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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Latvia was 1,866,124 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Latvia's population is 1,829,763 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 28.2 times bigger than Latvia's.
  • Latvia is ranked the 149th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.65% of the world: 0.02% for Latvia vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Latvia has had an average growth rate of -0.68% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Latvia has decreased from 2.22M people to 1.83M (17.5% decline), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Latvia vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Latvia
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Latvia South Korea
2100 923,408 22,012,503
2099 932,882 22,335,528
2098 942,357 22,668,719
2097 951,702 23,009,661
2096 961,114 23,360,151
2095 970,470 23,722,747
2094 979,811 24,093,391
2093 989,107 24,473,038
2092 998,497 24,860,975
2091 1,007,961 25,255,379
2090 1,017,465 25,655,577
2089 1,026,994 26,060,945
2088 1,036,657 26,470,073
2087 1,046,527 26,884,813
2086 1,056,483 27,301,913
2085 1,066,499 27,723,736
2084 1,076,818 28,147,480
2083 1,087,423 28,578,182
2082 1,098,154 29,012,953
2081 1,109,075 29,456,022
2080 1,120,211 29,901,880
2079 1,131,602 30,352,062
2078 1,143,002 30,809,176
2077 1,154,458 31,273,700
2076 1,166,122 31,744,480
2075 1,177,964 32,221,226
2074 1,189,889 32,706,020
2073 1,201,798 33,196,556
2072 1,213,804 33,696,490
2071 1,226,159 34,203,935
2070 1,238,635 34,719,324
2069 1,251,199 35,241,850
2068 1,264,197 35,762,799
2067 1,277,382 36,292,307
2066 1,290,492 36,826,655
2065 1,304,082 37,368,086
2064 1,317,729 37,916,439
2063 1,331,316 38,469,051
2062 1,344,939 39,028,473
2061 1,358,659 39,584,621
2060 1,372,730 40,149,830
2059 1,386,684 40,712,514
2058 1,400,736 41,277,134
2057 1,414,911 41,833,887
2056 1,429,035 42,377,427
2055 1,442,863 42,909,302
2054 1,456,686 43,427,254
2053 1,470,334 43,938,741
2052 1,483,843 44,441,106
2051 1,496,515 44,923,604
2050 1,509,248 45,385,311
2049 1,521,989 45,832,153
2048 1,534,656 46,258,529
2047 1,547,203 46,668,898
2046 1,559,641 47,056,404
2045 1,572,396 47,433,205
2044 1,584,822 47,797,411
2043 1,597,317 48,144,730
2042 1,609,668 48,478,991
2041 1,622,468 48,806,273
2040 1,635,132 49,115,658
2039 1,648,215 49,412,830
2038 1,661,175 49,694,340
2037 1,674,137 49,957,504
2036 1,687,461 50,200,702
2035 1,700,759 50,426,000
2034 1,714,411 50,632,962
2033 1,728,562 50,821,090
2032 1,742,976 50,987,020
2031 1,757,310 51,134,940
2030 1,772,264 51,267,908
2029 1,786,824 51,385,868
2028 1,801,228 51,486,791
2027 1,815,599 51,576,746
2026 1,829,763 51,649,918
2025 1,850,593 51,710,062
2024 1,866,124 51,751,065
2023 1,883,710 51,712,619
2022 1,879,383 51,672,569
2021 1,884,490 51,769,539
2020 1,900,449 51,836,239
2019 1,913,822 51,764,822
2018 1,927,174 51,585,058
2017 1,942,248 51,361,911
2016 1,959,537 51,217,803
2015 1,977,527 51,014,947
2014 1,993,782 50,746,659
2013 2,012,647 50,428,893
2012 2,034,319 50,199,853
2011 2,059,709 49,936,638
2010 2,097,555 49,554,112
2009 2,141,669 49,307,835
2008 2,177,322 49,054,708
2007 2,200,325 48,683,638
2006 2,218,357 48,438,292
2005 2,238,799 48,184,561
2004 2,263,122 48,082,519
2003 2,287,955 47,892,330
2002 2,310,173 47,644,736
2001 2,337,170 47,370,164
2000 2,367,550 47,008,111
1999 2,390,482 46,616,677
1998 2,410,019 46,286,503
1997 2,432,851 45,953,580
1996 2,457,222 45,524,681
1995 2,485,056 45,092,991
1994 2,520,742 44,641,540
1993 2,563,290 44,194,628
1992 2,614,338 43,747,962
1991 2,650,581 43,295,704
1990 2,663,151 42,869,283
1989 2,666,955 42,449,038
1988 2,653,434 42,031,247
1987 2,626,583 41,621,690
1986 2,599,892 41,213,674
1985 2,578,873 40,805,744
1984 2,562,047 40,405,956
1983 2,546,011 39,910,403
1982 2,531,080 39,326,352
1981 2,519,421 38,723,248
1980 2,511,701 38,123,775
1979 2,505,953 37,534,236
1978 2,497,921 36,969,185
1977 2,485,073 36,411,795
1976 2,470,989 35,848,523
1975 2,456,130 35,280,725
1974 2,437,186 34,692,266
1973 2,415,819 34,103,149
1972 2,395,674 33,505,406
1971 2,376,389 32,882,704
1970 2,359,164 32,240,827
1969 2,343,173 31,544,266
1968 2,323,619 30,838,302
1967 2,301,220 30,130,983
1966 2,283,217 29,435,571
1965 2,265,919 28,704,674
1964 2,240,623 27,984,155
1963 2,210,919 27,261,747
1962 2,181,586 26,513,030
1961 2,152,681 25,765,673
1960 2,120,979 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/latvia/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Latvia decreased by 258,820 people (a 11.7% decline), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Latvia lost 129,774 people (a 6.62% decline), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Latvia was ranked 140th most populous country in 2006 and is 149th 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) Latvia's population will shrink by 17.5% to 1,509,248 people with a rank change from 149th to 155th. 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 36.3% of the population in Latvia and 38.5% in South Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Latvia
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Latvia South Korea
2100 -1.02% -1.45%
2099 -1.01% -1.47%
2098 -0.98% -1.48%
2097 -0.98% -1.5%
2096 -0.96% -1.53%
2095 -0.95% -1.54%
2094 -0.94% -1.55%
2093 -0.94% -1.56%
2092 -0.94% -1.56%
2091 -0.93% -1.56%
2090 -0.93% -1.56%
2089 -0.93% -1.55%
2088 -0.94% -1.54%
2087 -0.94% -1.53%
2086 -0.94% -1.52%
2085 -0.96% -1.51%
2084 -0.98% -1.51%
2083 -0.98% -1.5%
2082 -0.98% -1.5%
2081 -0.99% -1.49%
2080 -1.01% -1.48%
2079 -1% -1.48%
2078 -0.99% -1.49%
2077 -1% -1.48%
2076 -1.01% -1.48%
2075 -1% -1.48%
2074 -0.99% -1.48%
2073 -0.99% -1.48%
2072 -1.01% -1.48%
2071 -1.01% -1.48%
2070 -1% -1.48%
2069 -1.03% -1.46%
2068 -1.03% -1.46%
2067 -1.02% -1.45%
2066 -1.04% -1.45%
2065 -1.04% -1.45%
2064 -1.02% -1.44%
2063 -1.01% -1.43%
2062 -1.01% -1.4%
2061 -1.03% -1.41%
2060 -1.01% -1.38%
2059 -1% -1.37%
2058 -1% -1.33%
2057 -0.99% -1.28%
2056 -0.96% -1.24%
2055 -0.95% -1.19%
2054 -0.93% -1.16%
2053 -0.91% -1.13%
2052 -0.85% -1.07%
2051 -0.84% -1.02%
2050 -0.84% -0.97%
2049 -0.83% -0.92%
2048 -0.81% -0.88%
2047 -0.8% -0.82%
2046 -0.81% -0.79%
2045 -0.78% -0.76%
2044 -0.78% -0.72%
2043 -0.77% -0.69%
2042 -0.79% -0.67%
2041 -0.77% -0.63%
2040 -0.79% -0.6%
2039 -0.78% -0.57%
2038 -0.77% -0.53%
2037 -0.79% -0.48%
2036 -0.78% -0.45%
2035 -0.8% -0.41%
2034 -0.82% -0.37%
2033 -0.83% -0.33%
2032 -0.82% -0.29%
2031 -0.84% -0.26%
2030 -0.81% -0.23%
2029 -0.8% -0.2%
2028 -0.79% -0.17%
2027 -0.77% -0.14%
2026 -1.13% -0.12%
2025 -0.83% -0.08%
2024 -0.93% 0.07%
2023 0.23% 0.08%
2022 -0.27% -0.19%
2021 -0.84% -0.13%
2020 -0.7% 0.14%
2019 -0.69% 0.35%
2018 -0.78% 0.43%
2017 -0.88% 0.28%
2016 -0.91% 0.4%
2015 -0.82% 0.53%
2014 -0.94% 0.63%
2013 -1.07% 0.46%
2012 -1.23% 0.53%
2011 -1.8% 0.77%
2010 -2.06% 0.5%
2009 -1.64% 0.52%
2008 -1.05% 0.76%
2007 -0.81% 0.51%
2006 -0.91% 0.53%
2005 -1.07% 0.21%
2004 -1.09% 0.4%
2003 -0.96% 0.52%
2002 -1.16% 0.58%
2001 -1.28% 0.77%
2000 -0.96% 0.84%
1999 -0.81% 0.71%
1998 -0.94% 0.72%
1997 -0.99% 0.94%
1996 -1.12% 0.96%
1995 -1.42% 1.01%
1994 -1.66% 1.01%
1993 -1.95% 1.02%
1992 -1.37% 1.04%
1991 -0.47% 0.99%
1990 -0.14% 0.99%
1989 0.51% 0.99%
1988 1.02% 0.98%
1987 1.03% 0.99%
1986 0.82% 1%
1985 0.66% 0.99%
1984 0.63% 1.24%
1983 0.59% 1.49%
1982 0.46% 1.56%
1981 0.31% 1.57%
1980 0.23% 1.57%
1979 0.32% 1.53%
1978 0.52% 1.53%
1977 0.57% 1.57%
1976 0.6% 1.61%
1975 0.78% 1.7%
1974 0.88% 1.73%
1973 0.84% 1.78%
1972 0.81% 1.89%
1971 0.73% 1.99%
1970 0.68% 2.21%
1969 0.84% 2.29%
1968 0.97% 2.35%
1967 0.79% 2.36%
1966 0.76% 2.55%
1965 1.13% 2.57%
1964 1.34% 2.65%
1963 1.34% 2.82%
1962 1.34% 2.9%
1961 1.49% 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/latvia/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Latvia declined by 0.93%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Latvia South Korea
Current population
1829763
51649918
Population rank 149/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.62%
One net population change
29.9 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
36.2 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
18.7 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline -48 +105
Annual growth/decline -17,586 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate -0.93% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 193/197 160/197
One migration net change every
1.2 hours
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -7,330 +65,731
Net migration rank 125/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 220,471 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 108/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 11.8% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 57/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Latvia
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Latvia South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -7,330 - 65,731
2024 - -2,225 - 75,963
2023 -13,563 7,966 -77,569 87,800
2022 -14,847 22,027 -124,014 87,800
2021 -17,337 -280 -56,947 -16,778
2020 -11,402 -3,147 -31,101 112,631
2019 -8,995 -3,416 10,353 128,622
2018 -9,636 -4,972 30,951 118,220
2017 -7,963 -7,867 71,907 104,029
2016 -6,663 -12,327 122,923 91,568
2015 -6,526 -10,826 163,248 276,427
2014 -6,779 -8,799 167,464 308,037
2013 -8,252 -14,386 166,415 301,926
2012 -9,154 -11,914 215,859 281,866
2011 -9,886 -20,202 214,728 269,958
2010 -10,278 -36,128 213,083 52,042
2009 -7,924 -34,807 197,231 5,308
2008 -6,531 -22,445 215,841 -19,630
2007 -9,021 -8,027 248,286 -42,293
2006 -10,204 -9,211 203,441 -28,434
2005 -10,746 -11,134 187,920 -47,821
2004 -11,542 -15,136 225,988 -42,549
2003 -11,439 -11,422 244,251 -31,994
2002 -12,475 -9,160 247,752 -18,105
2001 -13,322 -18,634 312,643 -28,006
2000 -11,838 -15,679 390,167 -84,960
1999 -13,387 -3,229 368,272 -107,448
1998 -15,906 -5,504 393,436 -98,044
1997 -14,841 -9,183 422,773 -109,130
1996 -14,498 -9,888 446,142 -115,705
1995 -17,396 -13,288 468,967 -208,491
1994 -17,645 -21,446 473,200 -208,309
1993 -12,560 -32,914 477,302 -222,802
1992 -3,660 -52,180 494,352 -265,849
1991 0 -12,020 467,594 -270,754
1990 2,929 -13,196 411,546 79,294
1989 6,401 -4,960 403,266 186,120
1988 9,022 15,784 399,297 192,534
1987 9,981 19,249 378,758 198,057
1986 10,660 13,972 395,651 189,782
1985 5,673 12,037 416,219 97,949
1984 7,430 8,847 436,384 101,394
1983 8,147 8,115 514,844 102,167
1982 6,327 8,116 605,626 48,638
1981 3,779 6,536 631,189 18,442
1980 3,265 3,099 583,294 -148,341
1979 2,506 3,661 623,068 -139,566
1978 2,997 7,399 499,084 -85,721
1977 3,480 11,992 578,947 -90,737
1976 4,200 8,870 530,558 -92,314
1975 4,913 12,166 603,300 -52,332
1974 6,824 14,420 673,030 27,005
1973 6,040 15,997 699,115 35,779
1972 7,666 11,077 740,469 25,382
1971 8,793 10,846 789,185 -6,326
1970 7,785 12,494 747,987 -27,999
1969 6,561 13,718 694,227 -21,175
1968 7,668 13,465 684,487 -16,868
1967 7,825 14,177 692,169 -16,484
1966 8,677 13,465 623,534 -16,688
1965 8,384 13,218 641,090 -146,386
1964 12,100 13,010 655,501 -102,284
1963 11,055 12,308 685,824 -80,226
1962 11,562 12,344 712,590 -94,606
1961 14,207 12,364 730,173 -93,179
1960 14,211 11,420 728,010 47,245

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 82.7% of the population change in Latvia is from natural causes (a loss of 103,711 people) and 17.3% is from migration (a loss of 21,641 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, 220,471 residents or 11.8% of the population were not native-born in Latvia, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Latvia
City Population
Riga 595K
Daugavpils 78.1K
Liepaja 67.4K
Jelgava 54.8K
Jurmala 52K
Ventspils 32.7K
Rezekne 26.4K
Valmiera 22.8K
Ogre 22.8K
Jekabpils 21K
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/latvia/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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