South Korea has a population density of 1,371 people per square mile, compared to the average of 144 people in other countries. South Korea has 20,861 sq ft of land per person and ranks 18th out of 197 countries (most to least densely populated).
South Korea has 0.64% of the world's population and 0.07% of the total land area of all countries.
South Korea population density by year
people per square mile
| Year | Population density | Density rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1,371 | 18 |
| 2025 | 1,372 | 18 |
| 2024 | 1,373 | 18 |
| 2023 | 1,372 | 18 |
| 2022 | 1,371 | 16 |
| 2021 | 1,374 | 16 |
| 2020 | 1,376 | 15 |
| 2019 | 1,374 | 15 |
| 2018 | 1,370 | 15 |
| 2017 | 1,364 | 15 |
| 2016 | 1,361 | 15 |
| 2015 | 1,356 | 15 |
| 2014 | 1,349 | 15 |
| 2013 | 1,341 | 15 |
| 2012 | 1,336 | 13 |
| 2011 | 1,331 | 13 |
| 2010 | 1,320 | 13 |
| 2009 | 1,316 | 13 |
| 2008 | 1,310 | 13 |
| 2007 | 1,301 | 13 |
| 2006 | 1,295 | 14 |
| 2005 | 1,289 | 13 |
| 2004 | 1,286 | 13 |
| 2003 | 1,281 | 13 |
| 2002 | 1,275 | 13 |
| 2001 | 1,268 | 13 |
| 2000 | 1,262 | 12 |
| 1999 | 1,252 | 12 |
| 1998 | 1,243 | 12 |
| 1997 | 1,234 | 12 |
| 1996 | 1,222 | 12 |
| 1995 | 1,211 | 12 |
| 1994 | 1,199 | 12 |
| 1993 | 1,187 | 12 |
| 1992 | 1,175 | 12 |
| 1991 | 1,163 | 12 |
| 1990 | 1,151 | 12 |
| 1989 | 1,140 | 12 |
| 1988 | 1,129 | 13 |
| 1987 | 1,118 | 13 |
| 1986 | 1,107 | 13 |
| 1985 | 1,096 | 13 |
| 1984 | 1,085 | 12 |
| 1983 | 1,072 | 12 |
| 1982 | 1,056 | 12 |
| 1981 | 1,040 | 12 |
| 1980 | 1,024 | 12 |
| 1979 | 1,008 | 12 |
| 1978 | 993 | 12 |
| 1977 | 978 | 12 |
| 1976 | 963 | 12 |
| 1975 | 947 | 12 |
| 1974 | 932 | 12 |
| 1973 | 916 | 12 |
| 1972 | 900 | 12 |
| 1971 | 883 | 11 |
| 1970 | 866 | 12 |
| 1969 | 847 | 12 |
| 1968 | 828 | 11 |
| 1967 | 809 | 11 |
| 1966 | 790 | 11 |
| 1965 | 771 | 11 |
| 1964 | 751 | 11 |
| 1963 | 732 | 12 |
| 1962 | 712 | 12 |
| 1961 | 692 | 12 |
Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/population-density/south-korea | CC BY 
This chart shows how population density in South Korea has changed over time. From 2006 to 2026, population density increased by 5.84%. South Korea ranked 14th by population density 20 years ago and ranks 18th today.
Density metrics
South Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population density | 1,371 ppl/mi² | 18/197 |
| Population |
51649918
|
29/197 |
| Land area | 37,684 sq mi | 105/197 |
| Land area per capita | 20,300 sq ft | 180/197 |
| Rural population | 18.8% | 154/195 |
| Urban population | 81.2% | 42/195 |
| Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people | 54.1% | 8/197 |
Share of urban population by year
| Year | Urban population | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 81.2% | 42 |
| 2023 | 81.2% | 42 |
| 2022 | 81.2% | 42 |
| 2021 | 81.2% | 42 |
| 2020 | 81.2% | 42 |
| 2019 | 81.3% | 41 |
| 2018 | 81.4% | 40 |
| 2017 | 81.5% | 39 |
| 2016 | 81.6% | 38 |
| 2015 | 81.6% | 37 |
| 2014 | 81.7% | 36 |
| 2013 | 81.8% | 35 |
| 2012 | 81.9% | 35 |
| 2011 | 82% | 35 |
| 2010 | 82% | 35 |
| 2009 | 81.9% | 33 |
| 2008 | 81.8% | 33 |
| 2007 | 81.7% | 33 |
| 2006 | 81.6% | 33 |
| 2005 | 81.4% | 32 |
| 2004 | 81.1% | 32 |
| 2003 | 80.7% | 32 |
| 2002 | 80.3% | 32 |
| 2001 | 79.9% | 33 |
| 2000 | 79.6% | 31 |
| 1999 | 79.4% | 31 |
| 1998 | 79.2% | 31 |
| 1997 | 79% | 31 |
| 1996 | 78.8% | 30 |
| 1995 | 78.4% | 30 |
| 1994 | 77.9% | 33 |
| 1993 | 77.1% | 33 |
| 1992 | 76.2% | 34 |
| 1991 | 75.2% | 38 |
| 1990 | 74% | 40 |
| 1989 | 72.5% | 42 |
| 1988 | 70.6% | 47 |
| 1987 | 68.6% | 49 |
| 1986 | 66.6% | 54 |
| 1985 | 64.8% | 59 |
| 1984 | 63.1% | 62 |
| 1983 | 61.5% | 63 |
| 1982 | 60% | 63 |
| 1981 | 58.3% | 65 |
| 1980 | 56.7% | 67 |
| 1979 | 54.9% | 69 |
| 1978 | 53.1% | 71 |
| 1977 | 51.3% | 74 |
| 1976 | 49.6% | 77 |
| 1975 | 48% | 80 |
| 1974 | 46.5% | 80 |
| 1973 | 45.1% | 80 |
| 1972 | 43.8% | 83 |
| 1971 | 42.3% | 86 |
| 1970 | 40.7% | 88 |
| 1969 | 38.7% | 96 |
| 1968 | 36.5% | 101 |
| 1967 | 34.6% | 104 |
| 1966 | 33.1% | 107 |
| 1965 | 32% | 107 |
| 1964 | 31% | 110 |
| 1963 | 30.1% | 111 |
| 1962 | 29.2% | 111 |
| 1961 | 28.4% | 111 |
| 1960 | 27.7% | 111 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population-density/south-korea | CC BY
This chart shows the share of urban population in South Korea from 1960 to 2024: 27.7% lived in urban areas in 1960, 79.6% in 2000, and 81.2% in 2024.
Densely populated cities
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population density in other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population-density/south-korea | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2018–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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