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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Greece was 10,405,134 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Greece's population is 10,181,414 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 5.07 times bigger than Greece's.
  • Greece is ranked the 96th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.75% of the world: 0.12% for Greece vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Greece has had an average growth rate of -0.47% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Greece has decreased from 11M people to 10.2M (7.61% decline), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Greece vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Greece
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Greece South Korea
2100 6,463,085 22,012,503
2099 6,505,287 22,335,528
2098 6,547,164 22,668,719
2097 6,589,081 23,009,661
2096 6,630,487 23,360,151
2095 6,671,006 23,722,747
2094 6,710,734 24,093,391
2093 6,749,510 24,473,038
2092 6,787,596 24,860,975
2091 6,824,775 25,255,379
2090 6,862,164 25,655,577
2089 6,900,089 26,060,945
2088 6,937,116 26,470,073
2087 6,973,450 26,884,813
2086 7,010,676 27,301,913
2085 7,048,751 27,723,736
2084 7,086,818 28,147,480
2083 7,124,743 28,578,182
2082 7,164,627 29,012,953
2081 7,205,487 29,456,022
2080 7,248,512 29,901,880
2079 7,292,836 30,352,062
2078 7,338,859 30,809,176
2077 7,387,671 31,273,700
2076 7,437,562 31,744,480
2075 7,489,139 32,221,226
2074 7,543,259 32,706,020
2073 7,600,155 33,196,556
2072 7,659,253 33,696,490
2071 7,719,672 34,203,935
2070 7,782,317 34,719,324
2069 7,847,153 35,241,850
2068 7,913,682 35,762,799
2067 7,980,659 36,292,307
2066 8,047,692 36,826,655
2065 8,114,348 37,368,086
2064 8,181,923 37,916,439
2063 8,250,274 38,469,051
2062 8,318,463 39,028,473
2061 8,386,919 39,584,621
2060 8,454,179 40,149,830
2059 8,522,250 40,712,514
2058 8,589,200 41,277,134
2057 8,655,428 41,833,887
2056 8,720,012 42,377,427
2055 8,783,558 42,909,302
2054 8,844,935 43,427,254
2053 8,903,834 43,938,741
2052 8,961,755 44,441,106
2051 9,018,494 44,923,604
2050 9,072,676 45,385,311
2049 9,126,801 45,832,153
2048 9,177,973 46,258,529
2047 9,228,605 46,668,898
2046 9,275,381 47,056,404
2045 9,321,349 47,433,205
2044 9,367,130 47,797,411
2043 9,411,608 48,144,730
2042 9,454,837 48,478,991
2041 9,499,098 48,806,273
2040 9,543,726 49,115,658
2039 9,588,298 49,412,830
2038 9,633,708 49,694,340
2037 9,679,362 49,957,504
2036 9,724,905 50,200,702
2035 9,771,397 50,426,000
2034 9,817,355 50,632,962
2033 9,863,589 50,821,090
2032 9,911,215 50,987,020
2031 9,956,924 51,134,940
2030 10,002,298 51,267,908
2029 10,047,641 51,385,868
2028 10,092,845 51,486,791
2027 10,137,354 51,576,746
2026 10,181,414 51,649,918
2025 10,223,023 51,710,062
2024 10,405,134 51,751,065
2023 10,407,351 51,712,619
2022 10,436,882 51,672,569
2021 10,569,207 51,769,539
2020 10,698,599 51,836,239
2019 10,721,582 51,764,822
2018 10,732,882 51,585,058
2017 10,754,679 51,361,911
2016 10,775,971 51,217,803
2015 10,820,883 51,014,947
2014 10,892,413 50,746,659
2013 10,965,211 50,428,893
2012 11,045,011 50,199,853
2011 11,104,899 49,936,638
2010 11,121,341 49,554,112
2009 11,107,017 49,307,835
2008 11,077,841 49,054,708
2007 11,048,473 48,683,638
2006 11,020,362 48,438,292
2005 10,987,314 48,184,561
2004 10,955,141 48,082,519
2003 10,928,070 47,892,330
2002 10,902,022 47,644,736
2001 10,862,132 47,370,164
2000 10,805,808 47,008,111
1999 10,761,698 46,616,677
1998 10,720,509 46,286,503
1997 10,661,259 45,953,580
1996 10,608,800 45,524,681
1995 10,562,153 45,092,991
1994 10,512,922 44,641,540
1993 10,460,415 44,194,628
1992 10,399,061 43,747,962
1991 10,319,927 43,295,704
1990 10,196,792 42,869,283
1989 10,089,498 42,449,038
1988 10,036,983 42,031,247
1987 10,000,595 41,621,690
1986 9,967,213 41,213,674
1985 9,934,300 40,805,744
1984 9,895,801 40,405,956
1983 9,846,627 39,910,403
1982 9,789,513 39,326,352
1981 9,729,350 38,723,248
1980 9,642,505 38,123,775
1979 9,548,258 37,534,236
1978 9,429,959 36,969,185
1977 9,308,479 36,411,795
1976 9,188,150 35,848,523
1975 9,046,541 35,280,725
1974 8,962,022 34,692,266
1973 8,929,086 34,103,149
1972 8,888,628 33,505,406
1971 8,831,036 32,882,704
1970 8,792,806 32,240,827
1969 8,772,764 31,544,266
1968 8,740,765 30,838,302
1967 8,684,088 30,130,983
1966 8,613,651 29,435,571
1965 8,550,333 28,704,674
1964 8,510,429 27,984,155
1963 8,479,625 27,261,747
1962 8,448,233 26,513,030
1961 8,398,050 25,765,673
1960 8,331,725 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/greece/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Greece decreased by 244,391 people (a 2.22% decline), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Greece lost 594,557 people (a 5.52% decline), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Greece was ranked 74th most populous country in 2006 and is 96th 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) Greece's population will shrink by 10.9% to 9,072,676 people with a rank change from 96th to 106th. 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 26.9% of the population in Greece and 38.5% in South Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Greece
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Greece South Korea
2100 -0.65% -1.45%
2099 -0.64% -1.47%
2098 -0.64% -1.48%
2097 -0.62% -1.5%
2096 -0.61% -1.53%
2095 -0.59% -1.54%
2094 -0.57% -1.55%
2093 -0.56% -1.56%
2092 -0.54% -1.56%
2091 -0.54% -1.56%
2090 -0.55% -1.56%
2089 -0.53% -1.55%
2088 -0.52% -1.54%
2087 -0.53% -1.53%
2086 -0.54% -1.52%
2085 -0.54% -1.51%
2084 -0.53% -1.51%
2083 -0.56% -1.5%
2082 -0.57% -1.5%
2081 -0.59% -1.49%
2080 -0.61% -1.48%
2079 -0.63% -1.48%
2078 -0.66% -1.49%
2077 -0.67% -1.48%
2076 -0.69% -1.48%
2075 -0.72% -1.48%
2074 -0.75% -1.48%
2073 -0.77% -1.48%
2072 -0.78% -1.48%
2071 -0.8% -1.48%
2070 -0.83% -1.48%
2069 -0.84% -1.46%
2068 -0.84% -1.46%
2067 -0.83% -1.45%
2066 -0.82% -1.45%
2065 -0.83% -1.45%
2064 -0.83% -1.44%
2063 -0.82% -1.43%
2062 -0.82% -1.4%
2061 -0.8% -1.41%
2060 -0.8% -1.38%
2059 -0.78% -1.37%
2058 -0.77% -1.33%
2057 -0.74% -1.28%
2056 -0.72% -1.24%
2055 -0.69% -1.19%
2054 -0.66% -1.16%
2053 -0.65% -1.13%
2052 -0.63% -1.07%
2051 -0.6% -1.02%
2050 -0.59% -0.97%
2049 -0.56% -0.92%
2048 -0.55% -0.88%
2047 -0.5% -0.82%
2046 -0.49% -0.79%
2045 -0.49% -0.76%
2044 -0.47% -0.72%
2043 -0.46% -0.69%
2042 -0.47% -0.67%
2041 -0.47% -0.63%
2040 -0.46% -0.6%
2039 -0.47% -0.57%
2038 -0.47% -0.53%
2037 -0.47% -0.48%
2036 -0.48% -0.45%
2035 -0.47% -0.41%
2034 -0.47% -0.37%
2033 -0.48% -0.33%
2032 -0.46% -0.29%
2031 -0.45% -0.26%
2030 -0.45% -0.23%
2029 -0.45% -0.2%
2028 -0.44% -0.17%
2027 -0.43% -0.14%
2026 -0.41% -0.12%
2025 -1.75% -0.08%
2024 -0.02% 0.07%
2023 -0.28% 0.08%
2022 -1.25% -0.19%
2021 -1.21% -0.13%
2020 -0.21% 0.14%
2019 -0.11% 0.35%
2018 -0.2% 0.43%
2017 -0.2% 0.28%
2016 -0.42% 0.4%
2015 -0.66% 0.53%
2014 -0.66% 0.63%
2013 -0.72% 0.46%
2012 -0.54% 0.53%
2011 -0.15% 0.77%
2010 0.13% 0.5%
2009 0.26% 0.52%
2008 0.27% 0.76%
2007 0.26% 0.51%
2006 0.3% 0.53%
2005 0.29% 0.21%
2004 0.25% 0.4%
2003 0.24% 0.52%
2002 0.37% 0.58%
2001 0.52% 0.77%
2000 0.41% 0.84%
1999 0.38% 0.71%
1998 0.56% 0.72%
1997 0.49% 0.94%
1996 0.44% 0.96%
1995 0.47% 1.01%
1994 0.5% 1.01%
1993 0.59% 1.02%
1992 0.77% 1.04%
1991 1.21% 0.99%
1990 1.06% 0.99%
1989 0.52% 0.99%
1988 0.36% 0.98%
1987 0.33% 0.99%
1986 0.33% 1%
1985 0.39% 0.99%
1984 0.5% 1.24%
1983 0.58% 1.49%
1982 0.62% 1.56%
1981 0.9% 1.57%
1980 0.99% 1.57%
1979 1.25% 1.53%
1978 1.31% 1.53%
1977 1.31% 1.57%
1976 1.57% 1.61%
1975 0.94% 1.7%
1974 0.37% 1.73%
1973 0.46% 1.78%
1972 0.65% 1.89%
1971 0.43% 1.99%
1970 0.23% 2.21%
1969 0.37% 2.29%
1968 0.65% 2.35%
1967 0.82% 2.36%
1966 0.74% 2.55%
1965 0.47% 2.57%
1964 0.36% 2.65%
1963 0.37% 2.82%
1962 0.6% 2.9%
1961 0.8% 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/greece/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Greece declined by 0.02%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Greece South Korea
Current population
10181414
51649918
Population rank 96/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.12% 0.62%
One net population change
3.95 hours
13.7 minutes
One birth every
7.43 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
4.14 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline -6 +105
Annual growth/decline -2,217 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate -0.02% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 165/197 160/197
One migration net change every
31.7 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change +16,636 +65,731
Net migration rank 37/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 1,423,964 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 46/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 14.2% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 47/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Greece
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Greece South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 16,636 - 65,731
2024 - -122,772 - 75,963
2023 -56,200 -159,430 -77,569 87,800
2022 -63,665 -53,997 -124,014 87,800
2021 -58,131 -160,277 -56,947 -16,778
2020 -46,004 6,353 -31,101 112,631
2019 -41,814 36,762 10,353 128,622
2018 -33,272 17,938 30,951 118,220
2017 -36,566 10,483 71,907 104,029
2016 -25,862 10,484 122,923 91,568
2015 -29,216 -43,462 163,248 276,427
2014 -20,696 -46,678 167,464 308,037
2013 -17,545 -59,323 166,415 301,926
2012 -16,568 -65,364 215,859 281,866
2011 -4,441 -31,786 214,728 269,958
2010 5,560 2,001 213,083 52,042
2009 8,886 18,182 197,231 5,308
2008 11,077 27,081 215,841 -19,630
2007 2,210 25,400 248,286 -42,293
2006 6,612 27,621 203,441 -28,434
2005 2,197 33,297 187,920 -47,821
2004 0 29,039 225,988 -42,549
2003 -1,093 25,323 244,251 -31,994
2002 0 25,692 247,752 -18,105
2001 0 60,387 312,643 -28,006
2000 -1,081 54,661 390,167 -84,960
1999 -2,153 49,930 368,272 -107,448
1998 -2,144 47,856 393,436 -98,044
1997 2,133 45,671 422,773 -109,130
1996 0 43,444 446,142 -115,705
1995 1,056 42,674 468,967 -208,491
1994 6,307 42,897 473,200 -208,309
1993 4,185 39,829 477,302 -222,802
1992 6,239 41,000 494,352 -265,849
1991 6,192 37,917 467,594 -270,754
1990 8,157 26,294 411,546 79,294
1989 9,080 18,862 403,266 186,120
1988 15,055 20,557 399,297 192,534
1987 10,001 19,005 378,758 198,057
1986 20,931 19,064 395,651 189,782
1985 22,849 16,093 416,219 97,949
1984 37,604 19,767 436,384 101,394
1983 42,341 18,655 514,844 102,167
1982 50,906 19,675 605,626 48,638
1981 54,484 25,061 631,189 18,442
1980 60,748 47,460 583,294 -148,341
1979 65,882 72,184 623,068 -139,566
1978 64,124 60,775 499,084 -85,721
1977 59,574 19,193 578,947 -90,737
1976 65,236 89,601 530,558 -92,314
1975 61,516 61,265 603,300 -52,332
1974 68,111 -22,590 673,030 27,005
1973 59,824 -42,387 699,115 35,779
1972 64,887 -3,589 740,469 25,382
1971 67,116 -12,747 789,185 -6,326
1970 71,222 -54,166 747,987 -27,999
1969 82,464 -118,544 694,227 -21,175
1968 87,408 -429 684,487 -16,868
1967 91,183 -55,853 692,169 -16,484
1966 86,998 21,206 623,534 -16,688
1965 83,793 -81,576 641,090 -146,386
1964 83,402 -76,678 655,501 -102,284
1963 81,404 -77,345 685,824 -80,226
1962 85,327 -74,972 712,590 -94,606
1961 86,500 -61,102 730,173 -93,179
1960 96,648 -15,996 728,010 47,245

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 51.9% of the population change in Greece is from natural causes (a loss of 411,426 people) and 48.1% is from migration (a loss of 381,824 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, 1,423,964 residents or 14.2% of the population were not native-born in Greece, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Greece
City Population
Athens 643K
Crete 623K
Thessaloniki 310K
Patras 174K
Piraeus 168K
Larissa 146K
Heraklion 145K
Peristeri 134K
Kallithea 97.6K
Glyfada 89.6K
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/greece/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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