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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Russia was 143,533,851 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Russia's population is 141,906,741 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • Russia's population is 2.75 times bigger than South Korea's.
  • Russia is ranked the 9th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 2.34% of the world: 1.71% for Russia vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Russia has had an average growth rate of -0.02% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Russia has decreased from 143M people to 142M (0.8% decline), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Russia vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Russia
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Russia South Korea
2100 124,983,377 22,012,503
2099 125,086,144 22,335,528
2098 125,186,329 22,668,719
2097 125,264,415 23,009,661
2096 125,354,177 23,360,151
2095 125,422,006 23,722,747
2094 125,474,373 24,093,391
2093 125,529,632 24,473,038
2092 125,604,261 24,860,975
2091 125,652,742 25,255,379
2090 125,707,894 25,655,577
2089 125,760,026 26,060,945
2088 125,810,124 26,470,073
2087 125,858,116 26,884,813
2086 125,926,035 27,301,913
2085 126,001,913 27,723,736
2084 126,076,414 28,147,480
2083 126,151,046 28,578,182
2082 126,234,371 29,012,953
2081 126,317,768 29,456,022
2080 126,414,511 29,901,880
2079 126,534,688 30,352,062
2078 126,674,591 30,809,176
2077 126,830,956 31,273,700
2076 126,982,766 31,744,480
2075 127,165,304 32,221,226
2074 127,362,143 32,706,020
2073 127,576,856 33,196,556
2072 127,802,632 33,696,490
2071 128,080,998 34,203,935
2070 128,353,977 34,719,324
2069 128,642,208 35,241,850
2068 128,920,237 35,762,799
2067 129,203,483 36,292,307
2066 129,511,983 36,826,655
2065 129,842,007 37,368,086
2064 130,177,089 37,916,439
2063 130,522,107 38,469,051
2062 130,851,664 39,028,473
2061 131,200,160 39,584,621
2060 131,526,812 40,149,830
2059 131,884,461 40,712,514
2058 132,247,211 41,277,134
2057 132,584,941 41,833,887
2056 132,925,501 42,377,427
2055 133,271,436 42,909,302
2054 133,595,068 43,427,254
2053 133,914,243 43,938,741
2052 134,180,223 44,441,106
2051 134,443,510 44,923,604
2050 134,687,487 45,385,311
2049 134,909,323 45,832,153
2048 135,117,641 46,258,529
2047 135,311,492 46,668,898
2046 135,482,008 47,056,404
2045 135,664,379 47,433,205
2044 135,863,165 47,797,411
2043 136,085,277 48,144,730
2042 136,307,658 48,478,991
2041 136,557,818 48,806,273
2040 136,821,807 49,115,658
2039 137,122,219 49,412,830
2038 137,433,644 49,694,340
2037 137,770,811 49,957,504
2036 138,118,955 50,200,702
2035 138,478,809 50,426,000
2034 138,852,689 50,632,962
2033 139,237,595 50,821,090
2032 139,635,142 50,987,020
2031 140,058,187 51,134,940
2030 140,453,528 51,267,908
2029 140,840,370 51,385,868
2028 141,214,141 51,486,791
2027 141,580,416 51,576,746
2026 141,906,741 51,649,918
2025 142,772,403 51,710,062
2024 143,533,851 51,751,065
2023 143,826,130 51,712,619
2022 144,236,933 51,672,569
2021 144,746,762 51,769,539
2020 145,245,148 51,836,239
2019 145,453,291 51,764,822
2018 145,398,106 51,585,058
2017 145,293,260 51,361,911
2016 145,015,460 51,217,803
2015 144,640,716 51,014,947
2014 144,237,223 50,746,659
2013 143,805,638 50,428,893
2012 143,378,447 50,199,853
2011 143,018,195 49,936,638
2010 142,849,468 49,554,112
2009 142,785,348 49,307,835
2008 142,742,366 49,054,708
2007 142,805,114 48,683,638
2006 143,049,637 48,438,292
2005 143,518,814 48,184,561
2004 144,067,316 48,082,519
2003 144,648,618 47,892,330
2002 145,306,497 47,644,736
2001 145,976,482 47,370,164
2000 146,596,869 47,008,111
1999 147,214,776 46,616,677
1998 147,670,784 46,286,503
1997 147,915,361 45,953,580
1996 148,160,129 45,524,681
1995 148,375,787 45,092,991
1994 148,407,912 44,641,540
1993 148,458,777 44,194,628
1992 148,538,197 43,747,962
1991 148,394,216 43,295,704
1990 147,969,406 42,869,283
1989 147,721,000 42,449,038
1988 146,857,000 42,031,247
1987 145,908,000 41,621,690
1986 144,894,000 41,213,674
1985 143,858,000 40,805,744
1984 142,745,000 40,405,956
1983 141,668,000 39,910,403
1982 140,823,000 39,326,352
1981 139,941,000 38,723,248
1980 139,010,000 38,123,775
1979 138,027,000 37,534,236
1978 137,060,000 36,969,185
1977 136,100,000 36,411,795
1976 135,147,000 35,848,523
1975 134,200,000 35,280,725
1974 133,432,000 34,692,266
1973 132,669,000 34,103,149
1972 131,909,000 33,505,406
1971 131,155,000 32,882,704
1970 130,404,000 32,240,827
1969 129,664,000 31,544,266
1968 128,928,000 30,838,302
1967 128,196,000 30,130,983
1966 127,468,000 29,435,571
1965 126,745,000 28,704,674
1964 125,345,000 27,984,155
1963 123,960,000 27,261,747
1962 122,591,000 26,513,030
1961 121,236,000 25,765,673
1960 119,897,000 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/russia/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Russia increased by 1,965,823 people (a 1.37% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Russia lost 3,108,719 people (a 2.14% decline), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Russia was ranked 9th most populous country in 2006 and is still 9th 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) Russia's population will shrink by 5.09% to 134,687,487 people with a rank change from 9th to 14th. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 10.5% of the population in Russia and 38.5% in South Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Russia
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Russia South Korea
2100 -0.08% -1.45%
2099 -0.08% -1.47%
2098 -0.06% -1.48%
2097 -0.07% -1.5%
2096 -0.05% -1.53%
2095 -0.04% -1.54%
2094 -0.04% -1.55%
2093 -0.06% -1.56%
2092 -0.04% -1.56%
2091 -0.04% -1.56%
2090 -0.04% -1.56%
2089 -0.04% -1.55%
2088 -0.04% -1.54%
2087 -0.05% -1.53%
2086 -0.06% -1.52%
2085 -0.06% -1.51%
2084 -0.06% -1.51%
2083 -0.07% -1.5%
2082 -0.07% -1.5%
2081 -0.08% -1.49%
2080 -0.09% -1.48%
2079 -0.11% -1.48%
2078 -0.12% -1.49%
2077 -0.12% -1.48%
2076 -0.14% -1.48%
2075 -0.15% -1.48%
2074 -0.17% -1.48%
2073 -0.18% -1.48%
2072 -0.22% -1.48%
2071 -0.21% -1.48%
2070 -0.22% -1.48%
2069 -0.22% -1.46%
2068 -0.22% -1.46%
2067 -0.24% -1.45%
2066 -0.25% -1.45%
2065 -0.26% -1.45%
2064 -0.26% -1.44%
2063 -0.25% -1.43%
2062 -0.27% -1.4%
2061 -0.25% -1.41%
2060 -0.27% -1.38%
2059 -0.27% -1.37%
2058 -0.25% -1.33%
2057 -0.26% -1.28%
2056 -0.26% -1.24%
2055 -0.24% -1.19%
2054 -0.24% -1.16%
2053 -0.2% -1.13%
2052 -0.2% -1.07%
2051 -0.18% -1.02%
2050 -0.16% -0.97%
2049 -0.15% -0.92%
2048 -0.14% -0.88%
2047 -0.13% -0.82%
2046 -0.13% -0.79%
2045 -0.15% -0.76%
2044 -0.16% -0.72%
2043 -0.16% -0.69%
2042 -0.18% -0.67%
2041 -0.19% -0.63%
2040 -0.22% -0.6%
2039 -0.23% -0.57%
2038 -0.24% -0.53%
2037 -0.25% -0.48%
2036 -0.26% -0.45%
2035 -0.27% -0.41%
2034 -0.28% -0.37%
2033 -0.28% -0.33%
2032 -0.3% -0.29%
2031 -0.28% -0.26%
2030 -0.27% -0.23%
2029 -0.26% -0.2%
2028 -0.26% -0.17%
2027 -0.23% -0.14%
2026 -0.61% -0.12%
2025 -0.53% -0.08%
2024 -0.2% 0.07%
2023 -0.28% 0.08%
2022 -0.35% -0.19%
2021 -0.34% -0.13%
2020 -0.14% 0.14%
2019 0.04% 0.35%
2018 0.07% 0.43%
2017 0.19% 0.28%
2016 0.26% 0.4%
2015 0.28% 0.53%
2014 0.3% 0.63%
2013 0.3% 0.46%
2012 0.25% 0.53%
2011 0.12% 0.77%
2010 0.04% 0.5%
2009 0.03% 0.52%
2008 -0.04% 0.76%
2007 -0.17% 0.51%
2006 -0.33% 0.53%
2005 -0.38% 0.21%
2004 -0.4% 0.4%
2003 -0.45% 0.52%
2002 -0.46% 0.58%
2001 -0.42% 0.77%
2000 -0.42% 0.84%
1999 -0.31% 0.71%
1998 -0.17% 0.72%
1997 -0.17% 0.94%
1996 -0.15% 0.96%
1995 -0.02% 1.01%
1994 -0.03% 1.01%
1993 -0.05% 1.02%
1992 0.1% 1.04%
1991 0.29% 0.99%
1990 0.17% 0.99%
1989 0.59% 0.99%
1988 0.65% 0.98%
1987 0.7% 0.99%
1986 0.72% 1%
1985 0.78% 0.99%
1984 0.76% 1.24%
1983 0.6% 1.49%
1982 0.63% 1.56%
1981 0.67% 1.57%
1980 0.71% 1.57%
1979 0.71% 1.53%
1978 0.71% 1.53%
1977 0.71% 1.57%
1976 0.71% 1.61%
1975 0.58% 1.7%
1974 0.58% 1.73%
1973 0.58% 1.78%
1972 0.57% 1.89%
1971 0.58% 1.99%
1970 0.57% 2.21%
1969 0.57% 2.29%
1968 0.57% 2.35%
1967 0.57% 2.36%
1966 0.57% 2.55%
1965 1.12% 2.57%
1964 1.12% 2.65%
1963 1.12% 2.82%
1962 1.12% 2.9%
1961 1.12% 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/russia/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Russia declined by 0.2%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Russia South Korea
Current population
141906741
51649918
Population rank 9/197 31/197
Percent of world population 1.71% 0.62%
One net population change
1.8 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
25.5 seconds
2.26 minutes
One death every
18.1 seconds
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline -801 +105
Annual growth/decline -292,279 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate -0.2% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 177/197 160/197
One migration net change every
2.09 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -251,822 +65,731
Net migration rank 187/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 7,605,774 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 10/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 5.3% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 91/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Russia
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Russia South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -251,822 - 65,731
2024 - -178,042 - 75,963
2023 -503,392 27,807 -77,569 87,800
2022 -576,948 765,629 -124,014 87,800
2021 -1,027,702 314,112 -56,947 -16,778
2020 -697,177 334,094 -31,101 112,631
2019 -319,997 336,494 10,353 128,622
2018 -232,637 339,972 30,951 118,220
2017 -130,764 396,619 71,907 104,029
2016 0 447,645 122,923 91,568
2015 43,392 384,756 163,248 276,427
2014 28,848 264,698 167,464 308,037
2013 28,761 289,872 166,415 301,926
2012 0 285,977 215,859 281,866
2011 -128,716 309,377 214,728 269,958
2010 -242,844 307,555 213,083 52,042
2009 -257,014 350,206 197,231 5,308
2008 -356,856 360,840 215,841 -19,630
2007 -471,257 365,717 248,286 -42,293
2006 -686,638 308,370 203,441 -28,434
2005 -846,761 263,541 187,920 -47,821
2004 -792,370 261,519 225,988 -42,549
2003 -896,822 256,804 244,251 -31,994
2002 -944,492 1,358,944 247,752 -18,105
2001 -963,445 259,614 312,643 -28,006
2000 -967,540 550,401 390,167 -84,960
1999 -927,453 375,468 368,272 -107,448
1998 -694,053 528,135 393,436 -98,044
1997 -769,159 541,387 422,773 -109,130
1996 -785,248 587,171 446,142 -115,705
1995 -845,742 723,875 468,967 -208,491
1994 -920,129 1,271,417 473,200 -208,309
1993 -757,140 507,229 477,302 -222,802
1992 -222,808 -1,129,589 494,352 -265,849
1991 103,876 125,505 467,594 -270,754
1990 325,533 299,863 411,546 79,294
1989 576,112 89,400 403,266 186,120
1988 778,343 269,862 399,297 192,534
1987 977,583 275,611 378,758 198,057
1986 985,279 283,553 395,651 189,782
1985 762,447 280,614 416,219 97,949
1984 756,548 247,026 436,384 101,394
1983 906,676 200,159 514,844 102,167
1982 830,855 107,520 605,626 48,638
1981 713,700 36,686 631,189 18,442
1980 681,149 10,440 583,294 -148,341
1979 690,135 -5,791 623,068 -139,566
1978 812,766 108,882 499,084 -85,721
1977 832,932 122,316 578,947 -90,737
1976 852,237 113,851 530,558 -92,314
1975 843,850 80,069 603,300 -52,332
1974 883,186 -51,759 673,030 27,005
1973 846,561 -107,568 699,115 35,779
1972 872,050 -111,168 740,469 25,382
1971 854,999 -134,968 789,185 -6,326
1970 785,554 -264,464 747,987 -27,999
1969 753,088 -64,643 694,227 -21,175
1968 787,621 -83,221 684,487 -16,868
1967 854,554 -116,029 692,169 -16,484
1966 989,279 -111,360 623,534 -16,688
1965 1,059,335 -138,078 641,090 -146,386
1964 1,233,520 -148,595 655,501 -102,284
1963 1,436,077 -168,649 685,824 -80,226
1962 1,573,701 -177,358 712,590 -94,606
1961 1,810,538 -204,349 730,173 -93,179
1960 1,962,834 -234,895 728,010 47,245

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 48.6% of the population change in Russia is from natural causes (a loss of 3,416,377 people) and 51.4% is from migration (a gain of 3,611,826 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, 7,605,774 residents or 5.3% of the population were not native-born in Russia, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Russia
City Population
Moscow 13.3M
Saint Petersburg 5.65M
Novosibirsk 1.64M
Yekaterinburg 1.47M
Kazan 1.33M
Nizhny Novgorod 1.2M
Chelyabinsk 1.18M
Krasnodar 1.15M
Samara 1.15M
Ufa 1.14M
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/russia/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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