Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nepal was 29,618,118 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nepal's population is 29,619,950 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 1.74 times bigger than Nepal's.
  • Nepal is ranked the 52nd most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.98% of the world: 0.36% for Nepal vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Nepal has had an average growth rate of +0.62% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nepal has increased from 26.6M people to 29.6M (11.5% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

Nepal vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Nepal
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nepal South Korea
2100 31,916,191 22,001,649
2099 32,104,658 22,324,514
2098 32,291,766 22,657,541
2097 32,478,376 22,998,315
2096 32,662,029 23,348,632
2095 32,842,809 23,711,049
2094 33,023,754 24,081,510
2093 33,200,660 24,460,970
2092 33,375,774 24,848,715
2091 33,547,026 25,242,926
2090 33,714,253 25,642,926
2089 33,878,299 26,048,094
2088 34,037,329 26,457,020
2087 34,190,255 26,871,556
2086 34,337,807 27,288,450
2085 34,483,366 27,710,065
2084 34,620,498 28,133,600
2083 34,750,155 28,564,090
2082 34,872,031 28,998,646
2081 34,987,218 29,441,497
2080 35,095,973 29,887,135
2079 35,198,820 30,337,095
2078 35,292,530 30,793,984
2077 35,377,971 31,258,278
2076 35,456,092 31,728,826
2075 35,525,668 32,205,338
2074 35,588,497 32,689,892
2073 35,642,802 33,180,187
2072 35,686,332 33,679,874
2071 35,725,442 34,187,068
2070 35,755,056 34,702,204
2069 35,774,677 35,224,472
2068 35,785,895 35,745,164
2067 35,789,572 36,274,411
2066 35,785,710 36,808,495
2065 35,774,308 37,349,660
2064 35,753,136 37,897,742
2063 35,725,408 38,450,082
2062 35,685,285 39,009,227
2061 35,638,790 39,565,102
2060 35,583,129 40,130,032
2059 35,518,416 40,692,438
2058 35,442,760 41,256,780
2057 35,360,939 41,813,259
2056 35,268,910 42,356,530
2055 35,170,656 42,888,143
2054 35,065,508 43,405,840
2053 34,951,722 43,917,075
2052 34,831,085 44,419,192
2051 34,699,347 44,901,452
2050 34,561,226 45,362,931
2049 34,415,794 45,809,553
2048 34,265,080 46,235,718
2047 34,106,257 46,645,885
2046 33,936,663 47,033,200
2045 33,762,505 47,409,815
2044 33,581,319 47,773,842
2043 33,394,849 48,120,989
2042 33,200,691 48,455,085
2041 33,001,382 48,782,206
2040 32,795,384 49,091,438
2039 32,583,834 49,388,464
2038 32,363,750 49,669,835
2037 32,138,947 49,932,869
2036 31,906,773 50,175,947
2035 31,667,683 50,401,135
2034 31,421,060 50,607,994
2033 31,165,782 50,796,030
2032 30,904,004 50,961,878
2031 30,636,967 51,109,725
2030 30,362,343 51,242,628
2029 30,081,388 51,360,529
2028 29,793,481 51,461,403
2027 29,640,694 51,551,313
2026 29,598,041 51,624,449
2025 29,618,118 51,684,564
2024 29,651,054 51,751,065
2023 29,694,614 51,712,619
2022 29,715,436 51,672,569
2021 29,475,010 51,769,539
2020 28,966,574 51,836,239
2019 28,414,064 51,764,822
2018 28,079,689 51,585,058
2017 28,011,258 51,361,911
2016 27,955,462 51,217,803
2015 27,823,629 51,014,947
2014 27,672,370 50,746,659
2013 27,589,996 50,428,893
2012 27,534,915 50,199,853
2011 27,464,494 49,936,638
2010 27,341,952 49,554,112
2009 27,173,035 49,307,835
2008 26,990,037 49,054,708
2007 26,788,492 48,683,638
2006 26,565,425 48,438,292
2005 26,309,458 48,184,561
2004 26,016,656 48,082,519
2003 25,688,758 47,892,330
2002 25,328,981 47,644,736
2001 24,946,748 47,370,164
2000 24,546,509 47,008,111
1999 24,125,199 46,616,677
1998 23,680,357 46,286,503
1997 23,219,463 45,953,580
1996 22,741,862 45,524,681
1995 22,245,439 45,092,991
1994 21,717,479 44,641,540
1993 21,180,159 44,194,628
1992 20,609,707 43,747,962
1991 20,036,500 43,295,704
1990 19,524,573 42,869,283
1989 19,057,807 42,449,038
1988 18,638,661 42,031,247
1987 18,250,505 41,621,690
1986 17,868,124 41,213,674
1985 17,477,692 40,805,744
1984 17,085,242 40,405,956
1983 16,689,119 39,910,403
1982 16,297,987 39,326,352
1981 15,922,423 38,723,248
1980 15,553,105 38,123,775
1979 15,190,590 37,534,236
1978 14,839,695 36,969,185
1977 14,499,175 36,411,795
1976 14,177,649 35,848,523
1975 13,870,695 35,280,725
1974 13,568,435 34,692,266
1973 13,275,239 34,103,149
1972 12,989,099 33,505,406
1971 12,710,061 32,882,704
1970 12,436,190 32,240,827
1969 12,167,036 31,544,266
1968 11,906,266 30,838,302
1967 11,652,716 30,130,983
1966 11,408,710 29,435,571
1965 11,173,411 28,704,674
1964 10,946,392 27,984,155
1963 10,729,818 27,261,747
1962 10,521,116 26,513,030
1961 10,318,396 25,765,673
1960 10,123,658 25,012,374

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nepal increased by 1,390,037 people (a 5.23% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nepal gained 1,664,488 people (a 5.95% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).

Nepal was ranked 43rd most populous country in 2006 and is 52nd 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) Nepal's population will grow by 16.7% to 34,561,226 people with a rank change from 52nd to 58th. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Nepal is projected to reach its peak in 2067 at 35.8M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Nepal
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nepal South Korea
2100 -0.59% -1.45%
2099 -0.58% -1.47%
2098 -0.57% -1.48%
2097 -0.56% -1.5%
2096 -0.55% -1.53%
2095 -0.55% -1.54%
2094 -0.53% -1.55%
2093 -0.52% -1.56%
2092 -0.51% -1.56%
2091 -0.5% -1.56%
2090 -0.48% -1.56%
2089 -0.47% -1.55%
2088 -0.45% -1.54%
2087 -0.43% -1.53%
2086 -0.42% -1.52%
2085 -0.4% -1.51%
2084 -0.37% -1.51%
2083 -0.35% -1.5%
2082 -0.33% -1.5%
2081 -0.31% -1.49%
2080 -0.29% -1.48%
2079 -0.27% -1.48%
2078 -0.24% -1.49%
2077 -0.22% -1.48%
2076 -0.2% -1.48%
2075 -0.18% -1.48%
2074 -0.15% -1.48%
2073 -0.12% -1.48%
2072 -0.11% -1.48%
2071 -0.08% -1.48%
2070 -0.05% -1.48%
2069 -0.03% -1.46%
2068 -0.01% -1.46%
2067 0.01% -1.45%
2066 0.03% -1.45%
2065 0.06% -1.45%
2064 0.08% -1.44%
2063 0.11% -1.43%
2062 0.13% -1.4%
2061 0.16% -1.41%
2060 0.18% -1.38%
2059 0.21% -1.37%
2058 0.23% -1.33%
2057 0.26% -1.28%
2056 0.28% -1.24%
2055 0.3% -1.19%
2054 0.33% -1.16%
2053 0.35% -1.13%
2052 0.38% -1.07%
2051 0.4% -1.02%
2050 0.42% -0.97%
2049 0.44% -0.92%
2048 0.47% -0.88%
2047 0.5% -0.82%
2046 0.52% -0.79%
2045 0.54% -0.76%
2044 0.56% -0.72%
2043 0.58% -0.69%
2042 0.6% -0.67%
2041 0.63% -0.63%
2040 0.65% -0.6%
2039 0.68% -0.57%
2038 0.7% -0.53%
2037 0.73% -0.48%
2036 0.75% -0.45%
2035 0.78% -0.41%
2034 0.82% -0.37%
2033 0.85% -0.33%
2032 0.87% -0.29%
2031 0.9% -0.26%
2030 0.93% -0.23%
2029 0.97% -0.2%
2028 0.52% -0.17%
2027 0.14% -0.14%
2026 -0.07% -0.12%
2025 -0.11% -0.13%
2024 -0.15% 0.07%
2023 -0.07% 0.08%
2022 0.82% -0.19%
2021 1.76% -0.13%
2020 1.94% 0.14%
2019 1.19% 0.35%
2018 0.24% 0.43%
2017 0.2% 0.28%
2016 0.47% 0.4%
2015 0.55% 0.53%
2014 0.3% 0.63%
2013 0.2% 0.46%
2012 0.26% 0.53%
2011 0.45% 0.77%
2010 0.62% 0.5%
2009 0.68% 0.52%
2008 0.75% 0.76%
2007 0.84% 0.51%
2006 0.97% 0.53%
2005 1.13% 0.21%
2004 1.28% 0.4%
2003 1.42% 0.52%
2002 1.53% 0.58%
2001 1.63% 0.77%
2000 1.75% 0.84%
1999 1.88% 0.71%
1998 1.98% 0.72%
1997 2.1% 0.94%
1996 2.23% 0.96%
1995 2.43% 1.01%
1994 2.54% 1.01%
1993 2.77% 1.02%
1992 2.86% 1.04%
1991 2.62% 0.99%
1990 2.45% 0.99%
1989 2.25% 0.99%
1988 2.13% 0.98%
1987 2.14% 0.99%
1986 2.23% 1%
1985 2.3% 0.99%
1984 2.37% 1.24%
1983 2.4% 1.49%
1982 2.36% 1.56%
1981 2.37% 1.57%
1980 2.39% 1.57%
1979 2.36% 1.53%
1978 2.35% 1.53%
1977 2.27% 1.57%
1976 2.21% 1.61%
1975 2.23% 1.7%
1974 2.21% 1.73%
1973 2.2% 1.78%
1972 2.2% 1.89%
1971 2.2% 1.99%
1970 2.21% 2.21%
1969 2.19% 2.29%
1968 2.18% 2.35%
1967 2.14% 2.36%
1966 2.11% 2.55%
1965 2.07% 2.57%
1964 2.02% 2.65%
1963 1.98% 2.82%
1962 1.96% 2.9%
1961 1.92% 3.01%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Nepal declined by 0.11%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Nepal South Korea
Current population
29619950
51624449
Population rank 52/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.36% 0.62%
One net population change
16 minutes
7.93 minutes
One birth every
56.1 seconds
2.16 minutes
One death every
2.54 minutes
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline -90 -182
Annual growth/decline -32,936 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate -0.11% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 167/197 169/197
One migration net change every
1.45 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -364,699 +65,731
Net migration rank 193/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 470,719 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 82/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.6% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 142/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nepal
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nepal South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -364,699 - 65,731
2024 355,516 -401,282 -119,027 75,963
2023 368,450 -409,782 -124,111 87,800
2022 379,021 -379,321 -124,014 87,800
2021 351,165 130,001 -56,947 -16,778
2020 373,553 162,139 -31,101 112,631
2019 387,113 182,203 10,353 128,622
2018 394,576 -295,151 30,951 118,220
2017 406,219 -368,787 71,907 104,029
2016 415,921 -341,748 122,923 91,568
2015 410,565 -221,062 163,248 276,427
2014 423,166 -310,156 167,464 308,037
2013 424,804 -373,064 166,415 301,926
2012 430,151 -371,707 215,859 281,866
2011 429,957 -347,552 214,728 269,958
2010 432,631 -269,963 213,083 52,042
2009 441,290 -266,144 197,231 5,308
2008 452,353 -261,540 215,841 -19,630
2007 464,780 -252,526 248,286 -42,293
2006 475,335 -241,455 203,441 -28,434
2005 489,093 -211,024 187,920 -47,821
2004 504,853 -197,336 225,988 -42,549
2003 516,575 -168,314 244,251 -31,994
2002 525,045 -153,730 247,752 -18,105
2001 542,118 -148,973 312,643 -28,006
2000 554,506 -147,193 390,167 -84,960
1999 557,847 -122,551 368,272 -107,448
1998 562,787 -108,400 393,436 -98,044
1997 565,882 -98,454 422,773 -109,130
1996 580,099 -92,307 446,142 -115,705
1995 591,283 -86,232 468,967 -208,491
1994 578,293 -27,415 473,200 -208,309
1993 561,549 -37,782 477,302 -222,802
1992 533,029 84,113 494,352 -265,849
1991 512,233 17,056 467,594 -270,754
1990 495,202 -640 411,546 79,294
1989 478,771 -39,808 403,266 186,120
1988 463,581 -64,246 399,297 192,534
1987 449,400 -72,437 378,758 198,057
1986 434,802 -47,017 395,651 189,782
1985 423,240 -30,154 416,219 97,949
1984 411,122 -19,300 436,384 101,394
1983 399,103 1,304 514,844 102,167
1982 385,741 -3,898 605,626 48,638
1981 374,145 -4,855 631,189 18,442
1980 364,254 5,084 583,294 -148,341
1979 355,597 88 623,068 -139,566
1978 345,765 346 499,084 -85,721
1977 332,843 2,108 578,947 -90,737
1976 323,222 -15,119 530,558 -92,314
1975 312,479 -6,686 603,300 -52,332
1974 303,078 -4,361 673,030 27,005
1973 288,750 -1,076 699,115 35,779
1972 286,708 -2,107 740,469 25,382
1971 280,752 -7,284 789,185 -6,326
1970 272,439 1,847 747,987 -27,999
1969 264,560 -527 694,227 -21,175
1968 258,259 -746 684,487 -16,868
1967 249,240 347 692,169 -16,484
1966 241,716 -3,306 623,534 -16,688
1965 233,726 -1,551 641,090 -146,386
1964 227,948 -6,087 655,501 -102,284
1963 219,586 -8,303 685,824 -80,226
1962 215,368 -9,249 712,590 -94,606
1961 209,917 -10,601 730,173 -93,179
1960 203,374 -13,223 728,010 47,245

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 66.4% of the population change in Nepal is from natural causes (a gain of 3,842,099 people) and 33.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,942,790 people). In South Korea 4.97% is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 people).

As of 2024, 470,719 residents or 1.6% of the population were not native-born in Nepal, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Nepal
City Population
Kathmandu 846K
Lalitpur 513K
Pokhara 354K
Birgunj 268K
Biratnagar 243K
Bheemdatta 105K
Dhangadhi 102K
Janakpur 97.8K
Hetauda 84.7K
Damak 75.1K
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.