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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Germany was 83,516,593 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Germany's population is 82,575,542 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • Germany's population is 1.6 times bigger than South Korea's.
  • Germany is ranked the 19th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 1.62% of the world: 1% for Germany vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Germany has had an average growth rate of +0.32% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Germany has increased from 82.4M people to 82.6M (0.24% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Germany vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Germany
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Germany South Korea
2100 69,929,981 22,012,503
2099 69,956,854 22,335,528
2098 69,973,838 22,668,719
2097 70,015,834 23,009,661
2096 70,046,713 23,360,151
2095 70,067,131 23,722,747
2094 70,085,911 24,093,391
2093 70,106,718 24,473,038
2092 70,132,132 24,860,975
2091 70,178,440 25,255,379
2090 70,240,137 25,655,577
2089 70,294,005 26,060,945
2088 70,352,443 26,470,073
2087 70,434,814 26,884,813
2086 70,532,124 27,301,913
2085 70,627,602 27,723,736
2084 70,722,960 28,147,480
2083 70,829,392 28,578,182
2082 70,932,273 29,012,953
2081 71,045,881 29,456,022
2080 71,171,519 29,901,880
2079 71,305,544 30,352,062
2078 71,445,484 30,809,176
2077 71,601,117 31,273,700
2076 71,757,525 31,744,480
2075 71,891,567 32,221,226
2074 72,046,795 32,706,020
2073 72,206,145 33,196,556
2072 72,356,324 33,696,490
2071 72,517,749 34,203,935
2070 72,664,462 34,719,324
2069 72,828,330 35,241,850
2068 72,993,859 35,762,799
2067 73,178,408 36,292,307
2066 73,370,207 36,826,655
2065 73,561,648 37,368,086
2064 73,762,096 37,916,439
2063 73,971,537 38,469,051
2062 74,198,775 39,028,473
2061 74,426,082 39,584,621
2060 74,678,280 40,149,830
2059 74,932,496 40,712,514
2058 75,206,278 41,277,134
2057 75,482,742 41,833,887
2056 75,756,281 42,377,427
2055 76,041,477 42,909,302
2054 76,325,196 43,427,254
2053 76,595,801 43,938,741
2052 76,839,962 44,441,106
2051 77,084,029 44,923,604
2050 77,325,459 45,385,311
2049 77,569,721 45,832,153
2048 77,818,888 46,258,529
2047 78,049,343 46,668,898
2046 78,272,834 47,056,404
2045 78,497,690 47,433,205
2044 78,722,126 47,797,411
2043 78,936,540 48,144,730
2042 79,130,312 48,478,991
2041 79,324,161 48,806,273
2040 79,536,735 49,115,658
2039 79,754,631 49,412,830
2038 79,978,474 49,694,340
2037 80,194,225 49,957,504
2036 80,425,162 50,200,702
2035 80,640,951 50,426,000
2034 80,844,719 50,632,962
2033 81,069,119 50,821,090
2032 81,286,326 50,987,020
2031 81,520,272 51,134,940
2030 81,736,996 51,267,908
2029 81,963,002 51,385,868
2028 82,178,048 51,486,791
2027 82,384,302 51,576,746
2026 82,575,542 51,649,918
2025 83,233,941 51,710,062
2024 83,516,593 51,751,065
2023 83,287,273 51,712,619
2022 83,177,813 51,672,569
2021 83,196,078 51,769,539
2020 83,160,871 51,836,239
2019 83,092,962 51,764,822
2018 82,905,782 51,585,058
2017 82,657,002 51,361,911
2016 82,348,669 51,217,803
2015 81,686,611 51,014,947
2014 80,982,500 50,746,659
2013 80,645,605 50,428,893
2012 80,425,823 50,199,853
2011 80,274,983 49,936,638
2010 81,776,930 49,554,112
2009 81,902,307 49,307,835
2008 82,110,097 49,054,708
2007 82,266,372 48,683,638
2006 82,376,451 48,438,292
2005 82,469,422 48,184,561
2004 82,516,260 48,082,519
2003 82,534,176 47,892,330
2002 82,488,495 47,644,736
2001 82,349,925 47,370,164
2000 82,211,508 47,008,111
1999 82,100,243 46,616,677
1998 82,047,195 46,286,503
1997 82,034,771 45,953,580
1996 81,914,831 45,524,681
1995 81,678,051 45,092,991
1994 81,438,348 44,641,540
1993 81,156,363 44,194,628
1992 80,624,598 43,747,962
1991 80,013,896 43,295,704
1990 79,433,029 42,869,283
1989 78,751,283 42,449,038
1988 78,144,619 42,031,247
1987 77,839,920 41,621,690
1986 77,720,436 41,213,674
1985 77,684,873 40,805,744
1984 77,858,685 40,405,956
1983 78,128,282 39,910,403
1982 78,333,366 39,326,352
1981 78,407,907 38,723,248
1980 78,288,576 38,123,775
1979 78,126,350 37,534,236
1978 78,091,820 36,969,185
1977 78,159,814 36,411,795
1976 78,336,950 35,848,523
1975 78,673,554 35,280,725
1974 78,967,433 34,692,266
1973 78,936,666 34,103,149
1972 78,688,452 33,505,406
1971 78,312,842 32,882,704
1970 78,169,289 32,240,827
1969 77,909,682 31,544,266
1968 77,294,314 30,838,302
1967 76,951,336 30,130,983
1966 76,600,311 29,435,571
1965 75,963,695 28,704,674
1964 75,318,337 27,984,155
1963 74,714,353 27,261,747
1962 74,025,784 26,513,030
1961 73,377,632 25,765,673
1960 72,814,900 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/germany/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Germany decreased by 27,782 people (a 0.03% decline), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Germany gained 226,873 people (a 0.28% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Germany was ranked 14th most populous country in 2006 and is 19th 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) Germany's population will shrink by 6.36% to 77,325,459 people with a rank change from 19th to 25th. 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 13.1% of the population in Germany and 38.5% in South Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Germany
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Germany South Korea
2100 -0.04% -1.45%
2099 -0.02% -1.47%
2098 -0.06% -1.48%
2097 -0.04% -1.5%
2096 -0.03% -1.53%
2095 -0.03% -1.54%
2094 -0.03% -1.55%
2093 -0.04% -1.56%
2092 -0.07% -1.56%
2091 -0.09% -1.56%
2090 -0.08% -1.56%
2089 -0.08% -1.55%
2088 -0.12% -1.54%
2087 -0.14% -1.53%
2086 -0.14% -1.52%
2085 -0.13% -1.51%
2084 -0.15% -1.51%
2083 -0.15% -1.5%
2082 -0.16% -1.5%
2081 -0.18% -1.49%
2080 -0.19% -1.48%
2079 -0.2% -1.48%
2078 -0.22% -1.49%
2077 -0.22% -1.48%
2076 -0.19% -1.48%
2075 -0.22% -1.48%
2074 -0.22% -1.48%
2073 -0.21% -1.48%
2072 -0.22% -1.48%
2071 -0.2% -1.48%
2070 -0.23% -1.48%
2069 -0.23% -1.46%
2068 -0.25% -1.46%
2067 -0.26% -1.45%
2066 -0.26% -1.45%
2065 -0.27% -1.45%
2064 -0.28% -1.44%
2063 -0.31% -1.43%
2062 -0.31% -1.4%
2061 -0.34% -1.41%
2060 -0.34% -1.38%
2059 -0.36% -1.37%
2058 -0.37% -1.33%
2057 -0.36% -1.28%
2056 -0.38% -1.24%
2055 -0.37% -1.19%
2054 -0.35% -1.16%
2053 -0.32% -1.13%
2052 -0.32% -1.07%
2051 -0.31% -1.02%
2050 -0.31% -0.97%
2049 -0.32% -0.92%
2048 -0.3% -0.88%
2047 -0.29% -0.82%
2046 -0.29% -0.79%
2045 -0.29% -0.76%
2044 -0.27% -0.72%
2043 -0.24% -0.69%
2042 -0.24% -0.67%
2041 -0.27% -0.63%
2040 -0.27% -0.6%
2039 -0.28% -0.57%
2038 -0.27% -0.53%
2037 -0.29% -0.48%
2036 -0.27% -0.45%
2035 -0.25% -0.41%
2034 -0.28% -0.37%
2033 -0.27% -0.33%
2032 -0.29% -0.29%
2031 -0.27% -0.26%
2030 -0.28% -0.23%
2029 -0.26% -0.2%
2028 -0.25% -0.17%
2027 -0.23% -0.14%
2026 -0.79% -0.12%
2025 -0.34% -0.08%
2024 0.28% 0.07%
2023 0.13% 0.08%
2022 -0.02% -0.19%
2021 0.04% -0.13%
2020 0.08% 0.14%
2019 0.23% 0.35%
2018 0.3% 0.43%
2017 0.37% 0.28%
2016 0.81% 0.4%
2015 0.87% 0.53%
2014 0.42% 0.63%
2013 0.27% 0.46%
2012 0.19% 0.53%
2011 -1.84% 0.77%
2010 -0.15% 0.5%
2009 -0.25% 0.52%
2008 -0.19% 0.76%
2007 -0.13% 0.51%
2006 -0.11% 0.53%
2005 -0.06% 0.21%
2004 -0.02% 0.4%
2003 0.06% 0.52%
2002 0.17% 0.58%
2001 0.17% 0.77%
2000 0.14% 0.84%
1999 0.06% 0.71%
1998 0.02% 0.72%
1997 0.15% 0.94%
1996 0.29% 0.96%
1995 0.29% 1.01%
1994 0.35% 1.01%
1993 0.66% 1.02%
1992 0.76% 1.04%
1991 0.73% 0.99%
1990 0.87% 0.99%
1989 0.78% 0.99%
1988 0.39% 0.98%
1987 0.15% 0.99%
1986 0.05% 1%
1985 -0.22% 0.99%
1984 -0.35% 1.24%
1983 -0.26% 1.49%
1982 -0.1% 1.56%
1981 0.15% 1.57%
1980 0.21% 1.57%
1979 0.04% 1.53%
1978 -0.09% 1.53%
1977 -0.23% 1.57%
1976 -0.43% 1.61%
1975 -0.37% 1.7%
1974 0.04% 1.73%
1973 0.32% 1.78%
1972 0.48% 1.89%
1971 0.18% 1.99%
1970 0.33% 2.21%
1969 0.8% 2.29%
1968 0.45% 2.35%
1967 0.46% 2.36%
1966 0.84% 2.55%
1965 0.86% 2.57%
1964 0.81% 2.65%
1963 0.93% 2.82%
1962 0.88% 2.9%
1961 0.77% 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/germany/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Germany grew by 0.28%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Germany South Korea
Current population
82575542
51649918
Population rank 19/197 31/197
Percent of world population 1% 0.62%
One net population change
2.29 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
45.6 seconds
2.26 minutes
One death every
30.8 seconds
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +628 +105
Annual growth/decline +229,320 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +0.28% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 151/197 160/197
One migration net change every
1.58 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -334,072 +65,731
Net migration rank 192/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 16,750,084 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 2/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 19.8% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 31/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Germany
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Germany South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -334,072 - 65,731
2024 - 36,954 - 75,963
2023 -333,149 609,553 -77,569 87,800
2022 -324,394 981,552 -124,014 87,800
2021 -224,629 310,264 -56,947 -16,778
2020 -216,218 203,468 -31,101 112,631
2019 -157,877 319,082 10,353 128,622
2018 -165,812 403,908 30,951 118,220
2017 -148,783 452,988 71,907 104,029
2016 -123,523 517,480 122,923 91,568
2015 -187,879 1,175,283 163,248 276,427
2014 -153,866 592,338 167,464 308,037
2013 -209,679 462,384 166,415 301,926
2012 -193,022 199,143 215,859 281,866
2011 -184,632 295,282 214,728 269,958
2010 -179,909 130,116 213,083 52,042
2009 -188,375 46,533 197,231 5,308
2008 -164,220 -23,341 215,841 -19,630
2007 -148,080 -24,772 248,286 -42,293
2006 -148,278 -489,056 203,441 -28,434
2005 -148,445 81,351 187,920 -47,821
2004 -107,271 81,735 225,988 -42,549
2003 -140,309 142,009 244,251 -31,994
2002 -123,733 218,795 247,752 -18,105
2001 -98,820 272,875 312,643 -28,006
2000 -73,990 174,594 390,167 -84,960
1999 -73,890 219,280 368,272 -107,448
1998 -65,637 -754,469 393,436 -98,044
1997 -49,221 93,281 422,773 -109,130
1996 -90,107 281,280 446,142 -115,705
1995 -114,349 398,077 468,967 -208,491
1994 -114,013 315,585 473,200 -208,309
1993 -105,503 462,096 477,302 -222,802
1992 -80,625 811,606 494,352 -265,849
1991 -80,014 602,638 467,594 -270,754
1990 -15,887 679,702 411,546 79,294
1989 -23,625 761,002 403,266 186,120
1988 -7,815 515,962 399,297 192,534
1987 -31,136 174,272 378,758 198,057
1986 -77,721 212,822 395,651 189,782
1985 -116,527 103,556 416,219 97,949
1984 -109,002 -150,771 436,384 101,394
1983 -109,380 -81,349 514,844 102,167
1982 -78,333 -58,121 605,626 48,638
1981 -94,090 130,713 631,189 18,442
1980 -86,117 324,203 583,294 -148,341
1979 -125,002 237,705 623,068 -139,566
1978 -140,566 117,167 499,084 -85,721
1977 -125,055 33,881 578,947 -90,737
1976 -164,508 -79,761 530,558 -92,314
1975 -212,418 -207,740 603,300 -52,332
1974 -150,038 -15,126 673,030 27,005
1973 -149,980 386,881 699,115 35,779
1972 -62,950 336,015 740,469 25,382
1971 46,988 450,328 789,185 -6,326
1970 70,352 -273,498 747,987 -27,999
1969 155,820 584,017 694,227 -21,175
1968 239,612 293,307 684,487 -16,868
1967 353,977 -174,155 692,169 -16,484
1966 405,982 134,107 623,534 -16,688
1965 410,204 338,258 641,090 -146,386
1964 482,038 69,825 655,501 -102,284
1963 455,757 205,976 685,824 -80,226
1962 436,752 276,505 712,590 -94,606
1961 462,279 27,534 730,173 -93,179
1960 385,919 212,666 728,010 47,245

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 26.8% of the population change in Germany is from natural causes (a loss of 2,036,130 people) and 73.2% is from migration (a gain of 5,565,916 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, 16,750,084 residents or 19.8% of the population were not native-born in Germany, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Germany
City Population
Berlin 3.78M
Hamburg 1.91M
Munich 1.51M
Cologne 1.09M
Frankfurt 776K
Stuttgart 633K
Dusseldorf 631K
Leipzig 620K
Dortmund 595K
Essen 587K
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/germany/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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