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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ethiopia was 132,059,767 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ethiopia's population is 139,917,664 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 2.71 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 +2.71% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ethiopia has increased from 80.7M people to 140M (73.4% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Ethiopia vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ethiopia South Korea
2100 371,192,732 22,012,503
2099 369,452,188 22,335,528
2098 367,626,914 22,668,719
2097 365,680,268 23,009,661
2096 363,648,440 23,360,151
2095 361,707,589 23,722,747
2094 359,642,227 24,093,391
2093 357,570,752 24,473,038
2092 355,499,462 24,860,975
2091 353,327,595 25,255,379
2090 351,068,287 25,655,577
2089 348,859,203 26,060,945
2088 346,624,222 26,470,073
2087 344,268,493 26,884,813
2086 341,777,395 27,301,913
2085 339,272,558 27,723,736
2084 336,753,372 28,147,480
2083 334,186,307 28,578,182
2082 331,503,693 29,012,953
2081 328,816,892 29,456,022
2080 326,114,551 29,901,880
2079 323,382,593 30,352,062
2078 320,521,381 30,809,176
2077 317,590,857 31,273,700
2076 314,615,353 31,744,480
2075 311,583,813 32,221,226
2074 308,511,275 32,706,020
2073 305,477,711 33,196,556
2072 302,351,806 33,696,490
2071 299,211,554 34,203,935
2070 296,054,535 34,719,324
2069 292,847,034 35,241,850
2068 289,612,061 35,762,799
2067 286,279,975 36,292,307
2066 282,992,981 36,826,655
2065 279,662,528 37,368,086
2064 276,283,161 37,916,439
2063 272,866,834 38,469,051
2062 269,424,014 39,028,473
2061 265,885,347 39,584,621
2060 262,350,260 40,149,830
2059 258,772,570 40,712,514
2058 255,284,371 41,277,134
2057 251,733,988 41,833,887
2056 248,079,002 42,377,427
2055 244,501,471 42,909,302
2054 240,868,686 43,427,254
2053 237,228,269 43,938,741
2052 233,551,340 44,441,106
2051 229,804,463 44,923,604
2050 226,124,819 45,385,311
2049 222,420,063 45,832,153
2048 218,694,640 46,258,529
2047 214,950,242 46,668,898
2046 211,226,920 47,056,404
2045 207,525,986 47,433,205
2044 203,812,674 47,797,411
2043 200,097,321 48,144,730
2042 196,411,774 48,478,991
2041 192,749,114 48,806,273
2040 189,081,695 49,115,658
2039 185,422,958 49,412,830
2038 181,789,129 49,694,340
2037 178,179,942 49,957,504
2036 174,569,201 50,200,702
2035 170,957,061 50,426,000
2034 167,367,920 50,632,962
2033 163,813,895 50,821,090
2032 160,216,774 50,987,020
2031 156,638,324 51,134,940
2030 153,070,380 51,267,908
2029 149,507,684 51,385,868
2028 145,989,372 51,486,791
2027 142,463,827 51,576,746
2026 138,973,582 51,649,918
2025 135,513,842 51,710,062
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 33,199,502 people (a 31.1% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% 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 61.6% to 226,124,819 people with a rank change from 10th to 7th. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 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 2.62% -0.08%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Ethiopia grew by 2.62%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Ethiopia South Korea
Current population
139917664
51649918
Population rank 10/197 31/197
Percent of world population 1.69% 0.62%
One net population change
9.36 seconds
13.7 minutes
One birth every
7.68 seconds
2.26 minutes
One death every
41.1 seconds
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,228 +105
Annual growth/decline +3,368,075 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +2.62% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 25/197 160/197
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 - 30,069 - 75,963
2023 3,338,649 -11,996 -77,569 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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 98.8% of the population change in Ethiopia is from natural causes (a gain of 30,237,373 people) and 1.19% is from migration (a gain of 365,488 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, 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 (1960–2024, 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/ethiopia/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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