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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nicaragua was 7,007,502 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nicaragua's population is 7,144,725 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 7.23 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 +1.32% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nicaragua has increased from 5.42M people to 7.14M (31.8% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

Nicaragua vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nicaragua South Korea
2100 8,686,387 22,001,649
2099 8,722,801 22,324,514
2098 8,758,489 22,657,541
2097 8,793,005 22,998,315
2096 8,826,676 23,348,632
2095 8,859,393 23,711,049
2094 8,890,985 24,081,510
2093 8,922,511 24,460,970
2092 8,952,706 24,848,715
2091 8,982,238 25,242,926
2090 9,010,281 25,642,926
2089 9,037,910 26,048,094
2088 9,064,058 26,457,020
2087 9,089,133 26,871,556
2086 9,113,522 27,288,450
2085 9,136,545 27,710,065
2084 9,158,382 28,133,600
2083 9,178,656 28,564,090
2082 9,197,809 28,998,646
2081 9,215,739 29,441,497
2080 9,231,840 29,887,135
2079 9,246,154 30,337,095
2078 9,258,426 30,793,984
2077 9,269,451 31,258,278
2076 9,278,508 31,728,826
2075 9,285,415 32,205,338
2074 9,291,490 32,689,892
2073 9,295,367 33,180,187
2072 9,297,079 33,679,874
2071 9,296,698 34,187,068
2070 9,294,691 34,702,204
2069 9,290,396 35,224,472
2068 9,283,672 35,745,164
2067 9,275,227 36,274,411
2066 9,264,219 36,808,495
2065 9,251,518 37,349,660
2064 9,236,612 37,897,742
2063 9,219,426 38,450,082
2062 9,199,856 39,009,227
2061 9,178,404 39,565,102
2060 9,154,342 40,130,032
2059 9,127,668 40,692,438
2058 9,098,625 41,256,780
2057 9,067,965 41,813,259
2056 9,035,277 42,356,530
2055 9,000,212 42,888,143
2054 8,962,862 43,405,840
2053 8,923,471 43,917,075
2052 8,881,555 44,419,192
2051 8,836,892 44,901,452
2050 8,789,897 45,362,931
2049 8,741,263 45,809,553
2048 8,689,971 46,235,718
2047 8,636,574 46,645,885
2046 8,581,536 47,033,200
2045 8,524,256 47,409,815
2044 8,464,984 47,773,842
2043 8,404,060 48,120,989
2042 8,341,211 48,455,085
2041 8,276,512 48,782,206
2040 8,209,876 49,091,438
2039 8,141,726 49,388,464
2038 8,071,337 49,669,835
2037 7,999,109 49,932,869
2036 7,925,391 50,175,947
2035 7,849,978 50,401,135
2034 7,772,780 50,607,994
2033 7,693,975 50,796,030
2032 7,613,757 50,961,878
2031 7,531,669 51,109,725
2030 7,448,359 51,242,628
2029 7,363,385 51,360,529
2028 7,276,613 51,461,403
2027 7,188,324 51,551,313
2026 7,098,677 51,624,449
2025 7,007,502 51,684,564
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 912,059 people (a 14.6% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% 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% to 8,789,897 people with a rank change from 107th to 109th. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 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 1.32% -0.13%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Nicaragua grew by 1.32%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Nicaragua South Korea
Current population
7144725
51624449
Population rank 107/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.62%
One net population change
5.77 minutes
7.93 minutes
One birth every
3.97 minutes
2.16 minutes
One death every
16.4 minutes
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline +250 -182
Annual growth/decline +91,362 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate +1.32% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 78/197 169/197
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 100,318 -8,189 -119,027 75,963
2023 100,921 -7,996 -124,111 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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 86.7% of the population change in Nicaragua is from natural causes (a gain of 1,008,982 people) and 13.3% is from migration (a loss of 154,697 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, 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 (1960–2025, 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/nicaragua/south-korea | CC BY

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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)

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