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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Poland was 36,435,861 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Poland's population is 36,007,074 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 1.43 times bigger than Poland's.
  • Poland is ranked the 47th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 1.05% of the world: 0.43% for Poland vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Poland has had an average growth rate of -0.38% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Poland has decreased from 38.1M people to 36M (5.6% decline), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

Poland vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Poland
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Poland South Korea
2100 18,452,579 22,001,649
2099 18,644,857 22,324,514
2098 18,838,707 22,657,541
2097 19,033,962 22,998,315
2096 19,231,896 23,348,632
2095 19,431,204 23,711,049
2094 19,634,214 24,081,510
2093 19,840,304 24,460,970
2092 20,049,969 24,848,715
2091 20,263,764 25,242,926
2090 20,482,150 25,642,926
2089 20,705,051 26,048,094
2088 20,933,750 26,457,020
2087 21,167,790 26,871,556
2086 21,407,163 27,288,450
2085 21,652,018 27,710,065
2084 21,902,736 28,133,600
2083 22,159,983 28,564,090
2082 22,423,109 28,998,646
2081 22,691,495 29,441,497
2080 22,964,515 29,887,135
2079 23,242,960 30,337,095
2078 23,524,184 30,793,984
2077 23,811,918 31,258,278
2076 24,102,012 31,728,826
2075 24,395,355 32,205,338
2074 24,691,719 32,689,892
2073 24,990,908 33,180,187
2072 25,290,453 33,679,874
2071 25,590,102 34,187,068
2070 25,889,034 34,702,204
2069 26,187,633 35,224,472
2068 26,485,171 35,745,164
2067 26,780,961 36,274,411
2066 27,074,124 36,808,495
2065 27,364,039 37,349,660
2064 27,650,950 37,897,742
2063 27,934,132 38,450,082
2062 28,212,240 39,009,227
2061 28,487,283 39,565,102
2060 28,757,525 40,130,032
2059 29,025,705 40,692,438
2058 29,288,751 41,256,780
2057 29,548,996 41,813,259
2056 29,806,770 42,356,530
2055 30,060,951 42,888,143
2054 30,311,416 43,405,840
2053 30,559,065 43,917,075
2052 30,801,964 44,419,192
2051 31,043,690 44,901,452
2050 31,281,762 45,362,931
2049 31,516,893 45,809,553
2048 31,748,736 46,235,718
2047 31,978,608 46,645,885
2046 32,205,877 47,033,200
2045 32,431,013 47,409,815
2044 32,653,012 47,773,842
2043 32,873,136 48,120,989
2042 33,090,733 48,455,085
2041 33,303,578 48,782,206
2040 33,514,705 49,091,438
2039 33,722,530 49,388,464
2038 33,926,660 49,669,835
2037 34,126,585 49,932,869
2036 34,323,967 50,175,947
2035 34,515,669 50,401,135
2034 34,704,048 50,607,994
2033 34,887,791 50,796,030
2032 35,067,502 50,961,878
2031 35,242,658 51,109,725
2030 35,410,392 51,242,628
2029 35,572,635 51,360,529
2028 35,725,650 51,461,403
2027 35,870,384 51,551,313
2026 36,007,074 51,624,449
2025 36,435,861 51,684,564
2024 36,559,233 51,751,065
2023 36,687,353 51,712,619
2022 36,821,749 51,672,569
2021 36,981,559 51,769,539
2020 37,515,748 51,836,239
2019 37,965,475 51,764,822
2018 37,974,750 51,585,058
2017 37,974,826 51,361,911
2016 37,970,087 51,217,803
2015 37,986,412 51,014,947
2014 38,011,735 50,746,659
2013 38,040,196 50,428,893
2012 38,063,164 50,199,853
2011 38,063,255 49,936,638
2010 38,042,794 49,554,112
2009 38,151,603 49,307,835
2008 38,125,759 49,054,708
2007 38,120,560 48,683,638
2006 38,141,267 48,438,292
2005 38,165,445 48,184,561
2004 38,182,222 48,082,519
2003 38,204,570 47,892,330
2002 38,230,364 47,644,736
2001 38,248,076 47,370,164
2000 38,258,629 47,008,111
1999 38,660,271 46,616,677
1998 38,663,481 46,286,503
1997 38,649,660 45,953,580
1996 38,624,370 45,524,681
1995 38,594,998 45,092,991
1994 38,542,652 44,641,540
1993 38,461,408 44,194,628
1992 38,363,667 43,747,962
1991 38,246,193 43,295,704
1990 38,110,782 42,869,283
1989 37,961,529 42,449,038
1988 37,824,487 42,031,247
1987 37,668,045 41,621,690
1986 37,456,119 41,213,674
1985 37,201,885 40,805,744
1984 36,904,134 40,405,956
1983 36,571,808 39,910,403
1982 36,230,481 39,326,352
1981 35,898,587 38,723,248
1980 35,574,150 38,123,775
1979 35,247,217 37,534,236
1978 34,965,600 36,969,185
1977 34,689,050 36,411,795
1976 34,356,300 35,848,523
1975 34,015,199 35,280,725
1974 33,678,899 34,692,266
1973 33,357,200 34,103,149
1972 33,055,650 33,505,406
1971 32,783,500 32,882,704
1970 32,664,300 32,240,827
1969 32,548,300 31,544,266
1968 32,294,655 30,838,302
1967 31,987,155 30,130,983
1966 31,681,000 29,435,571
1965 31,444,950 28,704,674
1964 31,139,450 27,984,155
1963 30,712,000 27,261,747
1962 30,308,500 26,513,030
1961 29,964,000 25,765,673
1960 29,637,450 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/poland/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Poland decreased by 171,180 people (a 0.45% decline), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Poland lost 1,963,013 people (a 5.17% decline), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).

Poland was ranked 32nd most populous country in 2006 and is 47th 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) Poland's population will shrink by 13.1% to 31,281,762 people with a rank change from 47th to 61st. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 33.1% of the population in Poland and 38.5% in South Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Poland
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Poland South Korea
2100 -1.03% -1.45%
2099 -1.03% -1.47%
2098 -1.03% -1.48%
2097 -1.03% -1.5%
2096 -1.03% -1.53%
2095 -1.03% -1.54%
2094 -1.04% -1.55%
2093 -1.05% -1.56%
2092 -1.06% -1.56%
2091 -1.07% -1.56%
2090 -1.08% -1.56%
2089 -1.09% -1.55%
2088 -1.11% -1.54%
2087 -1.12% -1.53%
2086 -1.13% -1.52%
2085 -1.14% -1.51%
2084 -1.16% -1.51%
2083 -1.17% -1.5%
2082 -1.18% -1.5%
2081 -1.19% -1.49%
2080 -1.2% -1.48%
2079 -1.2% -1.48%
2078 -1.21% -1.49%
2077 -1.2% -1.48%
2076 -1.2% -1.48%
2075 -1.2% -1.48%
2074 -1.2% -1.48%
2073 -1.18% -1.48%
2072 -1.17% -1.48%
2071 -1.15% -1.48%
2070 -1.14% -1.48%
2069 -1.12% -1.46%
2068 -1.1% -1.46%
2067 -1.08% -1.45%
2066 -1.06% -1.45%
2065 -1.04% -1.45%
2064 -1.01% -1.44%
2063 -0.99% -1.43%
2062 -0.97% -1.4%
2061 -0.94% -1.41%
2060 -0.92% -1.38%
2059 -0.9% -1.37%
2058 -0.88% -1.33%
2057 -0.86% -1.28%
2056 -0.85% -1.24%
2055 -0.83% -1.19%
2054 -0.81% -1.16%
2053 -0.79% -1.13%
2052 -0.78% -1.07%
2051 -0.76% -1.02%
2050 -0.75% -0.97%
2049 -0.73% -0.92%
2048 -0.72% -0.88%
2047 -0.71% -0.82%
2046 -0.69% -0.79%
2045 -0.68% -0.76%
2044 -0.67% -0.72%
2043 -0.66% -0.69%
2042 -0.64% -0.67%
2041 -0.63% -0.63%
2040 -0.62% -0.6%
2039 -0.6% -0.57%
2038 -0.59% -0.53%
2037 -0.58% -0.48%
2036 -0.56% -0.45%
2035 -0.54% -0.41%
2034 -0.53% -0.37%
2033 -0.51% -0.33%
2032 -0.5% -0.29%
2031 -0.47% -0.26%
2030 -0.46% -0.23%
2029 -0.43% -0.2%
2028 -0.4% -0.17%
2027 -0.38% -0.14%
2026 -1.18% -0.12%
2025 -0.34% -0.13%
2024 -0.35% 0.07%
2023 -0.36% 0.08%
2022 -0.43% -0.19%
2021 -1.42% -0.13%
2020 -1.18% 0.14%
2019 -0.02% 0.35%
2018 -0% 0.43%
2017 0.01% 0.28%
2016 -0.04% 0.4%
2015 -0.07% 0.53%
2014 -0.07% 0.63%
2013 -0.06% 0.46%
2012 -0% 0.53%
2011 0.05% 0.77%
2010 -0.29% 0.5%
2009 0.07% 0.52%
2008 0.01% 0.76%
2007 -0.05% 0.51%
2006 -0.06% 0.53%
2005 -0.04% 0.21%
2004 -0.06% 0.4%
2003 -0.07% 0.52%
2002 -0.05% 0.58%
2001 -0.03% 0.77%
2000 -1.04% 0.84%
1999 -0.008% 0.71%
1998 0.04% 0.72%
1997 0.07% 0.94%
1996 0.08% 0.96%
1995 0.14% 1.01%
1994 0.21% 1.01%
1993 0.25% 1.02%
1992 0.31% 1.04%
1991 0.36% 0.99%
1990 0.39% 0.99%
1989 0.36% 0.99%
1988 0.42% 0.98%
1987 0.57% 0.99%
1986 0.68% 1%
1985 0.81% 0.99%
1984 0.91% 1.24%
1983 0.94% 1.49%
1982 0.92% 1.56%
1981 0.91% 1.57%
1980 0.93% 1.57%
1979 0.81% 1.53%
1978 0.8% 1.53%
1977 0.97% 1.57%
1976 1% 1.61%
1975 1% 1.7%
1974 0.96% 1.73%
1973 0.91% 1.78%
1972 0.83% 1.89%
1971 0.36% 1.99%
1970 0.36% 2.21%
1969 0.79% 2.29%
1968 0.96% 2.35%
1967 0.97% 2.36%
1966 0.75% 2.55%
1965 0.98% 2.57%
1964 1.39% 2.65%
1963 1.33% 2.82%
1962 1.15% 2.9%
1961 1.1% 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/poland/south-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Poland declined by 0.34%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Poland South Korea
Current population
36007074
51624449
Population rank 47/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 0.62%
One net population change
4.27 minutes
7.93 minutes
One birth every
2.08 minutes
2.16 minutes
One death every
1.28 minutes
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline -338 -182
Annual growth/decline -123,372 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate -0.34% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 179/197 169/197
One migration net change every
1.59 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -330,820 +65,731
Net migration rank 191/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 1,739,901 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 41/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.5% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 97/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Poland
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Poland South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -330,820 - 65,731
2024 -157,205 -238,062 -119,027 75,963
2023 -135,743 -7,824 -124,111 87,800
2022 -143,605 967,744 -124,014 87,800
2021 -184,907 2,251 -56,947 -16,778
2020 -120,050 3,920 -31,101 112,631
2019 -34,169 7,696 10,353 128,622
2018 -26,582 -223 30,951 118,220
2017 0 -21,535 71,907 104,029
2016 -3,797 -5,675 122,923 91,568
2015 -26,590 3,887 163,248 276,427
2014 0 5,525 167,464 308,037
2013 -19,020 12,402 166,415 301,926
2012 0 4,635 215,859 281,866
2011 11,419 45,951 214,728 269,958
2010 38,043 119,623 213,083 52,042
2009 30,521 -8,283 197,231 5,308
2008 34,313 -42,288 215,841 -19,630
2007 11,436 -51,235 248,286 -42,293
2006 3,814 -68,882 203,441 -28,434
2005 -3,817 -41,942 187,920 -47,821
2004 -7,637 -38,216 225,988 -42,549
2003 -15,281 -19,039 244,251 -31,994
2002 -3,823 -16,462 247,752 -18,105
2001 3,825 -16,648 312,643 -28,006
2000 11,478 -15,921 390,167 -84,960
1999 0 -53,035 368,272 -107,448
1998 19,332 -39,509 393,436 -98,044
1997 34,785 -44,230 422,773 -109,130
1996 42,487 -45,349 446,142 -115,705
1995 46,314 -52,989 468,967 -208,491
1994 96,357 -41,845 473,200 -208,309
1993 103,846 -48,805 477,302 -222,802
1992 118,928 -46,893 494,352 -265,849
1991 141,511 -55,342 467,594 -270,754
1990 160,066 -50,339 411,546 79,294
1989 182,215 -49,192 403,266 186,120
1988 215,599 -101,671 399,297 192,534
1987 226,008 -32,310 378,758 198,057
1986 258,448 -22,520 395,651 189,782
1985 297,615 -27,277 416,219 97,949
1984 332,137 -18,402 436,384 101,394
1983 373,032 -26,724 514,844 102,167
1982 369,551 -34,980 605,626 48,638
1981 351,806 -16,155 631,189 18,442
1980 348,627 -42,420 583,294 -148,341
1979 366,571 -22,162 623,068 -139,566
1978 339,166 -62,936 499,084 -85,721
1977 353,828 -33,496 578,947 -90,737
1976 367,612 -25,716 530,558 -92,314
1975 350,356 -31,346 603,300 -52,332
1974 346,893 -18,273 673,030 27,005
1973 320,229 -29,335 699,115 35,779
1972 314,028 -15,004 740,469 25,382
1971 278,660 -31,767 789,185 -6,326
1970 280,913 -66,859 747,987 -27,999
1969 270,151 -26,744 694,227 -21,175
1968 280,963 -11,905 684,487 -16,868
1967 275,089 -25,479 692,169 -16,484
1966 297,801 -17,158 623,534 -16,688
1965 314,450 -21,658 641,090 -146,386
1964 326,965 -23,273 655,501 -102,284
1963 359,330 -13,770 685,824 -80,226
1962 360,671 -31,021 712,590 -94,606
1961 398,521 -20,044 730,173 -93,179
1960 444,562 -6,306 728,010 47,245

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 53.9% of the population change in Poland is from natural causes (a loss of 832,648 people) and 46.1% is from migration (a gain of 712,179 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, 1,739,901 residents or 4.5% of the population were not native-born in Poland, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Poland
City Population
Warsaw 1.86M
Krakow 804K
Wroclaw 674K
Lodz 649K
Poznan 547K
Gdansk 488K
Szczecin 388K
Lublin 335K
Bydgoszcz 325K
Bialystok 290K
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/poland/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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