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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Moldova was 2,402,306 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Moldova's population is 2,341,166 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 22.1 times bigger than Moldova's.
  • Moldova is ranked the 145th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.65% of the world: 0.03% for Moldova vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Moldova has had an average growth rate of -1.57% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Moldova has decreased from 2.88M people to 2.34M (18.7% decline), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Moldova vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Moldova
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Moldova South Korea
2100 1,175,882 22,012,503
2099 1,186,641 22,335,528
2098 1,197,541 22,668,719
2097 1,208,458 23,009,661
2096 1,219,478 23,360,151
2095 1,230,573 23,722,747
2094 1,241,540 24,093,391
2093 1,252,531 24,473,038
2092 1,263,471 24,860,975
2091 1,274,372 25,255,379
2090 1,285,020 25,655,577
2089 1,295,696 26,060,945
2088 1,306,424 26,470,073
2087 1,317,064 26,884,813
2086 1,327,799 27,301,913
2085 1,338,702 27,723,736
2084 1,349,432 28,147,480
2083 1,360,333 28,578,182
2082 1,371,322 29,012,953
2081 1,382,447 29,456,022
2080 1,393,733 29,901,880
2079 1,405,298 30,352,062
2078 1,417,062 30,809,176
2077 1,429,240 31,273,700
2076 1,441,240 31,744,480
2075 1,453,677 32,221,226
2074 1,466,568 32,706,020
2073 1,479,672 33,196,556
2072 1,493,311 33,696,490
2071 1,507,315 34,203,935
2070 1,522,149 34,719,324
2069 1,537,091 35,241,850
2068 1,552,724 35,762,799
2067 1,568,676 36,292,307
2066 1,584,782 36,826,655
2065 1,601,356 37,368,086
2064 1,618,317 37,916,439
2063 1,635,288 38,469,051
2062 1,652,720 39,028,473
2061 1,670,255 39,584,621
2060 1,688,120 40,149,830
2059 1,705,595 40,712,514
2058 1,722,942 41,277,134
2057 1,740,252 41,833,887
2056 1,757,829 42,377,427
2055 1,775,082 42,909,302
2054 1,792,262 43,427,254
2053 1,809,221 43,938,741
2052 1,825,831 44,441,106
2051 1,842,337 44,923,604
2050 1,858,281 45,385,311
2049 1,874,666 45,832,153
2048 1,890,586 46,258,529
2047 1,906,615 46,668,898
2046 1,922,962 47,056,404
2045 1,939,938 47,433,205
2044 1,956,858 47,797,411
2043 1,974,616 48,144,730
2042 1,992,765 48,478,991
2041 2,011,342 48,806,273
2040 2,030,732 49,115,658
2039 2,051,163 49,412,830
2038 2,071,871 49,694,340
2037 2,093,068 49,957,504
2036 2,114,669 50,200,702
2035 2,136,998 50,426,000
2034 2,159,450 50,632,962
2033 2,182,023 50,821,090
2032 2,204,431 50,987,020
2031 2,227,006 51,134,940
2030 2,250,038 51,267,908
2029 2,272,963 51,385,868
2028 2,295,739 51,486,791
2027 2,318,425 51,576,746
2026 2,341,166 51,649,918
2025 2,373,265 51,710,062
2024 2,402,306 51,751,065
2023 2,457,783 51,712,619
2022 2,528,654 51,672,569
2021 2,595,809 51,769,539
2020 2,635,130 51,836,239
2019 2,664,224 51,764,822
2018 2,707,203 51,585,058
2017 2,755,189 51,361,911
2016 2,803,186 51,217,803
2015 2,835,978 51,014,947
2014 2,857,815 50,746,659
2013 2,859,558 50,428,893
2012 2,860,324 50,199,853
2011 2,860,699 49,936,638
2010 2,862,354 49,554,112
2009 2,865,213 49,307,835
2008 2,868,833 49,054,708
2007 2,874,299 48,683,638
2006 2,880,967 48,438,292
2005 2,888,985 48,184,561
2004 2,896,023 48,082,519
2003 2,903,198 47,892,330
2002 2,911,385 47,644,736
2001 2,918,135 47,370,164
2000 2,924,668 47,008,111
1999 2,930,622 46,616,677
1998 2,935,227 46,286,503
1997 2,936,413 45,953,580
1996 2,947,293 45,524,681
1995 2,953,200 45,092,991
1994 2,966,745 44,641,540
1993 2,975,966 44,194,628
1992 2,980,965 43,747,962
1991 2,981,566 43,295,704
1990 2,977,912 42,869,283
1989 2,970,039 42,449,038
1988 2,948,891 42,031,247
1987 2,916,306 41,621,690
1986 2,883,057 41,213,674
1985 2,850,787 40,805,744
1984 2,820,518 40,405,956
1983 2,791,207 39,910,403
1982 2,763,101 39,326,352
1981 2,735,987 38,723,248
1980 2,708,675 38,123,775
1979 2,683,035 37,534,236
1978 2,656,211 36,969,185
1977 2,626,298 36,411,795
1976 2,596,491 35,848,523
1975 2,566,998 35,280,725
1974 2,538,164 34,692,266
1973 2,510,584 34,103,149
1972 2,484,742 33,505,406
1971 2,460,611 32,882,704
1970 2,437,590 32,240,827
1969 2,408,469 31,544,266
1968 2,373,073 30,838,302
1967 2,337,695 30,130,983
1966 2,301,871 29,435,571
1965 2,265,287 28,704,674
1964 2,228,000 27,984,155
1963 2,188,895 27,261,747
1962 2,147,227 26,513,030
1961 2,103,327 25,765,673
1960 2,058,020 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/moldova/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Moldova decreased by 77,781 people (a 2.7% decline), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Moldova lost 462,020 people (a 16.5% decline), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Moldova was ranked 134th most populous country in 2006 and is 145th 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) Moldova's population will shrink by 20.6% to 1,858,281 people with a rank change from 145th to 150th. 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 38.4% of the population in Moldova and 38.5% in South Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Moldova
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Moldova South Korea
2100 -0.91% -1.45%
2099 -0.91% -1.47%
2098 -0.9% -1.48%
2097 -0.9% -1.5%
2096 -0.9% -1.53%
2095 -0.88% -1.54%
2094 -0.88% -1.55%
2093 -0.87% -1.56%
2092 -0.86% -1.56%
2091 -0.83% -1.56%
2090 -0.82% -1.56%
2089 -0.82% -1.55%
2088 -0.81% -1.54%
2087 -0.81% -1.53%
2086 -0.81% -1.52%
2085 -0.8% -1.51%
2084 -0.8% -1.51%
2083 -0.8% -1.5%
2082 -0.8% -1.5%
2081 -0.81% -1.49%
2080 -0.82% -1.48%
2079 -0.83% -1.48%
2078 -0.85% -1.49%
2077 -0.83% -1.48%
2076 -0.86% -1.48%
2075 -0.88% -1.48%
2074 -0.89% -1.48%
2073 -0.91% -1.48%
2072 -0.93% -1.48%
2071 -0.97% -1.48%
2070 -0.97% -1.48%
2069 -1.01% -1.46%
2068 -1.02% -1.46%
2067 -1.02% -1.45%
2066 -1.03% -1.45%
2065 -1.05% -1.45%
2064 -1.04% -1.44%
2063 -1.05% -1.43%
2062 -1.05% -1.4%
2061 -1.06% -1.41%
2060 -1.02% -1.38%
2059 -1.01% -1.37%
2058 -0.99% -1.33%
2057 -1% -1.28%
2056 -0.97% -1.24%
2055 -0.96% -1.19%
2054 -0.94% -1.16%
2053 -0.91% -1.13%
2052 -0.9% -1.07%
2051 -0.86% -1.02%
2050 -0.87% -0.97%
2049 -0.84% -0.92%
2048 -0.84% -0.88%
2047 -0.85% -0.82%
2046 -0.88% -0.79%
2045 -0.86% -0.76%
2044 -0.9% -0.72%
2043 -0.91% -0.69%
2042 -0.92% -0.67%
2041 -0.95% -0.63%
2040 -1% -0.6%
2039 -1% -0.57%
2038 -1.01% -0.53%
2037 -1.02% -0.48%
2036 -1.04% -0.45%
2035 -1.04% -0.41%
2034 -1.03% -0.37%
2033 -1.02% -0.33%
2032 -1.01% -0.29%
2031 -1.02% -0.26%
2030 -1.01% -0.23%
2029 -0.99% -0.2%
2028 -0.98% -0.17%
2027 -0.97% -0.14%
2026 -1.35% -0.12%
2025 -1.21% -0.08%
2024 -2.26% 0.07%
2023 -2.8% 0.08%
2022 -2.59% -0.19%
2021 -1.49% -0.13%
2020 -1.09% 0.14%
2019 -1.59% 0.35%
2018 -1.74% 0.43%
2017 -1.71% 0.28%
2016 -1.16% 0.4%
2015 -0.76% 0.53%
2014 -0.06% 0.63%
2013 -0.03% 0.46%
2012 -0.01% 0.53%
2011 -0.06% 0.77%
2010 -0.1% 0.5%
2009 -0.13% 0.52%
2008 -0.19% 0.76%
2007 -0.23% 0.51%
2006 -0.28% 0.53%
2005 -0.24% 0.21%
2004 -0.25% 0.4%
2003 -0.28% 0.52%
2002 -0.23% 0.58%
2001 -0.22% 0.77%
2000 -0.2% 0.84%
1999 -0.16% 0.71%
1998 -0.04% 0.72%
1997 -0.37% 0.94%
1996 -0.2% 0.96%
1995 -0.46% 1.01%
1994 -0.31% 1.01%
1993 -0.17% 1.02%
1992 -0.02% 1.04%
1991 0.12% 0.99%
1990 0.27% 0.99%
1989 0.72% 0.99%
1988 1.12% 0.98%
1987 1.15% 0.99%
1986 1.13% 1%
1985 1.07% 0.99%
1984 1.05% 1.24%
1983 1.02% 1.49%
1982 0.99% 1.56%
1981 1.01% 1.57%
1980 0.96% 1.57%
1979 1.01% 1.53%
1978 1.14% 1.53%
1977 1.15% 1.57%
1976 1.15% 1.61%
1975 1.14% 1.7%
1974 1.1% 1.73%
1973 1.04% 1.78%
1972 0.98% 1.89%
1971 0.94% 1.99%
1970 1.21% 2.21%
1969 1.49% 2.29%
1968 1.51% 2.35%
1967 1.56% 2.36%
1966 1.61% 2.55%
1965 1.67% 2.57%
1964 1.79% 2.65%
1963 1.94% 2.82%
1962 2.09% 2.9%
1961 2.2% 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/moldova/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Moldova declined by 2.26%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Moldova South Korea
Current population
2341166
51649918
Population rank 145/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.62%
One net population change
9.47 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
19.9 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
15.7 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline -152 +105
Annual growth/decline -55,477 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate -2.26% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 196/197 160/197
One migration net change every
17.7 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -29,766 +65,731
Net migration rank 164/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 188,207 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 116/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.2% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 85/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Moldova
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Moldova South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -29,766 - 65,731
2024 - -27,088 - 75,963
2023 -7,007 -18,570 -77,569 87,800
2022 -6,385 89,154 -124,014 87,800
2021 -13,444 -33,405 -56,947 -16,778
2020 -7,067 -33,405 -31,101 112,631
2019 -3,416 -41,233 10,353 128,622
2018 -961 -36,085 30,951 118,220
2017 1,402 -43,871 71,907 104,029
2016 4,580 -51,642 122,923 91,568
2015 6,049 -59,399 163,248 276,427
2014 7,248 -67,175 167,464 308,037
2013 3,537 -77,571 166,415 301,926
2012 5,581 -81,215 215,859 281,866
2011 5,948 -82,271 214,728 269,958
2010 7,456 -84,039 213,083 52,042
2009 7,492 -83,546 197,231 5,308
2008 5,210 -79,593 215,841 -19,630
2007 3,490 -75,734 248,286 -42,293
2006 2,406 -72,061 203,441 -28,434
2005 2,005 -68,681 187,920 -47,821
2004 1,714 -52,491 225,988 -42,549
2003 -322 -46,947 244,251 -31,994
2002 -1,249 -45,833 247,752 -18,105
2001 -718 -45,043 312,643 -28,006
2000 -324 -43,854 390,167 -84,960
1999 642 -43,111 368,272 -107,448
1998 2,140 -41,975 393,436 -98,044
1997 4,669 -41,743 422,773 -109,130
1996 2,655 -33,369 446,142 -115,705
1995 5,534 -31,975 468,967 -208,491
1994 9,921 -31,616 473,200 -208,309
1993 13,886 -31,526 477,302 -222,802
1992 17,373 -30,136 494,352 -265,849
1991 21,127 -29,204 467,594 -270,754
1990 25,824 -30,053 411,546 79,294
1989 29,638 -29,307 403,266 186,120
1988 35,608 -4,989 399,297 192,534
1987 40,122 -10,796 378,758 198,057
1986 39,463 -8,769 395,651 189,782
1985 38,060 -10,627 416,219 97,949
1984 38,108 -12,732 436,384 101,394
1983 36,076 -10,543 514,844 102,167
1982 32,814 -8,412 605,626 48,638
1981 31,360 -6,452 631,189 18,442
1980 30,053 -3,693 583,294 -148,341
1979 28,322 -6,912 623,068 -139,566
1978 27,622 3,483 499,084 -85,721
1977 27,707 3,245 578,947 -90,737
1976 27,801 2,885 530,558 -92,314
1975 27,677 2,355 603,300 -52,332
1974 27,219 1,785 673,030 27,005
1973 25,967 1,156 699,115 35,779
1972 24,626 481 740,469 25,382
1971 23,359 -61 789,185 -6,326
1970 22,314 606 747,987 -27,999
1969 21,768 20,561 694,227 -21,175
1968 22,005 19,830 684,487 -16,868
1967 22,654 19,175 692,169 -16,484
1966 23,720 18,601 623,534 -16,688
1965 24,916 18,066 641,090 -146,386
1964 25,860 17,509 655,501 -102,284
1963 29,382 16,816 685,824 -80,226
1962 32,082 15,884 712,590 -94,606
1961 35,180 14,818 730,173 -93,179
1960 36,352 13,697 728,010 47,245

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 6.04% of the population change in Moldova is from natural causes (a loss of 19,001 people) and 94% is from migration (a loss of 295,631 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, 188,207 residents or 6.2% of the population were not native-born in Moldova, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Moldova
City Population
Chisinau 567K
Tiraspol 134K
Balti 91K
Bender 76.2K
Dubasari 28.5K
Ungheni 26.5K
Cahul 22.2K
Orhei 22.2K
Soroca 21.1K
Comrat 19.1K
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/moldova/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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