The latest officially reported population of Brunei was 466,330 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Brunei's population is 471,596 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.
Population statistics:
- South Korea's population is 109.5 times bigger than Brunei's.
- Brunei is ranked the 170th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
- The countries together account for 0.63% of the world: 0.006% for Brunei vs 0.62% for South Korea.
- For the last 10 years, Brunei has had an average growth rate of +1.03% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
- Since 2006, the population of Brunei has increased from 365K people to 472K (29.3% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).
Brunei vs South Korea: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Brunei
|
South Korea
|
|
| 2100 | 467,305 | 22,001,649 |
| 2099 | 468,844 | 22,324,514 |
| 2098 | 470,362 | 22,657,541 |
| 2097 | 471,774 | 22,998,315 |
| 2096 | 473,274 | 23,348,632 |
| 2095 | 474,709 | 23,711,049 |
| 2094 | 476,211 | 24,081,510 |
| 2093 | 477,690 | 24,460,970 |
| 2092 | 479,206 | 24,848,715 |
| 2091 | 480,680 | 25,242,926 |
| 2090 | 482,205 | 25,642,926 |
| 2089 | 483,829 | 26,048,094 |
| 2088 | 485,465 | 26,457,020 |
| 2087 | 487,012 | 26,871,556 |
| 2086 | 488,509 | 27,288,450 |
| 2085 | 490,142 | 27,710,065 |
| 2084 | 491,731 | 28,133,600 |
| 2083 | 493,405 | 28,564,090 |
| 2082 | 495,083 | 28,998,646 |
| 2081 | 496,722 | 29,441,497 |
| 2080 | 498,316 | 29,887,135 |
| 2079 | 499,888 | 30,337,095 |
| 2078 | 501,377 | 30,793,984 |
| 2077 | 502,966 | 31,258,278 |
| 2076 | 504,477 | 31,728,826 |
| 2075 | 506,274 | 32,205,338 |
| 2074 | 507,959 | 32,689,892 |
| 2073 | 509,492 | 33,180,187 |
| 2072 | 510,925 | 33,679,874 |
| 2071 | 512,139 | 34,187,068 |
| 2070 | 513,323 | 34,702,204 |
| 2069 | 514,593 | 35,224,472 |
| 2068 | 515,914 | 35,745,164 |
| 2067 | 517,235 | 36,274,411 |
| 2066 | 518,340 | 36,808,495 |
| 2065 | 519,319 | 37,349,660 |
| 2064 | 520,157 | 37,897,742 |
| 2063 | 520,866 | 38,450,082 |
| 2062 | 521,364 | 39,009,227 |
| 2061 | 521,880 | 39,565,102 |
| 2060 | 522,301 | 40,130,032 |
| 2059 | 522,678 | 40,692,438 |
| 2058 | 523,011 | 41,256,780 |
| 2057 | 523,253 | 41,813,259 |
| 2056 | 523,298 | 42,356,530 |
| 2055 | 523,308 | 42,888,143 |
| 2054 | 523,127 | 43,405,840 |
| 2053 | 522,924 | 43,917,075 |
| 2052 | 522,555 | 44,419,192 |
| 2051 | 521,910 | 44,901,452 |
| 2050 | 521,119 | 45,362,931 |
| 2049 | 520,183 | 45,809,553 |
| 2048 | 519,132 | 46,235,718 |
| 2047 | 517,984 | 46,645,885 |
| 2046 | 516,748 | 47,033,200 |
| 2045 | 515,241 | 47,409,815 |
| 2044 | 513,822 | 47,773,842 |
| 2043 | 512,299 | 48,120,989 |
| 2042 | 510,642 | 48,455,085 |
| 2041 | 508,802 | 48,782,206 |
| 2040 | 506,973 | 49,091,438 |
| 2039 | 504,969 | 49,388,464 |
| 2038 | 502,664 | 49,669,835 |
| 2037 | 500,520 | 49,932,869 |
| 2036 | 498,350 | 50,175,947 |
| 2035 | 495,973 | 50,401,135 |
| 2034 | 493,539 | 50,607,994 |
| 2033 | 491,041 | 50,796,030 |
| 2032 | 488,550 | 50,961,878 |
| 2031 | 485,750 | 51,109,725 |
| 2030 | 482,789 | 51,242,628 |
| 2029 | 479,823 | 51,360,529 |
| 2028 | 476,642 | 51,461,403 |
| 2027 | 473,245 | 51,551,313 |
| 2026 | 469,856 | 51,624,449 |
| 2025 | 466,330 | 51,684,564 |
| 2024 | 462,721 | 51,751,065 |
| 2023 | 458,949 | 51,712,619 |
| 2022 | 455,370 | 51,672,569 |
| 2021 | 451,721 | 51,769,539 |
| 2020 | 447,404 | 51,836,239 |
| 2019 | 442,680 | 51,764,822 |
| 2018 | 437,810 | 51,585,058 |
| 2017 | 432,772 | 51,361,911 |
| 2016 | 427,564 | 51,217,803 |
| 2015 | 422,212 | 51,014,947 |
| 2014 | 416,750 | 50,746,659 |
| 2013 | 411,202 | 50,428,893 |
| 2012 | 405,557 | 50,199,853 |
| 2011 | 399,389 | 49,936,638 |
| 2010 | 392,332 | 49,554,112 |
| 2009 | 384,952 | 49,307,835 |
| 2008 | 377,793 | 49,054,708 |
| 2007 | 370,873 | 48,683,638 |
| 2006 | 364,663 | 48,438,292 |
| 2005 | 358,916 | 48,184,561 |
| 2004 | 352,911 | 48,082,519 |
| 2003 | 346,637 | 47,892,330 |
| 2002 | 340,099 | 47,644,736 |
| 2001 | 333,345 | 47,370,164 |
| 2000 | 326,424 | 47,008,111 |
| 1999 | 319,411 | 46,616,677 |
| 1998 | 312,385 | 46,286,503 |
| 1997 | 305,341 | 45,953,580 |
| 1996 | 298,276 | 45,524,681 |
| 1995 | 291,195 | 45,092,991 |
| 1994 | 284,091 | 44,641,540 |
| 1993 | 276,971 | 44,194,628 |
| 1992 | 269,839 | 43,747,962 |
| 1991 | 262,596 | 43,295,704 |
| 1990 | 255,292 | 42,869,283 |
| 1989 | 248,064 | 42,449,038 |
| 1988 | 240,913 | 42,031,247 |
| 1987 | 233,860 | 41,621,690 |
| 1986 | 226,495 | 41,213,674 |
| 1985 | 218,919 | 40,805,744 |
| 1984 | 211,661 | 40,405,956 |
| 1983 | 204,741 | 39,910,403 |
| 1982 | 198,165 | 39,326,352 |
| 1981 | 191,977 | 38,723,248 |
| 1980 | 186,111 | 38,123,775 |
| 1979 | 180,422 | 37,534,236 |
| 1978 | 174,884 | 36,969,185 |
| 1977 | 169,277 | 36,411,795 |
| 1976 | 163,607 | 35,848,523 |
| 1975 | 158,070 | 35,280,725 |
| 1974 | 152,656 | 34,692,266 |
| 1973 | 147,369 | 34,103,149 |
| 1972 | 142,189 | 33,505,406 |
| 1971 | 137,921 | 32,882,704 |
| 1970 | 135,138 | 32,240,827 |
| 1969 | 131,446 | 31,544,266 |
| 1968 | 126,222 | 30,838,302 |
| 1967 | 121,017 | 30,130,983 |
| 1966 | 115,874 | 29,435,571 |
| 1965 | 110,838 | 28,704,674 |
| 1964 | 105,922 | 27,984,155 |
| 1963 | 101,159 | 27,261,747 |
| 1962 | 96,719 | 26,513,030 |
| 1961 | 92,517 | 25,765,673 |
| 1960 | 88,347 | 25,012,374 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/brunei/south-korea | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Brunei increased by 62,901 people (a 17.2% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Brunei gained 44,032 people (a 10.3% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).
Brunei was ranked 169th most populous country in 2006 and is 170th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st now.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Brunei's population will grow by 10.5% to 521,119 people with a rank change from 170th to 171st. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.
Brunei is projected to reach its peak in 2055 at 523K people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Brunei
|
South Korea
|
|
| 2100 | -0.33% | -1.45% |
| 2099 | -0.32% | -1.47% |
| 2098 | -0.3% | -1.48% |
| 2097 | -0.32% | -1.5% |
| 2096 | -0.3% | -1.53% |
| 2095 | -0.32% | -1.54% |
| 2094 | -0.31% | -1.55% |
| 2093 | -0.32% | -1.56% |
| 2092 | -0.31% | -1.56% |
| 2091 | -0.32% | -1.56% |
| 2090 | -0.34% | -1.56% |
| 2089 | -0.34% | -1.55% |
| 2088 | -0.32% | -1.54% |
| 2087 | -0.31% | -1.53% |
| 2086 | -0.33% | -1.52% |
| 2085 | -0.32% | -1.51% |
| 2084 | -0.34% | -1.51% |
| 2083 | -0.34% | -1.5% |
| 2082 | -0.33% | -1.5% |
| 2081 | -0.32% | -1.49% |
| 2080 | -0.31% | -1.48% |
| 2079 | -0.3% | -1.48% |
| 2078 | -0.32% | -1.49% |
| 2077 | -0.3% | -1.48% |
| 2076 | -0.35% | -1.48% |
| 2075 | -0.33% | -1.48% |
| 2074 | -0.3% | -1.48% |
| 2073 | -0.28% | -1.48% |
| 2072 | -0.24% | -1.48% |
| 2071 | -0.23% | -1.48% |
| 2070 | -0.25% | -1.48% |
| 2069 | -0.26% | -1.46% |
| 2068 | -0.26% | -1.46% |
| 2067 | -0.21% | -1.45% |
| 2066 | -0.19% | -1.45% |
| 2065 | -0.16% | -1.45% |
| 2064 | -0.14% | -1.44% |
| 2063 | -0.1% | -1.43% |
| 2062 | -0.1% | -1.4% |
| 2061 | -0.08% | -1.41% |
| 2060 | -0.07% | -1.38% |
| 2059 | -0.06% | -1.37% |
| 2058 | -0.05% | -1.33% |
| 2057 | -0.009% | -1.28% |
| 2056 | -0.002% | -1.24% |
| 2055 | 0.03% | -1.19% |
| 2054 | 0.04% | -1.16% |
| 2053 | 0.07% | -1.13% |
| 2052 | 0.12% | -1.07% |
| 2051 | 0.15% | -1.02% |
| 2050 | 0.18% | -0.97% |
| 2049 | 0.2% | -0.92% |
| 2048 | 0.22% | -0.88% |
| 2047 | 0.24% | -0.82% |
| 2046 | 0.29% | -0.79% |
| 2045 | 0.28% | -0.76% |
| 2044 | 0.3% | -0.72% |
| 2043 | 0.32% | -0.69% |
| 2042 | 0.36% | -0.67% |
| 2041 | 0.36% | -0.63% |
| 2040 | 0.4% | -0.6% |
| 2039 | 0.46% | -0.57% |
| 2038 | 0.43% | -0.53% |
| 2037 | 0.44% | -0.48% |
| 2036 | 0.48% | -0.45% |
| 2035 | 0.49% | -0.41% |
| 2034 | 0.51% | -0.37% |
| 2033 | 0.51% | -0.33% |
| 2032 | 0.58% | -0.29% |
| 2031 | 0.61% | -0.26% |
| 2030 | 0.62% | -0.23% |
| 2029 | 0.67% | -0.2% |
| 2028 | 0.72% | -0.17% |
| 2027 | 0.72% | -0.14% |
| 2026 | 0.76% | -0.12% |
| 2025 | 0.78% | -0.13% |
| 2024 | 0.82% | 0.07% |
| 2023 | 0.79% | 0.08% |
| 2022 | 0.81% | -0.19% |
| 2021 | 0.96% | -0.13% |
| 2020 | 1.07% | 0.14% |
| 2019 | 1.11% | 0.35% |
| 2018 | 1.16% | 0.43% |
| 2017 | 1.22% | 0.28% |
| 2016 | 1.27% | 0.4% |
| 2015 | 1.31% | 0.53% |
| 2014 | 1.35% | 0.63% |
| 2013 | 1.39% | 0.46% |
| 2012 | 1.54% | 0.53% |
| 2011 | 1.8% | 0.77% |
| 2010 | 1.92% | 0.5% |
| 2009 | 1.89% | 0.52% |
| 2008 | 1.87% | 0.76% |
| 2007 | 1.7% | 0.51% |
| 2006 | 1.6% | 0.53% |
| 2005 | 1.7% | 0.21% |
| 2004 | 1.81% | 0.4% |
| 2003 | 1.92% | 0.52% |
| 2002 | 2.03% | 0.58% |
| 2001 | 2.12% | 0.77% |
| 2000 | 2.2% | 0.84% |
| 1999 | 2.25% | 0.71% |
| 1998 | 2.31% | 0.72% |
| 1997 | 2.37% | 0.94% |
| 1996 | 2.43% | 0.96% |
| 1995 | 2.5% | 1.01% |
| 1994 | 2.57% | 1.01% |
| 1993 | 2.64% | 1.02% |
| 1992 | 2.76% | 1.04% |
| 1991 | 2.86% | 0.99% |
| 1990 | 2.91% | 0.99% |
| 1989 | 2.97% | 0.99% |
| 1988 | 3.02% | 0.98% |
| 1987 | 3.25% | 0.99% |
| 1986 | 3.46% | 1% |
| 1985 | 3.43% | 0.99% |
| 1984 | 3.38% | 1.24% |
| 1983 | 3.32% | 1.49% |
| 1982 | 3.22% | 1.56% |
| 1981 | 3.15% | 1.57% |
| 1980 | 3.15% | 1.57% |
| 1979 | 3.17% | 1.53% |
| 1978 | 3.31% | 1.53% |
| 1977 | 3.47% | 1.57% |
| 1976 | 3.5% | 1.61% |
| 1975 | 3.55% | 1.7% |
| 1974 | 3.59% | 1.73% |
| 1973 | 3.64% | 1.78% |
| 1972 | 3.09% | 1.89% |
| 1971 | 2.06% | 1.99% |
| 1970 | 2.81% | 2.21% |
| 1969 | 4.14% | 2.29% |
| 1968 | 4.3% | 2.35% |
| 1967 | 4.44% | 2.36% |
| 1966 | 4.54% | 2.55% |
| 1965 | 4.64% | 2.57% |
| 1964 | 4.71% | 2.65% |
| 1963 | 4.59% | 2.82% |
| 1962 | 4.54% | 2.9% |
| 1961 | 4.72% | 3.01% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/brunei/south-korea | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Brunei grew by 0.78%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.
Live population counters
|
Brunei
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
471596
|
51624449
|
| Population rank | 170/197 | 31/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.006% | 0.62% |
| One net population change |
2.43 hours
|
7.93 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.42 hours
|
2.16 minutes
|
| One death every |
3.55 hours
|
1.45 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +10 | -182 |
| Annual growth/decline | +3,609 | -66,501 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.78% | -0.13% |
| Population growth rate rank | 113/197 | 169/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.08 years
|
8.02 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | +0 | +65,731 |
| Net migration rank | 77/196 | 20/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 119,933 | 1,811,507 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 124/195 | 40/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 25.9% | 3.5% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 21/195 | 111/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Brunei
|
South Korea
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 0 | - | 65,731 |
| 2024 | 3,699 | 0 | -119,027 | 75,963 |
| 2023 | 3,837 | 0 | -124,111 | 87,800 |
| 2022 | 3,319 | 0 | -124,014 | 87,800 |
| 2021 | 3,985 | 0 | -56,947 | -16,778 |
| 2020 | 4,188 | 462 | -31,101 | 112,631 |
| 2019 | 4,335 | 456 | 10,353 | 128,622 |
| 2018 | 4,502 | 450 | 30,951 | 118,220 |
| 2017 | 4,685 | 440 | 71,907 | 104,029 |
| 2016 | 4,876 | 415 | 122,923 | 91,568 |
| 2015 | 5,060 | 356 | 163,248 | 276,427 |
| 2014 | 5,206 | 303 | 167,464 | 308,037 |
| 2013 | 5,302 | 285 | 166,415 | 301,926 |
| 2012 | 5,349 | 346 | 215,859 | 281,866 |
| 2011 | 5,242 | 1,399 | 214,728 | 269,958 |
| 2010 | 5,003 | 2,479 | 213,083 | 52,042 |
| 2009 | 4,789 | 2,489 | 197,231 | 5,308 |
| 2008 | 4,624 | 2,409 | 215,841 | -19,630 |
| 2007 | 4,521 | 2,291 | 248,286 | -42,293 |
| 2006 | 4,590 | 1,030 | 203,441 | -28,434 |
| 2005 | 4,703 | 1,163 | 187,920 | -47,821 |
| 2004 | 4,874 | 1,261 | 225,988 | -42,549 |
| 2003 | 5,034 | 1,383 | 244,251 | -31,994 |
| 2002 | 5,169 | 1,499 | 247,752 | -18,105 |
| 2001 | 5,275 | 1,569 | 312,643 | -28,006 |
| 2000 | 5,331 | 1,660 | 390,167 | -84,960 |
| 1999 | 5,388 | 1,639 | 368,272 | -107,448 |
| 1998 | 5,466 | 1,566 | 393,436 | -98,044 |
| 1997 | 5,518 | 1,533 | 422,773 | -109,130 |
| 1996 | 5,606 | 1,464 | 446,142 | -115,705 |
| 1995 | 5,750 | 1,348 | 468,967 | -208,491 |
| 1994 | 5,907 | 1,206 | 473,200 | -208,309 |
| 1993 | 6,045 | 1,082 | 477,302 | -222,802 |
| 1992 | 6,169 | 969 | 494,352 | -265,849 |
| 1991 | 6,259 | 1,087 | 467,594 | -270,754 |
| 1990 | 6,265 | 992 | 411,546 | 79,294 |
| 1989 | 6,202 | 1,002 | 403,266 | 186,120 |
| 1988 | 6,135 | 962 | 399,297 | 192,534 |
| 1987 | 6,017 | 994 | 378,758 | 198,057 |
| 1986 | 5,826 | 1,897 | 395,651 | 189,782 |
| 1985 | 5,620 | 1,808 | 416,219 | 97,949 |
| 1984 | 5,373 | 1,722 | 436,384 | 101,394 |
| 1983 | 5,138 | 1,602 | 514,844 | 102,167 |
| 1982 | 4,931 | 1,475 | 605,626 | 48,638 |
| 1981 | 4,839 | 1,124 | 631,189 | 18,442 |
| 1980 | 4,775 | 995 | 583,294 | -148,341 |
| 1979 | 4,717 | 899 | 623,068 | -139,566 |
| 1978 | 4,668 | 791 | 499,084 | -85,721 |
| 1977 | 4,594 | 1,157 | 578,947 | -90,737 |
| 1976 | 4,518 | 1,080 | 530,558 | -92,314 |
| 1975 | 4,431 | 1,047 | 603,300 | -52,332 |
| 1974 | 4,334 | 1,011 | 673,030 | 27,005 |
| 1973 | 4,216 | 1,007 | 699,115 | 35,779 |
| 1972 | 4,085 | 1,053 | 740,469 | 25,382 |
| 1971 | 3,880 | -476 | 789,185 | -6,326 |
| 1970 | 3,694 | -1,538 | 747,987 | -27,999 |
| 1969 | 3,618 | 1,608 | 694,227 | -21,175 |
| 1968 | 3,551 | 1,677 | 684,487 | -16,868 |
| 1967 | 3,477 | 1,703 | 692,169 | -16,484 |
| 1966 | 3,403 | 1,697 | 623,534 | -16,688 |
| 1965 | 3,326 | 1,655 | 641,090 | -146,386 |
| 1964 | 3,264 | 1,595 | 655,501 | -102,284 |
| 1963 | 3,195 | 1,469 | 685,824 | -80,226 |
| 1962 | 3,128 | 1,088 | 712,590 | -94,606 |
| 1961 | 3,175 | 1,014 | 730,173 | -93,179 |
| 1960 | 3,168 | 982 | 728,010 | 47,245 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/brunei/south-korea | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 94.3% of the population change in Brunei is from natural causes (a gain of 42,486 people) and 5.72% is from migration (a gain of 2,579 people). In South Korea 4.97% is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 people).
As of 2024, 119,933 residents or 25.9% of the population were not native-born in Brunei, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.
Biggest cities by population
|
Brunei
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Kuala Belait | 70K |
| Bandar Seri Begawan | 50K |
| Seria | 2.66K |
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Seoul | 9.67M |
| Busan | 3.45M |
| Incheon | 3.05M |
| Daegu | 2.38M |
| Daejeon | 1.48M |
| Gwangju | 1.41M |
| Suwon | 1.23M |
| Ulsan | 1.13M |
| Yongin | 1.08M |
| Goyang | 1.06M |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Brunei and South Korea
|
Brunei
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 75.8 years | 84.6 years |
| Average age | 34.3 years | 45.3 years |
| Median age | 33.7 years | 46.7 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.1:46.9 | 49.9:50.1 |
| Fertility rate | 1.73 births per woman | 0.75 births per woman |
| Population density | 230.9 ppl/mi² | 1,370 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/brunei/south-korea | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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