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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nepal was 29,651,054 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nepal's population is 29,596,762 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 1.75 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 +0.66% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nepal has increased from 26.6M people to 29.6M (11.4% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Nepal vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Nepal
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nepal South Korea
2100 31,902,377 22,012,503
2099 32,090,762 22,335,528
2098 32,277,789 22,668,719
2097 32,464,318 23,009,661
2096 32,647,891 23,360,151
2095 32,828,594 23,722,747
2094 33,009,460 24,093,391
2093 33,186,290 24,473,038
2092 33,361,327 24,860,975
2091 33,532,505 25,255,379
2090 33,699,660 25,655,577
2089 33,863,636 26,060,945
2088 34,022,597 26,470,073
2087 34,175,457 26,884,813
2086 34,322,945 27,301,913
2085 34,468,441 27,723,736
2084 34,605,513 28,147,480
2083 34,735,114 28,578,182
2082 34,856,938 29,012,953
2081 34,972,075 29,456,022
2080 35,080,783 29,901,880
2079 35,183,584 30,352,062
2078 35,277,254 30,809,176
2077 35,362,658 31,273,700
2076 35,440,746 31,744,480
2075 35,510,291 32,221,226
2074 35,573,094 32,706,020
2073 35,627,375 33,196,556
2072 35,670,886 33,696,490
2071 35,709,979 34,203,935
2070 35,739,580 34,719,324
2069 35,759,193 35,241,850
2068 35,770,405 35,762,799
2067 35,774,081 36,292,307
2066 35,770,220 36,826,655
2065 35,758,824 37,368,086
2064 35,737,661 37,916,439
2063 35,709,945 38,469,051
2062 35,669,839 39,028,473
2061 35,623,365 39,584,621
2060 35,567,728 40,149,830
2059 35,503,043 40,712,514
2058 35,427,419 41,277,134
2057 35,345,633 41,833,887
2056 35,253,644 42,377,427
2055 35,155,433 42,909,302
2054 35,050,330 43,427,254
2053 34,936,594 43,938,741
2052 34,816,009 44,441,106
2051 34,684,328 44,923,604
2050 34,546,267 45,385,311
2049 34,400,898 45,832,153
2048 34,250,249 46,258,529
2047 34,091,495 46,668,898
2046 33,921,975 47,056,404
2045 33,747,892 47,433,205
2044 33,566,784 47,797,411
2043 33,380,395 48,144,730
2042 33,186,321 48,478,991
2041 32,987,097 48,806,273
2040 32,781,189 49,115,658
2039 32,569,731 49,412,830
2038 32,349,742 49,694,340
2037 32,125,036 49,957,504
2036 31,892,962 50,200,702
2035 31,653,976 50,426,000
2034 31,407,460 50,632,962
2033 31,152,292 50,821,090
2032 30,890,627 50,987,020
2031 30,623,706 51,134,940
2030 30,349,201 51,267,908
2029 30,068,368 51,385,868
2028 29,780,585 51,486,791
2027 29,627,864 51,576,746
2026 29,585,230 51,649,918
2025 29,605,298 51,710,062
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,641,300 people (a 5.87% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% 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 34,546,267 people with a rank change from 52nd to 58th. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 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 -0.15% -0.08%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Nepal declined by 0.15%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Nepal South Korea
Current population
29596762
51649918
Population rank 52/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.36% 0.62%
One net population change
12.1 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
54.9 seconds
2.26 minutes
One death every
2.55 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline -119 +105
Annual growth/decline -43,560 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate -0.15% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 160/197
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 - -401,282 - 75,963
2023 368,450 -409,782 -77,569 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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 67.9% of the population change in Nepal is from natural causes (a gain of 3,909,749 people) and 32.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,851,664 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, 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 (1960–2024, 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/nepal/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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