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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ethiopia was 135,472,051 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ethiopia's population is 140,722,974 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 2.73 times bigger than South Korea's.
  • Ethiopia is ranked the 10th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 2.31% of the world: 1.69% for Ethiopia vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Ethiopia has had an average growth rate of +2.69% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ethiopia has increased from 80.7M people to 141M (74.4% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

Ethiopia vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ethiopia South Korea
2100 371,078,260 22,001,649
2099 369,338,252 22,324,514
2098 367,513,542 22,657,541
2097 365,567,496 22,998,315
2096 363,536,294 23,348,632
2095 361,596,042 23,711,049
2094 359,531,317 24,081,510
2093 357,460,480 24,460,970
2092 355,389,829 24,848,715
2091 353,218,632 25,242,926
2090 350,960,021 25,642,926
2089 348,751,618 26,048,094
2088 346,517,326 26,457,020
2087 344,162,324 26,871,556
2086 341,671,994 27,288,450
2085 339,167,930 27,710,065
2084 336,649,520 28,133,600
2083 334,083,247 28,564,090
2082 331,401,460 28,998,646
2081 328,715,487 29,441,497
2080 326,013,981 29,887,135
2079 323,282,865 30,337,095
2078 320,422,535 30,793,984
2077 317,492,915 31,258,278
2076 314,518,328 31,728,826
2075 311,487,723 32,205,338
2074 308,416,133 32,689,892
2073 305,383,505 33,180,187
2072 302,258,564 33,679,874
2071 299,119,280 34,187,068
2070 295,963,235 34,702,204
2069 292,756,723 35,224,472
2068 289,522,748 35,745,164
2067 286,191,689 36,274,411
2066 282,905,709 36,808,495
2065 279,576,283 37,349,660
2064 276,197,958 37,897,742
2063 272,782,685 38,450,082
2062 269,340,926 39,009,227
2061 265,803,351 39,565,102
2060 262,269,354 40,130,032
2059 258,692,767 40,692,438
2058 255,205,644 41,256,780
2057 251,656,356 41,813,259
2056 248,002,497 42,356,530
2055 244,426,069 42,888,143
2054 240,794,405 43,405,840
2053 237,155,110 43,917,075
2052 233,479,314 44,419,192
2051 229,733,593 44,901,452
2050 226,055,085 45,362,931
2049 222,351,471 45,809,553
2048 218,627,197 46,235,718
2047 214,883,954 46,645,885
2046 211,161,780 47,033,200
2045 207,461,987 47,409,815
2044 203,749,820 47,773,842
2043 200,035,613 48,120,989
2042 196,351,202 48,455,085
2041 192,689,672 48,782,206
2040 189,023,384 49,091,438
2039 185,365,776 49,388,464
2038 181,733,067 49,669,835
2037 178,124,993 49,932,869
2036 174,515,366 50,175,947
2035 170,904,339 50,401,135
2034 167,316,305 50,607,994
2033 163,763,376 50,796,030
2032 160,167,364 50,961,878
2031 156,590,018 51,109,725
2030 153,023,174 51,242,628
2029 149,461,578 51,360,529
2028 145,944,350 51,461,403
2027 142,419,893 51,551,313
2026 138,930,724 51,624,449
2025 135,472,051 51,684,564
2024 132,059,767 51,751,065
2023 128,691,692 51,712,619
2022 125,384,287 51,672,569
2021 122,138,588 51,769,539
2020 118,917,671 51,836,239
2019 115,737,383 51,764,822
2018 112,664,152 51,585,058
2017 109,666,481 51,361,911
2016 106,718,162 51,217,803
2015 103,867,135 51,014,947
2014 101,115,610 50,746,659
2013 98,438,751 50,428,893
2012 95,798,767 50,199,853
2011 93,149,970 49,936,638
2010 90,538,514 49,554,112
2009 88,007,636 49,307,835
2008 85,543,668 49,054,708
2007 83,103,217 48,683,638
2006 80,703,490 48,438,292
2005 78,367,470 48,184,561
2004 76,077,206 48,082,519
2003 73,832,663 47,892,330
2002 71,635,517 47,644,736
2001 69,487,762 47,370,164
2000 67,411,494 47,008,111
1999 65,374,561 46,616,677
1998 63,363,524 46,286,503
1997 61,404,539 45,953,580
1996 59,467,635 45,524,681
1995 57,537,335 45,092,991
1994 55,611,508 44,641,540
1993 53,708,891 44,194,628
1992 51,853,747 43,747,962
1991 49,717,198 43,295,704
1990 47,609,755 42,869,283
1989 45,879,690 42,449,038
1988 44,150,825 42,031,247
1987 42,460,039 41,621,690
1986 41,037,656 41,213,674
1985 39,842,136 40,805,744
1984 38,735,722 40,405,956
1983 37,740,817 39,910,403
1982 36,701,290 39,326,352
1981 35,304,012 38,723,248
1980 34,428,514 38,123,775
1979 34,238,652 37,534,236
1978 33,734,592 36,969,185
1977 33,167,272 36,411,795
1976 32,534,418 35,848,523
1975 31,723,252 35,280,725
1974 30,957,273 34,692,266
1973 30,166,785 34,103,149
1972 29,374,608 33,505,406
1971 28,600,106 32,882,704
1970 27,829,128 32,240,827
1969 27,072,571 31,544,266
1968 26,337,930 30,838,302
1967 25,620,276 30,130,983
1966 24,952,689 29,435,571
1965 24,310,612 28,704,674
1964 23,666,548 27,984,155
1963 23,051,637 27,261,747
1962 22,465,126 26,513,030
1961 21,906,102 25,765,673
1960 21,376,693 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/ethiopia/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ethiopia increased by 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ethiopia gained 34,004,812 people (a 31.9% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).

Ethiopia was ranked 16th most populous country in 2006 and is 10th 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) Ethiopia's population will grow by 60.6% to 226,055,085 people with a rank change from 10th to 7th. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Ethiopia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 371M 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

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ethiopia South Korea
2100 0.47% -1.45%
2099 0.5% -1.47%
2098 0.53% -1.48%
2097 0.56% -1.5%
2096 0.54% -1.53%
2095 0.57% -1.54%
2094 0.58% -1.55%
2093 0.58% -1.56%
2092 0.61% -1.56%
2091 0.64% -1.56%
2090 0.63% -1.56%
2089 0.64% -1.55%
2088 0.68% -1.54%
2087 0.73% -1.53%
2086 0.74% -1.52%
2085 0.75% -1.51%
2084 0.77% -1.51%
2083 0.81% -1.5%
2082 0.82% -1.5%
2081 0.83% -1.49%
2080 0.84% -1.48%
2079 0.89% -1.48%
2078 0.92% -1.49%
2077 0.95% -1.48%
2076 0.97% -1.48%
2075 1% -1.48%
2074 0.99% -1.48%
2073 1.03% -1.48%
2072 1.05% -1.48%
2071 1.07% -1.48%
2070 1.1% -1.48%
2069 1.12% -1.46%
2068 1.16% -1.46%
2067 1.16% -1.45%
2066 1.19% -1.45%
2065 1.22% -1.45%
2064 1.25% -1.44%
2063 1.28% -1.43%
2062 1.33% -1.4%
2061 1.35% -1.41%
2060 1.38% -1.38%
2059 1.37% -1.37%
2058 1.41% -1.33%
2057 1.47% -1.28%
2056 1.46% -1.24%
2055 1.51% -1.19%
2054 1.53% -1.16%
2053 1.57% -1.13%
2052 1.63% -1.07%
2051 1.63% -1.02%
2050 1.67% -0.97%
2049 1.7% -0.92%
2048 1.74% -0.88%
2047 1.76% -0.82%
2046 1.78% -0.79%
2045 1.82% -0.76%
2044 1.86% -0.72%
2043 1.88% -0.69%
2042 1.9% -0.67%
2041 1.94% -0.63%
2040 1.97% -0.6%
2039 2% -0.57%
2038 2.03% -0.53%
2037 2.07% -0.48%
2036 2.11% -0.45%
2035 2.14% -0.41%
2034 2.17% -0.37%
2033 2.25% -0.33%
2032 2.28% -0.29%
2031 2.33% -0.26%
2030 2.38% -0.23%
2029 2.41% -0.2%
2028 2.47% -0.17%
2027 2.51% -0.14%
2026 2.55% -0.12%
2025 2.58% -0.13%
2024 2.62% 0.07%
2023 2.64% 0.08%
2022 2.66% -0.19%
2021 2.71% -0.13%
2020 2.75% 0.14%
2019 2.73% 0.35%
2018 2.73% 0.43%
2017 2.76% 0.28%
2016 2.74% 0.4%
2015 2.72% 0.53%
2014 2.72% 0.63%
2013 2.76% 0.46%
2012 2.84% 0.53%
2011 2.88% 0.77%
2010 2.88% 0.5%
2009 2.88% 0.52%
2008 2.94% 0.76%
2007 2.97% 0.51%
2006 2.98% 0.53%
2005 3.01% 0.21%
2004 3.04% 0.4%
2003 3.07% 0.52%
2002 3.09% 0.58%
2001 3.08% 0.77%
2000 3.12% 0.84%
1999 3.17% 0.71%
1998 3.19% 0.72%
1997 3.26% 0.94%
1996 3.35% 0.96%
1995 3.46% 1.01%
1994 3.54% 1.01%
1993 3.58% 1.02%
1992 4.3% 1.04%
1991 4.43% 0.99%
1990 3.77% 0.99%
1989 3.92% 0.99%
1988 3.98% 0.98%
1987 3.47% 0.99%
1986 3% 1%
1985 2.86% 0.99%
1984 2.64% 1.24%
1983 2.83% 1.49%
1982 3.96% 1.56%
1981 2.54% 1.57%
1980 0.55% 1.57%
1979 1.49% 1.53%
1978 1.71% 1.53%
1977 1.95% 1.57%
1976 2.56% 1.61%
1975 2.47% 1.7%
1974 2.62% 1.73%
1973 2.7% 1.78%
1972 2.71% 1.89%
1971 2.77% 1.99%
1970 2.79% 2.21%
1969 2.79% 2.29%
1968 2.8% 2.35%
1967 2.68% 2.36%
1966 2.64% 2.55%
1965 2.72% 2.57%
1964 2.67% 2.65%
1963 2.61% 2.82%
1962 2.55% 2.9%
1961 2.48% 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/ethiopia/south-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ethiopia grew by 2.58%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Ethiopia South Korea
Current population
140722974
51624449
Population rank 10/197 31/197
Percent of world population 1.69% 0.62%
One net population change
9.27 seconds
7.93 minutes
One birth every
7.59 seconds
2.16 minutes
One death every
40.6 seconds
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,349 -182
Annual growth/decline +3,412,284 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate +2.58% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 24/197 169/197
One migration net change every
21.9 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change +24,054 +65,731
Net migration rank 31/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 1,168,455 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 53/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 157/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ethiopia South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 24,054 - 65,731
2024 3,379,409 30,069 -119,027 75,963
2023 3,338,649 -11,996 -124,111 87,800
2022 3,300,114 -11,996 -124,014 87,800
2021 3,204,673 -1,377 -56,947 -16,778
2020 3,199,718 38,866 -31,101 112,631
2019 3,132,780 -10,807 10,353 128,622
2018 3,015,231 9,302 30,951 118,220
2017 2,899,143 71,766 71,907 104,029
2016 2,809,889 115,823 122,923 91,568
2015 2,713,529 62,785 163,248 276,427
2014 2,623,647 103,122 167,464 308,037
2013 2,546,020 80,955 166,415 301,926
2012 2,533,398 119,517 215,859 281,866
2011 2,527,811 116,793 214,728 269,958
2010 2,498,048 80,213 213,083 52,042
2009 2,467,118 16,315 197,231 5,308
2008 2,465,283 -20,780 215,841 -19,630
2007 2,436,753 -381 248,286 -42,293
2006 2,393,585 -30,512 203,441 -28,434
2005 2,353,375 -44,421 187,920 -47,821
2004 2,296,999 -25,430 225,988 -42,549
2003 2,231,223 -13,744 244,251 -31,994
2002 2,189,683 -12,925 247,752 -18,105
2001 2,137,791 -19,063 312,643 -28,006
2000 2,083,622 -49,891 390,167 -84,960
1999 2,010,987 29,142 368,272 -107,448
1998 1,984,989 -3,011 393,436 -98,044
1997 1,945,112 -9,119 422,773 -109,130
1996 1,896,364 41,456 446,142 -115,705
1995 1,831,068 91,727 468,967 -208,491
1994 1,788,133 140,715 473,200 -208,309
1993 1,734,851 141,545 477,302 -222,802
1992 1,673,839 160,106 494,352 -265,849
1991 1,579,416 859,737 467,594 -270,754
1990 1,479,663 296,014 411,546 79,294
1989 1,441,769 242,614 403,266 186,120
1988 1,393,356 379,966 399,297 192,534
1987 1,356,853 251,387 378,758 198,057
1986 1,050,277 186,227 395,651 189,782
1985 997,050 157,476 416,219 97,949
1984 920,670 137,632 436,384 101,394
1983 863,472 68,022 514,844 102,167
1982 1,080,853 66,702 605,626 48,638
1981 1,018,838 628,135 631,189 18,442
1980 1,007,516 -903,529 583,294 -148,341
1979 987,203 -711,455 623,068 -139,566
1978 943,388 -210,991 499,084 -85,721
1977 929,381 -527,133 578,947 -90,737
1976 899,577 -36,125 530,558 -92,314
1975 801,425 -42,540 603,300 -52,332
1974 777,306 -4,232 673,030 27,005
1973 807,535 347 699,115 35,779
1972 779,808 -3,375 740,469 25,382
1971 787,047 -14,510 789,185 -6,326
1970 760,821 8,589 747,987 -27,999
1969 736,428 7,258 694,227 -21,175
1968 715,602 9,992 684,487 -16,868
1967 695,283 14,437 692,169 -16,484
1966 616,281 9,160 623,534 -16,688
1965 642,359 16,348 641,090 -146,386
1964 618,667 10,749 655,501 -102,284
1963 590,998 9,418 685,824 -80,226
1962 563,650 8,960 712,590 -94,606
1961 538,518 6,938 730,173 -93,179
1960 511,694 1,696 728,010 47,245

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.1% of the population change in Ethiopia is from natural causes (a gain of 30,993,135 people) and 0.93% is from migration (a gain of 292,435 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, 1,168,455 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Ethiopia, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K
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 (1960–2025, 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/ethiopia/south-korea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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