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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Italy was 58,952,704 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Italy's population is 58,562,681 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • Italy's population is 1.13 times bigger than South Korea's.
  • Italy is ranked the 26th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 1.33% of the world: 0.71% for Italy vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Italy has had an average growth rate of -0.21% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Italy has increased from 58.4M people to 58.6M (0.28% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Italy vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Italy
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Italy South Korea
2100 35,208,261 22,012,503
2099 35,444,989 22,335,528
2098 35,676,340 22,668,719
2097 35,914,345 23,009,661
2096 36,150,501 23,360,151
2095 36,386,787 23,722,747
2094 36,619,396 24,093,391
2093 36,850,181 24,473,038
2092 37,089,746 24,860,975
2091 37,323,400 25,255,379
2090 37,560,976 25,655,577
2089 37,802,157 26,060,945
2088 38,040,056 26,470,073
2087 38,280,439 26,884,813
2086 38,517,279 27,301,913
2085 38,761,126 27,723,736
2084 39,008,873 28,147,480
2083 39,255,273 28,578,182
2082 39,509,964 29,012,953
2081 39,767,732 29,456,022
2080 40,030,977 29,901,880
2079 40,302,924 30,352,062
2078 40,579,648 30,809,176
2077 40,860,952 31,273,700
2076 41,151,772 31,744,480
2075 41,455,646 32,221,226
2074 41,779,503 32,706,020
2073 42,111,664 33,196,556
2072 42,459,257 33,696,490
2071 42,814,908 34,203,935
2070 43,187,953 34,719,324
2069 43,571,469 35,241,850
2068 43,964,515 35,762,799
2067 44,361,273 36,292,307
2066 44,771,926 36,826,655
2065 45,197,177 37,368,086
2064 45,628,630 37,916,439
2063 46,066,216 38,469,051
2062 46,517,561 39,028,473
2061 46,971,598 39,584,621
2060 47,424,830 40,149,830
2059 47,879,711 40,712,514
2058 48,332,818 41,277,134
2057 48,778,066 41,833,887
2056 49,222,515 42,377,427
2055 49,653,326 42,909,302
2054 50,073,600 43,427,254
2053 50,488,203 43,938,741
2052 50,886,354 44,441,106
2051 51,276,616 44,923,604
2050 51,663,176 45,385,311
2049 52,034,983 45,832,153
2048 52,392,012 46,258,529
2047 52,745,310 46,668,898
2046 53,080,828 47,056,404
2045 53,408,660 47,433,205
2044 53,723,325 47,797,411
2043 54,042,322 48,144,730
2042 54,342,628 48,478,991
2041 54,629,496 48,806,273
2040 54,916,374 49,115,658
2039 55,205,078 49,412,830
2038 55,481,637 49,694,340
2037 55,757,394 49,957,504
2036 56,025,224 50,200,702
2035 56,295,613 50,426,000
2034 56,562,648 50,632,962
2033 56,822,364 50,821,090
2032 57,078,534 50,987,020
2031 57,345,322 51,134,940
2030 57,606,120 51,267,908
2029 57,851,091 51,385,868
2028 58,091,760 51,486,791
2027 58,333,039 51,576,746
2026 58,562,681 51,649,918
2025 58,769,653 51,710,062
2024 58,952,704 51,751,065
2023 58,984,216 51,712,619
2022 59,013,667 51,672,569
2021 59,133,173 51,769,539
2020 59,438,851 51,836,239
2019 59,729,081 51,764,822
2018 60,148,658 51,585,058
2017 60,002,252 51,361,911
2016 60,115,223 51,217,803
2015 60,229,605 51,014,947
2014 60,320,707 50,746,659
2013 60,311,613 50,428,893
2012 60,191,247 50,199,853
2011 60,026,841 49,936,638
2010 59,819,407 49,554,112
2009 59,555,454 49,307,835
2008 59,211,181 49,054,708
2007 58,756,247 48,683,638
2006 58,399,861 48,438,292
2005 58,166,682 48,184,561
2004 57,828,179 48,082,519
2003 57,399,184 47,892,330
2002 57,089,824 47,644,736
2001 56,976,981 47,370,164
2000 56,942,108 47,008,111
1999 56,916,317 46,616,677
1998 56,906,744 46,286,503
1997 56,890,372 45,953,580
1996 56,860,281 45,524,681
1995 56,844,303 45,092,991
1994 56,843,400 44,641,540
1993 56,831,821 44,194,628
1992 56,797,087 43,747,962
1991 56,758,521 43,295,704
1990 56,719,240 42,869,283
1989 56,671,781 42,449,038
1988 56,629,288 42,031,247
1987 56,601,931 41,621,690
1986 56,596,155 41,213,674
1985 56,593,071 40,805,744
1984 56,576,718 40,405,956
1983 56,564,074 39,910,403
1982 56,543,548 39,326,352
1981 56,501,675 38,723,248
1980 56,433,883 38,123,775
1979 56,317,749 37,534,236
1978 56,155,143 36,969,185
1977 55,955,411 36,411,795
1976 55,718,260 35,848,523
1975 55,441,001 35,280,725
1974 55,110,868 34,692,266
1973 54,751,406 34,103,149
1972 54,381,345 33,505,406
1971 54,073,490 32,882,704
1970 53,821,850 32,240,827
1969 53,537,950 31,544,266
1968 53,235,750 30,838,302
1967 52,900,500 30,130,983
1966 52,519,000 29,435,571
1965 52,112,350 28,704,674
1964 51,675,350 27,984,155
1963 51,252,000 27,261,747
1962 50,879,450 26,513,030
1961 50,536,350 25,765,673
1960 50,199,700 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/italy/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Italy increased by 1,715,362 people (a 2.94% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Italy lost 1,552,542 people (a 2.58% decline), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Italy was ranked 23rd most populous country in 2006 and is 26th 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) Italy's population will shrink by 11.8% to 51,663,176 people with a rank change from 26th to 40th. 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 29.7% of the population in Italy and 38.5% in South Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Italy
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Italy South Korea
2100 -0.67% -1.45%
2099 -0.65% -1.47%
2098 -0.66% -1.48%
2097 -0.65% -1.5%
2096 -0.65% -1.53%
2095 -0.64% -1.54%
2094 -0.63% -1.55%
2093 -0.65% -1.56%
2092 -0.63% -1.56%
2091 -0.63% -1.56%
2090 -0.64% -1.56%
2089 -0.63% -1.55%
2088 -0.63% -1.54%
2087 -0.61% -1.53%
2086 -0.63% -1.52%
2085 -0.64% -1.51%
2084 -0.63% -1.51%
2083 -0.64% -1.5%
2082 -0.65% -1.5%
2081 -0.66% -1.49%
2080 -0.67% -1.48%
2079 -0.68% -1.48%
2078 -0.69% -1.49%
2077 -0.71% -1.48%
2076 -0.73% -1.48%
2075 -0.78% -1.48%
2074 -0.79% -1.48%
2073 -0.82% -1.48%
2072 -0.83% -1.48%
2071 -0.86% -1.48%
2070 -0.88% -1.48%
2069 -0.89% -1.46%
2068 -0.89% -1.46%
2067 -0.92% -1.45%
2066 -0.94% -1.45%
2065 -0.95% -1.45%
2064 -0.95% -1.44%
2063 -0.97% -1.43%
2062 -0.97% -1.4%
2061 -0.96% -1.41%
2060 -0.95% -1.38%
2059 -0.94% -1.37%
2058 -0.91% -1.33%
2057 -0.9% -1.28%
2056 -0.87% -1.24%
2055 -0.84% -1.19%
2054 -0.82% -1.16%
2053 -0.78% -1.13%
2052 -0.76% -1.07%
2051 -0.75% -1.02%
2050 -0.71% -0.97%
2049 -0.68% -0.92%
2048 -0.67% -0.88%
2047 -0.63% -0.82%
2046 -0.61% -0.79%
2045 -0.59% -0.76%
2044 -0.59% -0.72%
2043 -0.55% -0.69%
2042 -0.53% -0.67%
2041 -0.52% -0.63%
2040 -0.52% -0.6%
2039 -0.5% -0.57%
2038 -0.49% -0.53%
2037 -0.48% -0.48%
2036 -0.48% -0.45%
2035 -0.47% -0.41%
2034 -0.46% -0.37%
2033 -0.45% -0.33%
2032 -0.47% -0.29%
2031 -0.45% -0.26%
2030 -0.42% -0.23%
2029 -0.41% -0.2%
2028 -0.41% -0.17%
2027 -0.39% -0.14%
2026 -0.35% -0.12%
2025 -0.31% -0.08%
2024 -0.05% 0.07%
2023 -0.05% 0.08%
2022 -0.2% -0.19%
2021 -0.51% -0.13%
2020 -0.49% 0.14%
2019 -0.7% 0.35%
2018 0.24% 0.43%
2017 -0.19% 0.28%
2016 -0.19% 0.4%
2015 -0.15% 0.53%
2014 0.02% 0.63%
2013 0.2% 0.46%
2012 0.27% 0.53%
2011 0.35% 0.77%
2010 0.44% 0.5%
2009 0.58% 0.52%
2008 0.77% 0.76%
2007 0.61% 0.51%
2006 0.4% 0.53%
2005 0.59% 0.21%
2004 0.75% 0.4%
2003 0.54% 0.52%
2002 0.2% 0.58%
2001 0.06% 0.77%
2000 0.05% 0.84%
1999 0.02% 0.71%
1998 0.03% 0.72%
1997 0.05% 0.94%
1996 0.03% 0.96%
1995 0.002% 1.01%
1994 0.02% 1.01%
1993 0.06% 1.02%
1992 0.07% 1.04%
1991 0.07% 0.99%
1990 0.08% 0.99%
1989 0.08% 0.99%
1988 0.05% 0.98%
1987 0.01% 0.99%
1986 0.005% 1%
1985 0.03% 0.99%
1984 0.02% 1.24%
1983 0.04% 1.49%
1982 0.07% 1.56%
1981 0.12% 1.57%
1980 0.21% 1.57%
1979 0.29% 1.53%
1978 0.36% 1.53%
1977 0.43% 1.57%
1976 0.5% 1.61%
1975 0.6% 1.7%
1974 0.66% 1.73%
1973 0.68% 1.78%
1972 0.57% 1.89%
1971 0.47% 1.99%
1970 0.53% 2.21%
1969 0.57% 2.29%
1968 0.63% 2.35%
1967 0.73% 2.36%
1966 0.78% 2.55%
1965 0.85% 2.57%
1964 0.83% 2.65%
1963 0.73% 2.82%
1962 0.68% 2.9%
1961 0.67% 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/italy/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Italy declined by 0.05%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Italy South Korea
Current population
58562681
51649918
Population rank 26/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.71% 0.62%
One net population change
16.7 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
1.39 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
47.7 seconds
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline -86 +105
Annual growth/decline -31,512 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate -0.05% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 170/197 160/197
One migration net change every
6.99 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change +75,448 +65,731
Net migration rank 19/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 6,553,671 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 12/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 11% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 59/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Italy
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Italy South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 75,448 - 65,731
2024 - 95,246 - 75,963
2023 -283,125 150,189 -77,569 87,800
2022 -318,674 231,228 -124,014 87,800
2021 -301,579 157,327 -56,947 -16,778
2020 -338,801 85,281 -31,101 112,631
2019 -215,025 46,634 10,353 128,622
2018 -192,475 83,686 30,951 118,220
2017 -192,007 95,147 71,907 104,029
2016 -138,265 84,568 122,923 91,568
2015 -162,620 39,389 163,248 276,427
2014 -96,513 52,679 167,464 308,037
2013 -90,468 158,090 166,415 301,926
2012 -78,248 252,524 215,859 281,866
2011 -48,021 198,544 214,728 269,958
2010 -23,928 274,387 213,083 52,042
2009 -17,866 283,676 197,231 5,308
2008 -11,842 422,534 215,841 -19,630
2007 -5,876 495,092 248,286 -42,293
2006 0 215,995 203,441 -28,434
2005 -17,450 258,702 187,920 -47,821
2004 11,566 417,970 225,988 -42,549
2003 -40,179 478,578 244,251 -31,994
2002 -22,836 223,861 247,752 -18,105
2001 -11,396 48,903 312,643 -28,006
2000 -17,082 56,065 390,167 -84,960
1999 -22,766 54,405 368,272 -107,448
1998 -39,835 67,985 393,436 -98,044
1997 -22,756 50,539 422,773 -109,130
1996 -22,744 53,450 446,142 -115,705
1995 -34,107 -460,287 468,967 -208,491
1994 -17,053 502,750 473,200 -208,309
1993 0 24,321 477,302 -222,802
1992 22,718 51,747 494,352 -265,849
1991 11,352 19,721 467,594 -270,754
1990 22,688 35,317 411,546 79,294
1989 28,336 19,540 403,266 186,120
1988 33,977 18,553 399,297 192,534
1987 16,980 7,825 378,758 198,057
1986 11,319 -6,206 395,651 189,782
1985 28,297 6,911 416,219 97,949
1984 50,919 203 436,384 101,394
1983 33,939 -3,733 514,844 102,167
1982 79,161 -24,223 605,626 48,638
1981 73,452 7,182 631,189 18,442
1980 84,650 295,642 583,294 -148,341
1979 129,531 42,637 623,068 -139,566
1978 168,465 43,932 499,084 -85,721
1977 190,248 42,246 578,947 -90,737
1976 228,445 40,885 530,558 -92,314
1975 271,660 43,051 603,300 -52,332
1974 336,176 42,487 673,030 27,005
1973 328,508 41,631 699,115 35,779
1972 364,355 43,182 740,469 25,382
1971 383,922 -58,627 789,185 -6,326
1970 376,753 -62,216 747,987 -27,999
1969 390,827 -45,346 694,227 -21,175
1968 399,268 -50,149 684,487 -16,868
1967 439,074 -37,992 692,169 -16,484
1966 488,427 -35,352 623,534 -16,688
1965 474,222 -36,267 641,090 -146,386
1964 527,089 -27,368 655,501 -102,284
1963 440,767 -28,198 685,824 -80,226
1962 427,387 -25,840 712,590 -94,606
1961 459,880 -129,761 730,173 -93,179
1960 426,697 -140,765 728,010 47,245

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 68.6% of the population change in Italy is from natural causes (a loss of 2,239,084 people) and 31.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,026,128 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, 6,553,671 residents or 11% of the population were not native-born in Italy, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Italy
City Population
Rome 2.75M
Milan 1.35M
Naples 913K
Turin 842K
Palermo 630K
Genoa 559K
Bologna 388K
Florence 361K
Bari 315K
Catania 312K
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/italy/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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