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Population in Estonia compared to South Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Estonia was 1,372,341 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Estonia's population is 1,339,590 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 38.6 times bigger than Estonia's.
  • Estonia is ranked the 155th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.64% of the world: 0.02% for Estonia vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Estonia has had an average growth rate of +0.37% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Estonia has decreased from 1.35M people to 1.34M (0.54% decline), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Estonia vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Estonia
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Estonia South Korea
2100 831,394 22,012,503
2099 836,965 22,335,528
2098 842,414 22,668,719
2097 847,873 23,009,661
2096 853,472 23,360,151
2095 859,044 23,722,747
2094 864,547 24,093,391
2093 870,136 24,473,038
2092 875,676 24,860,975
2091 881,282 25,255,379
2090 887,028 25,655,577
2089 892,857 26,060,945
2088 898,736 26,470,073
2087 904,914 26,884,813
2086 911,254 27,301,913
2085 917,722 27,723,736
2084 924,458 28,147,480
2083 931,259 28,578,182
2082 938,110 29,012,953
2081 944,978 29,456,022
2080 952,018 29,901,880
2079 959,194 30,352,062
2078 966,496 30,809,176
2077 973,883 31,273,700
2076 981,283 31,744,480
2075 988,735 32,221,226
2074 996,352 32,706,020
2073 1,004,078 33,196,556
2072 1,011,873 33,696,490
2071 1,019,779 34,203,935
2070 1,027,821 34,719,324
2069 1,035,828 35,241,850
2068 1,043,819 35,762,799
2067 1,051,892 36,292,307
2066 1,059,940 36,826,655
2065 1,068,064 37,368,086
2064 1,076,199 37,916,439
2063 1,084,303 38,469,051
2062 1,092,418 39,028,473
2061 1,100,514 39,584,621
2060 1,108,650 40,149,830
2059 1,116,534 40,712,514
2058 1,124,375 41,277,134
2057 1,132,033 41,833,887
2056 1,139,610 42,377,427
2055 1,147,117 42,909,302
2054 1,154,317 43,427,254
2053 1,161,452 43,938,741
2052 1,168,381 44,441,106
2051 1,175,291 44,923,604
2050 1,182,029 45,385,311
2049 1,188,633 45,832,153
2048 1,194,960 46,258,529
2047 1,201,294 46,668,898
2046 1,207,577 47,056,404
2045 1,213,815 47,433,205
2044 1,220,042 47,797,411
2043 1,226,162 48,144,730
2042 1,232,282 48,478,991
2041 1,238,386 48,806,273
2040 1,244,441 49,115,658
2039 1,250,581 49,412,830
2038 1,256,780 49,694,340
2037 1,263,149 49,957,504
2036 1,269,700 50,200,702
2035 1,276,331 50,426,000
2034 1,283,159 50,632,962
2033 1,290,037 50,821,090
2032 1,297,036 50,987,020
2031 1,304,102 51,134,940
2030 1,311,189 51,267,908
2029 1,318,225 51,385,868
2028 1,325,354 51,486,791
2027 1,332,492 51,576,746
2026 1,339,590 51,649,918
2025 1,358,931 51,710,062
2024 1,372,341 51,751,065
2023 1,370,286 51,712,619
2022 1,348,840 51,672,569
2021 1,330,932 51,769,539
2020 1,329,522 51,836,239
2019 1,326,898 51,764,822
2018 1,321,977 51,585,058
2017 1,317,384 51,361,911
2016 1,315,790 51,217,803
2015 1,315,407 51,014,947
2014 1,314,545 50,746,659
2013 1,317,997 50,428,893
2012 1,322,696 50,199,853
2011 1,327,439 49,936,638
2010 1,331,475 49,554,112
2009 1,334,515 49,307,835
2008 1,337,090 49,054,708
2007 1,340,680 48,683,638
2006 1,346,810 48,438,292
2005 1,354,775 48,184,561
2004 1,362,550 48,082,519
2003 1,370,720 47,892,330
2002 1,379,350 47,644,736
2001 1,388,115 47,370,164
2000 1,396,985 47,008,111
1999 1,390,244 46,616,677
1998 1,386,156 46,286,503
1997 1,399,535 45,953,580
1996 1,415,594 45,524,681
1995 1,436,634 45,092,991
1994 1,462,514 44,641,540
1993 1,494,128 44,194,628
1992 1,533,091 43,747,962
1991 1,561,314 43,295,704
1990 1,569,174 42,869,283
1989 1,568,131 42,449,038
1988 1,561,900 42,031,247
1987 1,552,221 41,621,690
1986 1,540,190 41,213,674
1985 1,528,781 40,805,744
1984 1,518,617 40,405,956
1983 1,508,745 39,910,403
1982 1,498,414 39,326,352
1981 1,487,666 38,723,248
1980 1,477,219 38,123,775
1979 1,468,333 37,534,236
1978 1,460,188 36,969,185
1977 1,450,211 36,411,795
1976 1,439,576 35,848,523
1975 1,429,352 35,280,725
1974 1,418,169 34,692,266
1973 1,405,951 34,103,149
1972 1,392,518 33,505,406
1971 1,376,955 32,882,704
1970 1,360,076 32,240,827
1969 1,345,249 31,544,266
1968 1,331,214 30,838,302
1967 1,318,946 30,130,983
1966 1,308,597 29,435,571
1965 1,294,566 28,704,674
1964 1,277,086 27,984,155
1963 1,258,857 27,261,747
1962 1,241,623 26,513,030
1961 1,225,077 25,765,673
1960 1,211,537 25,012,374

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/estonia/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Estonia decreased by 31,020 people (a 2.3% decline), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Estonia gained 23,800 people (a 1.81% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Estonia was ranked 149th most populous country in 2006 and is 155th 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) Estonia's population will shrink by 11.8% to 1,182,029 people with a rank change from 155th to 159th. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 26.7% of the population in Estonia and 38.5% in South Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Estonia
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Estonia South Korea
2100 -0.67% -1.45%
2099 -0.65% -1.47%
2098 -0.64% -1.48%
2097 -0.66% -1.5%
2096 -0.65% -1.53%
2095 -0.64% -1.54%
2094 -0.64% -1.55%
2093 -0.63% -1.56%
2092 -0.64% -1.56%
2091 -0.65% -1.56%
2090 -0.65% -1.56%
2089 -0.65% -1.55%
2088 -0.68% -1.54%
2087 -0.7% -1.53%
2086 -0.7% -1.52%
2085 -0.73% -1.51%
2084 -0.73% -1.51%
2083 -0.73% -1.5%
2082 -0.73% -1.5%
2081 -0.74% -1.49%
2080 -0.75% -1.48%
2079 -0.76% -1.48%
2078 -0.76% -1.49%
2077 -0.75% -1.48%
2076 -0.75% -1.48%
2075 -0.76% -1.48%
2074 -0.77% -1.48%
2073 -0.77% -1.48%
2072 -0.78% -1.48%
2071 -0.78% -1.48%
2070 -0.77% -1.48%
2069 -0.77% -1.46%
2068 -0.77% -1.46%
2067 -0.76% -1.45%
2066 -0.76% -1.45%
2065 -0.76% -1.45%
2064 -0.75% -1.44%
2063 -0.74% -1.43%
2062 -0.74% -1.4%
2061 -0.73% -1.41%
2060 -0.71% -1.38%
2059 -0.7% -1.37%
2058 -0.68% -1.33%
2057 -0.66% -1.28%
2056 -0.65% -1.24%
2055 -0.62% -1.19%
2054 -0.61% -1.16%
2053 -0.59% -1.13%
2052 -0.59% -1.07%
2051 -0.57% -1.02%
2050 -0.56% -0.97%
2049 -0.53% -0.92%
2048 -0.53% -0.88%
2047 -0.52% -0.82%
2046 -0.51% -0.79%
2045 -0.51% -0.76%
2044 -0.5% -0.72%
2043 -0.5% -0.69%
2042 -0.49% -0.67%
2041 -0.49% -0.63%
2040 -0.49% -0.6%
2039 -0.49% -0.57%
2038 -0.5% -0.53%
2037 -0.52% -0.48%
2036 -0.52% -0.45%
2035 -0.53% -0.41%
2034 -0.53% -0.37%
2033 -0.54% -0.33%
2032 -0.54% -0.29%
2031 -0.54% -0.26%
2030 -0.53% -0.23%
2029 -0.54% -0.2%
2028 -0.54% -0.17%
2027 -0.53% -0.14%
2026 -1.42% -0.12%
2025 -0.98% -0.08%
2024 0.15% 0.07%
2023 1.59% 0.08%
2022 1.35% -0.19%
2021 0.11% -0.13%
2020 0.2% 0.14%
2019 0.37% 0.35%
2018 0.35% 0.43%
2017 0.12% 0.28%
2016 0.03% 0.4%
2015 0.07% 0.53%
2014 -0.26% 0.63%
2013 -0.36% 0.46%
2012 -0.36% 0.53%
2011 -0.3% 0.77%
2010 -0.23% 0.5%
2009 -0.19% 0.52%
2008 -0.27% 0.76%
2007 -0.46% 0.51%
2006 -0.59% 0.53%
2005 -0.57% 0.21%
2004 -0.6% 0.4%
2003 -0.63% 0.52%
2002 -0.63% 0.58%
2001 -0.63% 0.77%
2000 0.48% 0.84%
1999 0.29% 0.71%
1998 -0.96% 0.72%
1997 -1.13% 0.94%
1996 -1.46% 0.96%
1995 -1.77% 1.01%
1994 -2.12% 1.01%
1993 -2.54% 1.02%
1992 -1.81% 1.04%
1991 -0.5% 0.99%
1990 0.07% 0.99%
1989 0.4% 0.99%
1988 0.62% 0.98%
1987 0.78% 0.99%
1986 0.75% 1%
1985 0.67% 0.99%
1984 0.65% 1.24%
1983 0.69% 1.49%
1982 0.72% 1.56%
1981 0.71% 1.57%
1980 0.61% 1.57%
1979 0.56% 1.53%
1978 0.69% 1.53%
1977 0.74% 1.57%
1976 0.72% 1.61%
1975 0.79% 1.7%
1974 0.87% 1.73%
1973 0.96% 1.78%
1972 1.13% 1.89%
1971 1.24% 1.99%
1970 1.1% 2.21%
1969 1.05% 2.29%
1968 0.93% 2.35%
1967 0.79% 2.36%
1966 1.08% 2.55%
1965 1.37% 2.57%
1964 1.45% 2.65%
1963 1.39% 2.82%
1962 1.35% 2.9%
1961 1.12% 3.01%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/estonia/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Estonia grew by 0.15%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Estonia South Korea
Current population
1339590
51649918
Population rank 155/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.62%
One net population change
4.26 hours
13.7 minutes
One birth every
47.9 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
32.8 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +6 +105
Annual growth/decline +2,055 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +0.15% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 158/197 160/197
One migration net change every
39.5 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -13,350 +65,731
Net migration rank 141/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 203,046 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 110/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 14.9% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 43/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Estonia
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Estonia South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -13,350 - 65,731
2024 - -7,742 - 75,963
2023 -5,070 5,717 -77,569 87,800
2022 -5,665 39,754 -124,014 87,800
2021 -5,324 7,043 -56,947 -16,778
2020 -2,659 3,694 -31,101 112,631
2019 -1,327 5,386 10,353 128,622
2018 -1,322 7,089 30,951 118,220
2017 -1,713 5,202 71,907 104,029
2016 -1,316 1,081 122,923 91,568
2015 -1,315 4,261 163,248 276,427
2014 -1,972 -674 167,464 308,037
2013 -1,713 -2,688 166,415 301,926
2012 -1,455 -3,674 215,859 281,866
2011 -531 -3,941 214,728 269,958
2010 0 -3,781 213,083 52,042
2009 -400 -2,089 197,231 5,308
2008 -668 -2,034 215,841 -19,630
2007 -1,608 -2,941 248,286 -42,293
2006 -2,559 -5,351 203,441 -28,434
2005 -2,981 -5,208 187,920 -47,821
2004 -3,679 -3,681 225,988 -42,549
2003 -5,072 -3,705 244,251 -31,994
2002 -5,380 -2,889 247,752 -18,105
2001 -5,830 -3,280 312,643 -28,006
2000 -5,309 -3,083 390,167 -84,960
1999 -6,117 1,419 368,272 -107,448
1998 -7,208 -3,296 393,436 -98,044
1997 -6,018 -4,066 422,773 -109,130
1996 -5,662 -10,540 446,142 -115,705
1995 -7,327 -12,655 468,967 -208,491
1994 -8,044 -17,984 473,200 -208,309
1993 -5,976 -25,501 477,302 -222,802
1992 -1,993 -38,391 494,352 -265,849
1991 -312 -9,712 467,594 -270,754
1990 2,825 -2,660 411,546 79,294
1989 5,803 -368 403,266 186,120
1988 6,404 5,256 399,297 192,534
1987 6,829 5,389 378,758 198,057
1986 6,160 5,260 395,651 189,782
1985 4,281 5,097 416,219 97,949
1984 5,163 5,006 436,384 101,394
1983 5,884 4,986 514,844 102,167
1982 5,244 4,832 605,626 48,638
1981 4,612 4,789 631,189 18,442
1980 3,989 4,619 583,294 -148,341
1979 3,818 4,521 623,068 -139,566
1978 4,088 7,234 499,084 -85,721
1977 4,931 7,189 578,947 -90,737
1976 4,319 6,942 530,558 -92,314
1975 4,717 6,737 603,300 -52,332
1974 5,956 6,594 673,030 27,005
1973 5,623 6,488 699,115 35,779
1972 6,267 6,432 740,469 25,382
1971 7,160 6,392 789,185 -6,326
1970 6,257 6,158 747,987 -27,999
1969 5,515 8,650 694,227 -21,175
1968 5,592 9,403 684,487 -16,868
1967 5,012 9,115 692,169 -16,484
1966 4,842 8,998 623,534 -16,688
1965 5,437 8,851 641,090 -146,386
1964 6,897 8,734 655,501 -102,284
1963 6,043 8,410 685,824 -80,226
1962 6,457 8,248 712,590 -94,606
1961 7,228 7,991 730,173 -93,179
1960 7,511 7,762 728,010 47,245

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/estonia/south-korea | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 26.1% of the population change in Estonia is from natural causes (a loss of 27,683 people) and 73.9% is from migration (a gain of 78,553 people). In South Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).

As of 2024, 203,046 residents or 14.9% of the population were not native-born in Estonia, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Estonia
City Population
Tallinn 458K
Tartu 97.8K
Narva 53.4K
Parnu 41.5K
Kohtla-Jarve 33.4K
Viljandi 17.3K
Maardu 17K
Rakvere 15.7K
Kuressaare 13.2K
Sillamae 12.4K
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 map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/estonia/south-korea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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