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Population in Saudi Arabia compared to South Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Saudi Arabia was 36,973,555 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Saudi Arabia's population is 37,955,120 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 1.36 times bigger than Saudi Arabia's.
  • Saudi Arabia is ranked the 43rd most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 1.08% of the world: 0.46% for Saudi Arabia vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Saudi Arabia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Saudi Arabia has increased from 21.5M people to 38M (76.9% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

Saudi Arabia vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Saudi Arabia South Korea
2100 76,380,382 22,001,649
2099 75,896,692 22,324,514
2098 75,410,485 22,657,541
2097 74,922,342 22,998,315
2096 74,431,436 23,348,632
2095 73,939,761 23,711,049
2094 73,447,628 24,081,510
2093 72,954,272 24,460,970
2092 72,460,372 24,848,715
2091 71,966,760 25,242,926
2090 71,474,363 25,642,926
2089 70,984,330 26,048,094
2088 70,494,851 26,457,020
2087 70,006,368 26,871,556
2086 69,519,641 27,288,450
2085 69,035,093 27,710,065
2084 68,551,533 28,133,600
2083 68,068,933 28,564,090
2082 67,587,034 28,998,646
2081 67,105,252 29,441,497
2080 66,624,751 29,887,135
2079 66,144,495 30,337,095
2078 65,664,508 30,793,984
2077 65,183,768 31,258,278
2076 64,701,603 31,728,826
2075 64,217,651 32,205,338
2074 63,731,809 32,689,892
2073 63,243,084 33,180,187
2072 62,750,764 33,679,874
2071 62,255,408 34,187,068
2070 61,756,796 34,702,204
2069 61,253,878 35,224,472
2068 60,746,216 35,745,164
2067 60,235,232 36,274,411
2066 59,720,954 36,808,495
2065 59,203,814 37,349,660
2064 58,684,254 37,897,742
2063 58,161,702 38,450,082
2062 57,637,152 39,009,227
2061 57,109,207 39,565,102
2060 56,579,736 40,130,032
2059 56,047,666 40,692,438
2058 55,513,281 41,256,780
2057 54,978,393 41,813,259
2056 54,441,706 42,356,530
2055 53,904,081 42,888,143
2054 53,364,635 43,405,840
2053 52,823,422 43,917,075
2052 52,280,914 44,419,192
2051 51,737,228 44,901,452
2050 51,192,924 45,362,931
2049 50,647,663 45,809,553
2048 50,100,576 46,235,718
2047 49,552,613 46,645,885
2046 49,002,774 47,033,200
2045 48,451,215 47,409,815
2044 47,898,754 47,773,842
2043 47,346,122 48,120,989
2042 46,792,504 48,455,085
2041 46,237,820 48,782,206
2040 45,682,139 49,091,438
2039 45,126,407 49,388,464
2038 44,569,427 49,669,835
2037 44,012,415 49,932,869
2036 43,454,985 50,175,947
2035 42,897,909 50,401,135
2034 42,342,044 50,607,994
2033 41,787,423 50,796,030
2032 41,233,964 50,961,878
2031 40,680,599 51,109,725
2030 40,128,273 51,242,628
2029 39,530,306 51,360,529
2028 38,906,191 51,461,403
2027 38,267,271 51,551,313
2026 37,625,434 51,624,449
2025 36,973,555 51,684,564
2024 35,300,280 51,751,065
2023 33,702,731 51,712,619
2022 32,175,224 51,672,569
2021 30,784,383 51,769,539
2020 31,552,510 51,836,239
2019 30,063,799 51,764,822
2018 30,196,281 51,585,058
2017 30,977,355 51,361,911
2016 30,954,198 51,217,803
2015 29,816,382 51,014,947
2014 28,309,273 50,746,659
2013 27,624,004 50,428,893
2012 26,168,861 50,199,853
2011 25,091,867 49,936,638
2010 23,978,487 49,554,112
2009 24,217,654 49,307,835
2008 23,287,877 49,054,708
2007 22,368,313 48,683,638
2006 21,459,144 48,438,292
2005 20,559,890 48,184,561
2004 19,669,480 48,082,519
2003 18,786,767 47,892,330
2002 17,910,910 47,644,736
2001 17,041,397 47,370,164
2000 16,177,722 47,008,111
1999 15,472,075 46,616,677
1998 14,922,185 46,286,503
1997 14,374,943 45,953,580
1996 13,831,009 45,524,681
1995 13,289,245 45,092,991
1994 12,750,040 44,641,540
1993 12,215,862 44,194,628
1992 11,686,676 43,747,962
1991 11,160,744 43,295,704
1990 10,640,691 42,869,283
1989 10,128,394 42,449,038
1988 9,629,165 42,031,247
1987 9,130,194 41,621,690
1986 8,628,639 41,213,674
1985 8,151,779 40,805,744
1984 7,697,307 40,405,956
1983 7,252,941 39,910,403
1982 6,824,486 39,326,352
1981 6,420,551 38,723,248
1980 6,047,997 38,123,775
1979 5,703,698 37,534,236
1978 5,381,902 36,969,185
1977 5,083,048 36,411,795
1976 4,807,933 35,848,523
1975 4,556,287 35,280,725
1974 4,323,632 34,692,266
1973 4,106,344 34,103,149
1972 3,905,722 33,505,406
1971 3,724,031 32,882,704
1970 3,562,470 32,240,827
1969 3,417,114 31,544,266
1968 3,282,711 30,838,302
1967 3,157,242 30,130,983
1966 3,039,887 29,435,571
1965 2,928,771 28,704,674
1964 2,821,968 27,984,155
1963 2,719,341 27,261,747
1962 2,620,910 26,513,030
1961 2,526,347 25,765,673
1960 2,435,403 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/saudi-arabia/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Saudi Arabia increased by 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Saudi Arabia gained 7,000,922 people (a 22.6% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).

Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th most populous country in 2006 and is 43rd 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) Saudi Arabia's population will grow by 34.9% to 51,192,924 people with a rank change from 43rd to 42nd. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Saudi Arabia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 76.4M 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

Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Saudi Arabia South Korea
2100 0.64% -1.45%
2099 0.64% -1.47%
2098 0.65% -1.48%
2097 0.66% -1.5%
2096 0.66% -1.53%
2095 0.67% -1.54%
2094 0.68% -1.55%
2093 0.68% -1.56%
2092 0.69% -1.56%
2091 0.69% -1.56%
2090 0.69% -1.56%
2089 0.69% -1.55%
2088 0.7% -1.54%
2087 0.7% -1.53%
2086 0.7% -1.52%
2085 0.71% -1.51%
2084 0.71% -1.51%
2083 0.71% -1.5%
2082 0.72% -1.5%
2081 0.72% -1.49%
2080 0.73% -1.48%
2079 0.73% -1.48%
2078 0.74% -1.49%
2077 0.75% -1.48%
2076 0.75% -1.48%
2075 0.76% -1.48%
2074 0.77% -1.48%
2073 0.78% -1.48%
2072 0.8% -1.48%
2071 0.81% -1.48%
2070 0.82% -1.48%
2069 0.84% -1.46%
2068 0.85% -1.46%
2067 0.86% -1.45%
2066 0.87% -1.45%
2065 0.89% -1.45%
2064 0.9% -1.44%
2063 0.91% -1.43%
2062 0.92% -1.4%
2061 0.94% -1.41%
2060 0.95% -1.38%
2059 0.96% -1.37%
2058 0.97% -1.33%
2057 0.99% -1.28%
2056 1% -1.24%
2055 1.01% -1.19%
2054 1.02% -1.16%
2053 1.04% -1.13%
2052 1.05% -1.07%
2051 1.06% -1.02%
2050 1.08% -0.97%
2049 1.09% -0.92%
2048 1.11% -0.88%
2047 1.12% -0.82%
2046 1.14% -0.79%
2045 1.15% -0.76%
2044 1.17% -0.72%
2043 1.18% -0.69%
2042 1.2% -0.67%
2041 1.22% -0.63%
2040 1.23% -0.6%
2039 1.25% -0.57%
2038 1.27% -0.53%
2037 1.28% -0.48%
2036 1.3% -0.45%
2035 1.31% -0.41%
2034 1.33% -0.37%
2033 1.34% -0.33%
2032 1.36% -0.29%
2031 1.38% -0.26%
2030 1.51% -0.23%
2029 1.6% -0.2%
2028 1.67% -0.17%
2027 1.71% -0.14%
2026 1.76% -0.12%
2025 4.74% -0.13%
2024 4.74% 0.07%
2023 4.75% 0.08%
2022 4.52% -0.19%
2021 -2.43% -0.13%
2020 4.95% 0.14%
2019 -0.44% 0.35%
2018 -2.52% 0.43%
2017 0.07% 0.28%
2016 3.82% 0.4%
2015 5.32% 0.53%
2014 2.48% 0.63%
2013 5.56% 0.46%
2012 4.29% 0.53%
2011 4.64% 0.77%
2010 -0.99% 0.5%
2009 3.99% 0.52%
2008 4.11% 0.76%
2007 4.24% 0.51%
2006 4.37% 0.53%
2005 4.53% 0.21%
2004 4.7% 0.4%
2003 4.89% 0.52%
2002 5.1% 0.58%
2001 5.34% 0.77%
2000 4.56% 0.84%
1999 3.69% 0.71%
1998 3.81% 0.72%
1997 3.93% 0.94%
1996 4.08% 0.96%
1995 4.23% 1.01%
1994 4.37% 1.01%
1993 4.53% 1.02%
1992 4.71% 1.04%
1991 4.89% 0.99%
1990 5.06% 0.99%
1989 5.18% 0.99%
1988 5.47% 0.98%
1987 5.81% 0.99%
1986 5.85% 1%
1985 5.9% 0.99%
1984 6.13% 1.24%
1983 6.28% 1.49%
1982 6.29% 1.56%
1981 6.16% 1.57%
1980 6.04% 1.57%
1979 5.98% 1.53%
1978 5.88% 1.53%
1977 5.72% 1.57%
1976 5.52% 1.61%
1975 5.38% 1.7%
1974 5.29% 1.73%
1973 5.14% 1.78%
1972 4.88% 1.89%
1971 4.54% 1.99%
1970 4.25% 2.21%
1969 4.09% 2.29%
1968 3.97% 2.35%
1967 3.86% 2.36%
1966 3.79% 2.55%
1965 3.78% 2.57%
1964 3.77% 2.65%
1963 3.76% 2.82%
1962 3.74% 2.9%
1961 3.73% 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/saudi-arabia/south-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Saudi Arabia grew by 4.74%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Saudi Arabia South Korea
Current population
37955120
51624449
Population rank 43/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.46% 0.62%
One net population change
18.9 seconds
7.93 minutes
One birth every
54.2 seconds
2.16 minutes
One death every
6.37 minutes
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline +4,584 -182
Annual growth/decline +1,673,275 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate +4.74% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 2/197 169/197
One migration net change every
4.4 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change +119,738 +65,731
Net migration rank 13/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 13,683,841 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 3/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 40.3% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 14/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Saudi Arabia South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 119,738 - 65,731
2024 499,782 122,170 -119,027 75,963
2023 474,366 325,691 -124,111 87,800
2022 406,920 977,072 -124,014 87,800
2021 409,032 -106,287 -56,947 -16,778
2020 447,036 -74,725 -31,101 112,631
2019 474,407 191,582 10,353 128,622
2018 528,767 -988,751 30,951 118,220
2017 546,751 -920,812 71,907 104,029
2016 537,829 -26,997 122,923 91,568
2015 511,023 465,292 163,248 276,427
2014 493,431 469,144 167,464 308,037
2013 475,299 485,794 166,415 301,926
2012 465,649 479,206 215,859 281,866
2011 443,675 491,253 214,728 269,958
2010 418,641 504,955 213,083 52,042
2009 438,557 496,229 197,231 5,308
2008 433,457 491,337 215,841 -19,630
2007 425,199 489,136 248,286 -42,293
2006 399,333 504,661 203,441 -28,434
2005 375,938 518,565 187,920 -47,821
2004 362,843 523,472 225,988 -42,549
2003 364,520 514,606 244,251 -31,994
2002 372,099 500,508 247,752 -18,105
2001 382,153 484,252 312,643 -28,006
2000 392,407 468,515 390,167 -84,960
1999 390,112 160,263 368,272 -107,448
1998 389,499 159,898 393,436 -98,044
1997 385,033 160,066 422,773 -109,130
1996 382,248 160,532 446,142 -115,705
1995 380,231 160,512 468,967 -208,491
1994 377,351 160,306 473,200 -208,309
1993 372,621 158,074 477,302 -222,802
1992 366,763 160,908 494,352 -265,849
1991 361,329 162,857 467,594 -270,754
1990 355,495 160,416 411,546 79,294
1989 349,399 159,273 403,266 186,120
1988 342,865 146,918 399,297 192,534
1987 333,088 175,075 378,758 198,057
1986 322,340 172,606 395,651 189,782
1985 310,558 148,208 416,219 97,949
1984 296,615 153,562 436,384 101,394
1983 280,616 157,930 514,844 102,167
1982 264,831 153,528 605,626 48,638
1981 249,156 140,355 631,189 18,442
1980 234,372 121,220 583,294 -148,341
1979 220,186 112,826 623,068 -139,566
1978 205,331 105,263 499,084 -85,721
1977 191,103 96,015 578,947 -90,737
1976 178,024 85,083 530,558 -92,314
1975 166,223 73,960 603,300 -52,332
1974 155,478 69,653 673,030 27,005
1973 145,450 63,995 699,115 35,779
1972 136,360 55,439 740,469 25,382
1971 127,600 43,989 789,185 -6,326
1970 120,440 31,097 747,987 -27,999
1969 113,859 25,312 694,227 -21,175
1968 108,281 21,366 684,487 -16,868
1967 103,343 17,947 692,169 -16,484
1966 98,361 15,054 623,534 -16,688
1965 93,820 15,000 641,090 -146,386
1964 89,776 15,000 655,501 -102,284
1963 85,480 15,000 685,824 -80,226
1962 81,393 15,000 712,590 -94,606
1961 77,743 15,000 730,173 -93,179
1960 74,143 15,000 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/saudi-arabia/south-korea | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.3% of the population change in Saudi Arabia is from natural causes (a gain of 4,835,913 people) and 0.73% is from migration (a loss of 35,765 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, 13,683,841 residents or 40.3% of the population were not native-born in Saudi Arabia, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K
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/saudi-arabia/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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