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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nicaragua was 6,916,140 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nicaragua's population is 7,124,343 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 7.25 times bigger than Nicaragua's.
  • Nicaragua is ranked the 107th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.71% of the world: 0.09% for Nicaragua vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Nicaragua has had an average growth rate of +1.33% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nicaragua has increased from 5.42M people to 7.12M (31.5% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Nicaragua vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nicaragua South Korea
2100 8,688,116 22,012,503
2099 8,724,538 22,335,528
2098 8,760,232 22,668,719
2097 8,794,755 23,009,661
2096 8,828,433 23,360,151
2095 8,861,157 23,722,747
2094 8,892,755 24,093,391
2093 8,924,287 24,473,038
2092 8,954,488 24,860,975
2091 8,984,026 25,255,379
2090 9,012,075 25,655,577
2089 9,039,709 26,060,945
2088 9,065,862 26,470,073
2087 9,090,942 26,884,813
2086 9,115,336 27,301,913
2085 9,138,363 27,723,736
2084 9,160,205 28,147,480
2083 9,180,483 28,578,182
2082 9,199,639 29,012,953
2081 9,217,574 29,456,022
2080 9,233,677 29,901,880
2079 9,247,995 30,352,062
2078 9,260,269 30,809,176
2077 9,271,296 31,273,700
2076 9,280,355 31,744,480
2075 9,287,263 32,221,226
2074 9,293,340 32,706,020
2073 9,297,217 33,196,556
2072 9,298,930 33,696,490
2071 9,298,548 34,203,935
2070 9,296,541 34,719,324
2069 9,292,245 35,241,850
2068 9,285,519 35,762,799
2067 9,277,073 36,292,307
2066 9,266,063 36,826,655
2065 9,253,359 37,368,086
2064 9,238,451 37,916,439
2063 9,221,261 38,469,051
2062 9,201,687 39,028,473
2061 9,180,231 39,584,621
2060 9,156,164 40,149,830
2059 9,129,485 40,712,514
2058 9,100,437 41,277,134
2057 9,069,770 41,833,887
2056 9,037,076 42,377,427
2055 9,002,004 42,909,302
2054 8,964,646 43,427,254
2053 8,925,248 43,938,741
2052 8,883,323 44,441,106
2051 8,838,651 44,923,604
2050 8,791,647 45,385,311
2049 8,743,003 45,832,153
2048 8,691,701 46,258,529
2047 8,638,293 46,668,898
2046 8,583,244 47,056,404
2045 8,525,953 47,433,205
2044 8,466,669 47,797,411
2043 8,405,733 48,144,730
2042 8,342,871 48,478,991
2041 8,278,159 48,806,273
2040 8,211,510 49,115,658
2039 8,143,346 49,412,830
2038 8,072,943 49,694,340
2037 8,000,701 49,957,504
2036 7,926,969 50,200,702
2035 7,851,540 50,426,000
2034 7,774,327 50,632,962
2033 7,695,506 50,821,090
2032 7,615,273 50,987,020
2031 7,533,169 51,134,940
2030 7,449,842 51,267,908
2029 7,364,850 51,385,868
2028 7,278,061 51,486,791
2027 7,189,755 51,576,746
2026 7,100,090 51,649,918
2025 7,008,896 51,710,062
2024 6,916,140 51,751,065
2023 6,823,613 51,712,619
2022 6,730,654 51,672,569
2021 6,644,741 51,769,539
2020 6,565,267 51,836,239
2019 6,483,657 51,764,822
2018 6,400,080 51,585,058
2017 6,316,231 51,361,911
2016 6,232,666 51,217,803
2015 6,149,417 51,014,947
2014 6,066,492 50,746,659
2013 5,983,845 50,428,893
2012 5,901,287 50,199,853
2011 5,819,051 49,936,638
2010 5,737,450 49,554,112
2009 5,656,601 49,307,835
2008 5,576,593 49,054,708
2007 5,497,243 48,683,638
2006 5,418,855 48,438,292
2005 5,342,105 48,184,561
2004 5,272,912 48,082,519
2003 5,210,963 47,892,330
2002 5,149,909 47,644,736
2001 5,087,825 47,370,164
2000 5,022,633 47,008,111
1999 4,954,018 46,616,677
1998 4,883,655 46,286,503
1997 4,809,573 45,953,580
1996 4,729,974 45,524,681
1995 4,642,931 45,092,991
1994 4,549,316 44,641,540
1993 4,453,732 44,194,628
1992 4,357,026 43,747,962
1991 4,259,637 43,295,704
1990 4,162,559 42,869,283
1989 4,066,476 42,449,038
1988 3,972,320 42,031,247
1987 3,882,164 41,621,690
1986 3,794,157 41,213,674
1985 3,706,479 40,805,744
1984 3,619,104 40,405,956
1983 3,530,282 39,910,403
1982 3,438,745 39,326,352
1981 3,345,674 38,723,248
1980 3,252,403 38,123,775
1979 3,164,525 37,534,236
1978 3,080,314 36,969,185
1977 2,992,534 36,411,795
1976 2,903,851 35,848,523
1975 2,816,943 35,280,725
1974 2,732,075 34,692,266
1973 2,649,278 34,103,149
1972 2,573,578 33,505,406
1971 2,499,825 32,882,704
1970 2,423,065 32,240,827
1969 2,348,398 31,544,266
1968 2,275,836 30,838,302
1967 2,205,567 30,130,983
1966 2,137,820 29,435,571
1965 2,072,681 28,704,674
1964 2,010,176 27,984,155
1963 1,950,159 27,261,747
1962 1,892,320 26,513,030
1961 1,836,451 25,765,673
1960 1,782,370 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/nicaragua/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nicaragua increased by 813,811 people (a 15% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nicaragua gained 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Nicaragua was ranked 109th most populous country in 2006 and is 107th 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) Nicaragua's population will grow by 23.4% to 8,791,647 people with a rank change from 107th to 108th. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Nicaragua is projected to reach its peak in 2072 at 9.3M 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

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nicaragua South Korea
2100 -0.42% -1.45%
2099 -0.41% -1.47%
2098 -0.39% -1.48%
2097 -0.38% -1.5%
2096 -0.37% -1.53%
2095 -0.36% -1.54%
2094 -0.35% -1.55%
2093 -0.34% -1.56%
2092 -0.33% -1.56%
2091 -0.31% -1.56%
2090 -0.31% -1.56%
2089 -0.29% -1.55%
2088 -0.28% -1.54%
2087 -0.27% -1.53%
2086 -0.25% -1.52%
2085 -0.24% -1.51%
2084 -0.22% -1.51%
2083 -0.21% -1.5%
2082 -0.19% -1.5%
2081 -0.17% -1.49%
2080 -0.15% -1.48%
2079 -0.13% -1.48%
2078 -0.12% -1.49%
2077 -0.1% -1.48%
2076 -0.07% -1.48%
2075 -0.07% -1.48%
2074 -0.04% -1.48%
2073 -0.02% -1.48%
2072 0.004% -1.48%
2071 0.02% -1.48%
2070 0.05% -1.48%
2069 0.07% -1.46%
2068 0.09% -1.46%
2067 0.12% -1.45%
2066 0.14% -1.45%
2065 0.16% -1.45%
2064 0.19% -1.44%
2063 0.21% -1.43%
2062 0.23% -1.4%
2061 0.26% -1.41%
2060 0.29% -1.38%
2059 0.32% -1.37%
2058 0.34% -1.33%
2057 0.36% -1.28%
2056 0.39% -1.24%
2055 0.42% -1.19%
2054 0.44% -1.16%
2053 0.47% -1.13%
2052 0.51% -1.07%
2051 0.53% -1.02%
2050 0.56% -0.97%
2049 0.59% -0.92%
2048 0.62% -0.88%
2047 0.64% -0.82%
2046 0.67% -0.79%
2045 0.7% -0.76%
2044 0.72% -0.72%
2043 0.75% -0.69%
2042 0.78% -0.67%
2041 0.81% -0.63%
2040 0.84% -0.6%
2039 0.87% -0.57%
2038 0.9% -0.53%
2037 0.93% -0.48%
2036 0.96% -0.45%
2035 0.99% -0.41%
2034 1.02% -0.37%
2033 1.05% -0.33%
2032 1.09% -0.29%
2031 1.12% -0.26%
2030 1.15% -0.23%
2029 1.19% -0.2%
2028 1.23% -0.17%
2027 1.26% -0.14%
2026 1.3% -0.12%
2025 1.34% -0.08%
2024 1.36% 0.07%
2023 1.38% 0.08%
2022 1.29% -0.19%
2021 1.21% -0.13%
2020 1.26% 0.14%
2019 1.31% 0.35%
2018 1.33% 0.43%
2017 1.34% 0.28%
2016 1.35% 0.4%
2015 1.37% 0.53%
2014 1.38% 0.63%
2013 1.4% 0.46%
2012 1.41% 0.53%
2011 1.42% 0.77%
2010 1.43% 0.5%
2009 1.43% 0.52%
2008 1.44% 0.76%
2007 1.45% 0.51%
2006 1.44% 0.53%
2005 1.31% 0.21%
2004 1.19% 0.4%
2003 1.19% 0.52%
2002 1.22% 0.58%
2001 1.3% 0.77%
2000 1.39% 0.84%
1999 1.44% 0.71%
1998 1.54% 0.72%
1997 1.68% 0.94%
1996 1.87% 0.96%
1995 2.06% 1.01%
1994 2.15% 1.01%
1993 2.22% 1.02%
1992 2.29% 1.04%
1991 2.33% 0.99%
1990 2.36% 0.99%
1989 2.37% 0.99%
1988 2.32% 0.98%
1987 2.32% 0.99%
1986 2.37% 1%
1985 2.41% 0.99%
1984 2.52% 1.24%
1983 2.66% 1.49%
1982 2.78% 1.56%
1981 2.87% 1.57%
1980 2.78% 1.57%
1979 2.73% 1.53%
1978 2.93% 1.53%
1977 3.05% 1.57%
1976 3.09% 1.61%
1975 3.11% 1.7%
1974 3.13% 1.73%
1973 2.94% 1.78%
1972 2.95% 1.89%
1971 3.17% 1.99%
1970 3.18% 2.21%
1969 3.19% 2.29%
1968 3.19% 2.35%
1967 3.17% 2.36%
1966 3.14% 2.55%
1965 3.11% 2.57%
1964 3.08% 2.65%
1963 3.06% 2.82%
1962 3.04% 2.9%
1961 3.03% 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/nicaragua/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nicaragua grew by 1.36%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Nicaragua South Korea
Current population
7124343
51649918
Population rank 107/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.62%
One net population change
5.68 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
3.98 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
16.8 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +253 +105
Annual growth/decline +92,527 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +1.36% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 78/197 160/197
One migration net change every
1.05 hours
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -8,371 +65,731
Net migration rank 129/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 43,757 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 154/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 172/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nicaragua South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -8,371 - 65,731
2024 - -8,189 - 75,963
2023 100,921 -7,996 -77,569 87,800
2022 100,987 -7,996 -124,014 87,800
2021 89,213 -10,383 -56,947 -16,778
2020 90,515 -10,383 -31,101 112,631
2019 102,817 -19,730 10,353 128,622
2018 104,814 -20,742 30,951 118,220
2017 105,468 -21,849 71,907 104,029
2016 106,585 -23,076 122,923 91,568
2015 107,344 -24,353 163,248 276,427
2014 108,420 -25,570 167,464 308,037
2013 109,032 -26,587 166,415 301,926
2012 110,065 -27,389 215,859 281,866
2011 110,026 -28,221 214,728 269,958
2010 110,475 -29,081 213,083 52,042
2009 110,213 -29,913 197,231 5,308
2008 110,395 -30,675 215,841 -19,630
2007 110,341 -31,357 248,286 -42,293
2006 110,073 -32,274 203,441 -28,434
2005 108,984 -33,280 187,920 -47,821
2004 106,904 -44,222 225,988 -42,549
2003 106,142 -44,931 244,251 -31,994
2002 105,805 -44,906 247,752 -18,105
2001 107,109 -43,837 312,643 -28,006
2000 109,192 -42,087 390,167 -84,960
1999 110,217 -40,095 368,272 -107,448
1998 108,862 -38,260 393,436 -98,044
1997 114,415 -36,851 422,773 -109,130
1996 116,849 -35,208 446,142 -115,705
1995 118,325 -25,889 468,967 -208,491
1994 119,565 -24,773 473,200 -208,309
1993 120,469 -24,091 477,302 -222,802
1992 121,204 -24,171 494,352 -265,849
1991 121,787 -24,028 467,594 -270,754
1990 120,677 -24,280 411,546 79,294
1989 120,128 -24,364 403,266 186,120
1988 117,299 -24,753 399,297 192,534
1987 112,885 -25,127 378,758 198,057
1986 113,054 -24,805 395,651 189,782
1985 110,949 -23,840 416,219 97,949
1984 110,133 -22,493 436,384 101,394
1983 110,618 -20,620 514,844 102,167
1982 112,468 -19,395 605,626 48,638
1981 110,421 -17,353 631,189 18,442
1980 108,604 -15,130 583,294 -148,341
1979 96,429 -14,152 623,068 -139,566
1978 98,419 -12,273 499,084 -85,721
1977 100,498 -11,082 578,947 -90,737
1976 98,100 -10,155 530,558 -92,314
1975 95,230 -9,349 603,300 -52,332
1974 92,505 -8,639 673,030 27,005
1973 89,662 -7,947 699,115 35,779
1972 76,906 -7,219 740,469 25,382
1971 84,139 -6,328 789,185 -6,326
1970 81,127 -5,423 747,987 -27,999
1969 78,237 -4,592 694,227 -21,175
1968 75,458 -3,979 684,487 -16,868
1967 72,722 -3,666 692,169 -16,484
1966 69,883 -3,443 623,534 -16,688
1965 67,056 -3,231 641,090 -146,386
1964 64,227 -3,043 655,501 -102,284
1963 61,738 -2,881 685,824 -80,226
1962 59,547 -2,727 712,590 -94,606
1961 57,499 -2,579 730,173 -93,179
1960 55,664 -2,418 728,010 47,245

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 85.5% of the population change in Nicaragua is from natural causes (a gain of 1,017,084 people) and 14.5% is from migration (a loss of 172,078 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, 43,757 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nicaragua, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K
San Juan del Sur 14.7K
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/nicaragua/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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