South Korea Population (LIVE)

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South Korea Population (1950 - 2020)
Yearly Population Growth Rate (%)
  • The current population of the Republic of Korea is 51,388,485 as of Monday, March 20, 2023, based on Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data.
  • South Korea 2020 population is estimated at 51,269,185 people at mid year according to UN data.
  • South Korea population is equivalent to 0.66% of the total world population.
  • South Korea ranks number 28 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population.
  • The population density in South Korea is 527 per Km2 (1,366 people per mi2).
  • The total land area is 97,230 Km2 (37,541 sq. miles)
  • 81.8 % of the population is urban (41,934,110 people in 2020)
  • The median age in South Korea is 43.7 years.

Population of South Korea (2020 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
2020 51,269,185 0.09 % 43,877 11,731 43.7 1.11 527 81.8 % 41,934,110 0.66 % 7,794,798,739 28
2019 51,225,308 0.10 % 53,602 11,731 41.4 1.21 527 81.6 % 41,805,375 0.66 % 7,713,468,100 28
2018 51,171,706 0.15 % 75,291 11,731 41.4 1.21 526 81.4 % 41,678,226 0.67 % 7,631,091,040 28
2017 51,096,415 0.22 % 112,958 11,731 41.4 1.21 526 81.3 % 41,552,264 0.68 % 7,547,858,925 27
2016 50,983,457 0.32 % 160,364 11,731 41.4 1.21 524 81.3 % 41,426,777 0.68 % 7,464,022,049 27
2015 50,823,093 0.51 % 255,491 80,237 40.8 1.23 523 81.3 % 41,301,851 0.69 % 7,379,797,139 27
2010 49,545,636 0.34 % 168,913 -31,309 38.0 1.17 510 81.9 % 40,601,614 0.71 % 6,956,823,603 26
2005 48,701,073 0.55 % 264,366 16,245 34.8 1.21 501 81.4 % 39,622,010 0.74 % 6,541,907,027 25
2000 47,379,241 0.90 % 417,34431,886 31.9 1.50 487 79.6 % 37,729,427 0.77 % 6,143,493,823 24
1995 45,292,522 1.08 % 474,821 14,284 29.3 1.68 466 78.2 % 35,441,319 0.79 % 5,744,212,979 24
1990 42,918,419 1.02 % 422,803 34,116 27.0 1.57 441 73.9 % 31,696,103 0.81 % 5,327,231,061 24
1985 40,804,402 1.41 % 551,759 18,578 24.3 2.23 420 64.9 % 26,474,831 0.84 % 4,870,921,740 23
1980 38,045,607 1.46 % 533,389 -33,027 22.1 2.92 391 56.7 % 21,582,191 0.85 % 4,458,003,514 23
1975 35,378,661 1.90 % 636,596 -41,988 19.9 4.00 364 48.0 % 16,997,155 0.87 % 4,079,480,606 23
1970 32,195,681 2.19 % 660,025 -16,369 19.0 4.65 331 40.7 % 13,110,502 0.87 % 3,700,437,046 24
1965 28,895,558 2.67 % 713,209 -13,827 18.4 5.60 297 32.4 % 9,351,713 0.87 % 3,339,583,597 24
1960 25,329,515 3.32 % 762,989 62,079 18.6 6.33 261 27.7 % 7,022,058 0.83 % 3,034,949,748 24
1955 21,514,570 2.29 % 460,637 86,590 18.9 5.65 221 24.4 % 5,251,885 0.78 % 2,773,019,936 24
Source: Worldometer (www.Worldometers.info)
Elaboration of data by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2019 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).
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South Korea Population Forecast

30,001
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
2020 51,269,185 0.17 % 89,218 11,731 43.7 1.11 527 81.8 % 41,934,110 0.66 % 7,794,798,739 28
2025 51,339,377 0.03 % 14,038 20,000 46.5 1.11 528 83.0 % 42,587,468 0.63 % 8,184,437,460 29
2030 51,152,046 -0.07 % -37,466 30,001 49.1 1.11 526 84.5 % 43,241,435 0.60 % 8,548,487,400 31
2035 50,685,006 -0.18 % -93,408 30,001 51.4 1.11 521 86.3 % 43,761,621 0.57 % 8,887,524,213 34
2040 49,783,734 -0.36 % -180,254 30,001 53.4 1.11 512 88.4 % 44,014,618 0.54 % 9,198,847,240 37
2045 48,479,724 -0.53 % -260,802 30,001 54.9 1.11 499 90.7 % 43,976,623 0.51 % 9,481,803,274 38
2050 46,829,925 -0.69 % -329,960   56.5 1.11 482 93.1 % 43,616,033 0.48 % 9,735,033,990 43
Source: Worldometer (www.Worldometers.info)
Elaboration of data by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2019 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).

South Korea Demographics

Main Page: Demographics of South Korea
Life Expectancy
83.50 years
(life expectancy at birth, both sexes)
View by sex and historical chart
Infant Mortality
1.8
(infant deaths per 1,000 live births)
View historical chart
Deaths under age 5
2.2
(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 2,628,000
4 Daegu 2,566,540
5 Daejeon 1,475,221
6 Gwangju 1,416,938
7 Suwon 1,242,724
8 Goyang-si 1,073,069
9 Seongnam-si 1,031,935
10 Ulsan 962,865
11 Bucheon-si 850,731
12 Jeonju 711,424
13 Ansan-si 650,728
14 Cheongju-si 634,596
15 Anyang-si 634,367
16 Changwon 550,000
17 Pohang 500,000
18 Uijeongbu-si 479,141
19 Hwaseong-si 476,297
20 Masan 434,371
21 Jeju City 408,364
22 Cheonan 365,114
23 Kwangmyong 357,545
24 Kimhae 356,242
25 Chinju 307,242
26 Yeosu 295,538
27 Gumi 291,006
28 Iksan 283,501
29 Mokpo 268,402
30 Gunsan 243,406
31 Wonju 243,387
32 Suncheon 230,796
33 Sejong 230,327
34 Chuncheon 209,746
35 Icheon-si 196,230
36 Guri-si 195,236
37 Gangneung 180,611
38 Yangju 179,923
39 Osan 158,978
40 Seogwipo 155,691
41 Gyeongju 155,237
42 Gimcheon 150,000
43 Jeongeup 139,876
44 Hanam 134,902
45 Gyeongsan-si 129,903
46 Andong 129,319
47 Hwado 106,358
48 Tonghae 101,128
49 Asan 97,749
50 Wabu 96,775
51 Namyangju 90,798
52 Kwangyang 89,281
53 Hongseong 89,174
54 Sokcho 89,047
55 Eisen 84,625
56 Wanju 84,009
57 Yangp'yong 83,367
58 Ungsang 83,360
59 Sinhyeon 82,560
60 Gwangju 81,780
61 Mungyeong 81,525
62 Naeso 80,987
63 Muan 75,718
64 Hongch'on 75,251
65 Changnyeong 74,668
66 Seosan 74,208
67 Koch'ang 72,996
68 Gongju 72,435
69 Kyosai 72,124
70 Yangsan 71,936

See also

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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 - 2019) chart plots the total population count as of July 1 of each year, from 1950 to 2019.

The Yearly Population Growth Rate chart plots the annual percentage changes in population registered on July 1 of each year, from 1951 to 2019. 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 2019 Revision. For forecasted years, the U.N. medium-fertility variant is used.


Yearly % Change: For 2019: percentage change in total population over the last year (from July 1, 2018 to June 30 2019). 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 2019: absolute change in total population (increase or decrease in number of people) over the last year (from July 1, 2018 to June 30 2019). 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.