Korea is 532 per Km2 (1,378 people per mi2).
  • The total land area is 97,230 Km2 (37,541 sq. miles).
  • 82.1 % of the population is urban (42,454,846 people in 2024).
  • The median age in South Korea is 45.1 years.
1. U.N. Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs - Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).

Population of South Korea (2024 and historical)

YearPopulationYearly %
Change
Yearly
Change
Migrants (net)Median AgeFertility RateDensity (P/Km²)Urban
Pop %
Urban PopulationCountry's Share of
World Pop
World PopulationSouth Korea
Global Rank
2024 51,717,590 -0.06 % -31,149 75,963 45.1 0.73 532 82.1 % 42,454,846 0.63 % 8,161,972,572 29
2023 51,748,739 -0.07 % -33,773 87,800 44.5 0.72 532 81.8 % 42,323,569 0.64 % 8,091,734,930 29
2022 51,782,512 -0.13 % -65,885 87,800 43.9 0.78 533 81.5 % 42,193,408 0.65 % 8,021,407,192 28
2020 51,858,482 0.18 % 90,636 112,631 42.8 0.81 533 80.9 % 41,934,110 0.66 % 7,887,001,292 28
2015 50,983,912 0.89 % 442,916 276,427 39.9 1.20 524 81.0 % 41,301,851 0.68 % 7,470,491,872 27
2010 48,769,332 0.38 % 183,538 52,042 36.6 1.23 502 83.3 % 40,601,614 0.69 % 7,021,732,148 26
2005 47,851,644 0.46 % 216,997 -47,821 33.6 1.12 492 82.8 % 39,622,010 0.73 % 6,586,970,132 25
2000 46,766,661 0.61 % 279,647-84,960 30.7 1.47 481 80.7 % 37,729,427 0.76 % 6,171,702,993 26
1995 45,368,425 0.58 % 257,400 -208,491 28.3 1.65 467 78.1 % 35,441,319 0.79 % 5,758,878,982 24
1990 44,081,427 1.39 % 586,493 79,294 25.8 1.60 453 71.9 % 31,696,103 0.83 % 5,327,803,110 24
1985 41,148,963 1.53 % 601,571 97,949 23.3 1.71 423 64.3 % 26,474,831 0.85 % 4,868,943,465 23
1980 38,141,107 1.23 % 453,073 -148,341 20.9 2.73 392 56.6 % 21,582,191 0.86 % 4,447,606,236 23
1975 35,875,743 1.97 % 666,709 -52,332 18.8 3.31 369 47.4 % 16,997,155 0.88 % 4,070,735,277 22
1970 32,542,197 2.13 % 651,572 -27,999 17.7 4.46 335 40.3 % 13,110,502 0.88 % 3,694,683,794 24
1965 29,284,338 2.32 % 633,792 -146,386 17.5 4.89 301 31.9 % 9,351,713 0.88 % 3,334,533,703 24
1960 26,115,379 3.37 % 798,055 47,245 18.3 5.99 269 26.9 % 7,022,058 0.87 % 3,015,470,894 24
1955 22,125,103 2.29 % 473,556 151,123 17.9 6.17 228 23.7 % 5,251,885 0.81 % 2,740,213,792 24
Source: Worldometer (www.Worldometers.info)
Elaboration of data by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).
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South Korea Population Forecast

YearPopulationYearly %
Change
Yearly
Change
Migrants (net)Median AgeFertility RateDensity (P/Km²)Urban
Pop %
Urban PopulationCountry's Share of
World Pop
World PopulationSouth Korea
Global Rank
2025 51,667,029 -0.07 % -38,291 65,731 45.6 0.75 531 82.4 % 42,587,468 0.63 % 8,231,613,070 29
2030 51,188,584 -0.19 % -95,689 47,022 48.5 0.82 526 84.5 % 43,241,435 0.60 % 8,569,124,911 32
2035 50,300,733 -0.35 % -177,570 31,740 51.2 0.88 517 87.0 % 43,761,621 0.57 % 8,885,210,181 36
2040 48,948,687 -0.54 % -270,409 19,948 53.3 0.93 503 89.9 % 44,014,618 0.53 % 9,177,190,203 37
2045 47,232,956 -0.71 % -343,146 17,890 55.0 0.98 486 93.1 % 43,976,623 0.50 % 9,439,639,668 43
2050 45,143,134 -0.90 % -417,964   56.7 1.03 464 96.6 % 43,616,033 0.47 % 9,664,378,587 47
Source: Worldometer (www.Worldometers.info)
Elaboration of data by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).

South Korea Demographics

Main Page: Demographics of South Korea
Life Expectancy
84.43 years
(life expectancy at birth, both sexes)
View by sex and historical chart
Infant Mortality
2.0
(infant deaths per 1,000 live births)
View historical chart
Deaths under age 5
2.6
(per 1,000 live births)
View historical chart

Main Cities by Population in South Korea

(includes boroughs, districts, urban agglomerations, etc.)

# CITY NAME POPULATION
1 Seoul 10,349,312
2 Busan 3,678,555
3 Incheon 2,954,955
4 Daegu 2,566,540
5 Gwangju 1,490,092
6 Daejeon 1,469,543
7 Suwon 1,241,311
8 Goyang-si 1,073,069
9 Seongnam-si 1,031,935
10 Changwon 1,025,702
11 Ulsan 962,865
12 Bucheon-si 850,731
13 Cheongju-si 846,291
14 Ansan-si 716,785
15 Cheonan 666,417
16 Jeonju 652,392
17 Hwaseong-si 640,890
18 Anyang-si 595,644
19 Kimhae 550,758
20 Pohang 500,000
21 Jeju City 486,306
22 Uijeongbu-si 479,141
23 Masan 434,371
24 Gumi 427,770
25 Pyeongtaek 364,694
26 Gwangmyeong 357,545
27 Sejong 351,007
28 Yangsan 342,371
29 Wonju 332,849
30 Chinju 307,242
31 Iksan 307,000
32 Yeosu 295,538
33 Gunpo 286,485
34 Mokpo 268,402
35 Hanam 254,415
36 Gunsan 243,406
37 Suncheon 230,796
38 Chuncheon 209,746
39 Chungju 209,483
40 Icheon-si 196,230
41 Guri-si 195,236
42 Gangneung 180,611
43 Yangju 179,923
44 Seogwipo 178,552
45 Osan 158,978
46 Andong 158,765
47 Gyeongju 155,237
48 Gimcheon 150,000
49 Jeongeup 139,876
50 Gyeongsan-si 129,903
51 Hwado 106,358
52 Sangju 101,267
53 Donghae City 101,128
54 Asan 97,749
55 Wabu 96,775
56 Namyangju 90,798
57 Kwangyang 89,281
58 Hongseong 89,174
59 Sokcho 89,047
60 Yeongju 84,625
61 Wanju 84,009
62 Yangp'yong 83,367
63 Ungsang 83,360
64 Sinhyeon 82,560
65 Gwangju 81,780
66 Nangen 81,257
67 Naeso 80,987
68 Mungyeong 77,304
69 Muan 75,718
70 Hongch'on 75,251

See also

Notes

The South Korea Population (Live) counter shows a continuously updated estimate of the current population of the Republic of Korea delivered by Worldometer's RTS algorithm, which processes data collected from the United Nations Population Division.

The Population of South Korea (1950 - 2023) chart plots the total population count as of July 1 of each year, from 1950 to 2023.

The Yearly Population Growth Rate chart plots the annual percentage changes in population registered on July 1 of each year, from 1951 to 2023. This value can differ from the Yearly % Change shown in the historical table, which shows the last year equivalent percentage change assuming homogeneous change in the preceding five year period.

Definitions

Year: as of July 1 of the year indicated.

Population: Overall total population (both sexes and all ages) in the country as of July 1 of the year indicated, as estimated by the United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. For forecasted years, the U.N. medium-fertility variant is used.


Yearly % Change: For 2023: percentage change in total population over the last year (from July 1, 2022 to June 30 2023). For all other years: latest year annual percentage change equivalent assuming homogeneous change in the preceding five year period, calculated through reverse compounding.

Yearly Change: For 2023: absolute change in total population (increase or decrease in number of people) over the last year (from July 1, 2022 to June 30 2023). For all other years: average annual numerical change over the preceding five year period.

Migrants (net): The average annual number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants over the preceding five year period (running from July 1 to June 30 of the initial and final years), or subsequent five year period (for 2016 data). A negative number means that there are more emigrants than immigrants.

Median Age: age that divides the population into two numerically equal groups: half of the people are older than the median age indicated and half are younger. This parameter provides an indication of age distribution.

Fertility Rate: (Total Fertility Rate, or TFR), it is expressed as children per woman. It is calculated as the average number of children an average woman will have during her reproductive period (15 to 49 years old) based on the current fertility rates of every age group in the country, and assuming she is not subject to mortality.

Density (P/Km²): (Population Density) Population per square Kilometer (Km²).

Urban Pop % : Urban population as a percentage of total population.

Urban Population: Population living in areas classified as urban according to the criteria used by each country.

Country's Share of World Pop: Total population in the country as a percentage of total World Population as of July 1 of the year indicated.

World Population: Total World Population as of July 1 of the year indicated.

Global Rank: Position held by South Korea in the list of all countries worldwide ranked by population (from the highest population to the lowest population) as of July 1 of the year indicated.