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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Saudi Arabia was 35,300,280 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Saudi Arabia's population is 36,734,925 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 1.41 times bigger than Saudi Arabia's.
  • Saudi Arabia is ranked the 44th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 1.07% of the world: 0.44% for Saudi Arabia vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Saudi Arabia has had an average growth rate of +2.3% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Saudi Arabia has increased from 21.5M people to 36.7M (71.2% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% 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 74,230,118 22,012,503
2099 73,760,045 22,335,528
2098 73,287,526 22,668,719
2097 72,813,125 23,009,661
2096 72,336,039 23,360,151
2095 71,858,206 23,722,747
2094 71,379,928 24,093,391
2093 70,900,460 24,473,038
2092 70,420,464 24,860,975
2091 69,940,749 25,255,379
2090 69,462,214 25,655,577
2089 68,985,976 26,060,945
2088 68,510,277 26,470,073
2087 68,035,545 26,884,813
2086 67,562,521 27,301,913
2085 67,091,615 27,723,736
2084 66,621,667 28,147,480
2083 66,152,653 28,578,182
2082 65,684,321 29,012,953
2081 65,216,102 29,456,022
2080 64,749,128 29,901,880
2079 64,282,393 30,352,062
2078 63,815,918 30,809,176
2077 63,348,712 31,273,700
2076 62,880,120 31,744,480
2075 62,409,793 32,221,226
2074 61,937,628 32,706,020
2073 61,462,662 33,196,556
2072 60,984,202 33,696,490
2071 60,502,791 34,203,935
2070 60,018,216 34,719,324
2069 59,529,456 35,241,850
2068 59,036,086 35,762,799
2067 58,539,487 36,292,307
2066 58,039,687 36,826,655
2065 57,537,106 37,368,086
2064 57,032,172 37,916,439
2063 56,524,331 38,469,051
2062 56,014,549 39,028,473
2061 55,501,467 39,584,621
2060 54,986,901 40,149,830
2059 54,469,809 40,712,514
2058 53,950,469 41,277,134
2057 53,430,639 41,833,887
2056 52,909,061 42,377,427
2055 52,386,571 42,909,302
2054 51,862,312 43,427,254
2053 51,336,335 43,938,741
2052 50,809,100 44,441,106
2051 50,280,719 44,923,604
2050 49,751,739 45,385,311
2049 49,221,828 45,832,153
2048 48,690,143 46,258,529
2047 48,157,605 46,668,898
2046 47,623,246 47,056,404
2045 47,087,215 47,433,205
2044 46,550,306 47,797,411
2043 46,013,232 48,144,730
2042 45,475,200 48,478,991
2041 44,936,131 48,806,273
2040 44,396,093 49,115,658
2039 43,856,006 49,412,830
2038 43,314,707 49,694,340
2037 42,773,375 49,957,504
2036 42,231,639 50,200,702
2035 41,690,245 50,426,000
2034 41,150,029 50,632,962
2033 40,611,021 50,821,090
2032 40,073,144 50,987,020
2031 39,535,357 51,134,940
2030 38,998,581 51,267,908
2029 38,417,447 51,385,868
2028 37,810,902 51,486,791
2027 37,189,969 51,576,746
2026 36,566,201 51,649,918
2025 35,932,673 51,710,062
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th most populous country in 2006 and is 44th 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 35.4% to 49,751,739 people with a rank change from 44th to 43rd. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Saudi Arabia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 74.2M 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 1.79% -0.08%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Saudi Arabia grew by 4.74%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Saudi Arabia South Korea
Current population
36734925
51649918
Population rank 44/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.62%
One net population change
19.7 seconds
13.7 minutes
One birth every
57 seconds
2.26 minutes
One death every
6.66 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +4,377 +105
Annual growth/decline +1,597,549 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +4.74% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 4/197 160/197
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 - 122,170 - 75,963
2023 474,366 325,691 -77,569 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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 93.9% of the population change in Saudi Arabia is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 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, 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 (1960–2024, 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/saudi-arabia/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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