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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Singapore was 6,036,860 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Singapore's population is 6,125,852 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 8.43 times bigger than Singapore's.
  • Singapore is ranked the 113th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.7% of the world: 0.07% for Singapore vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Singapore has had an average growth rate of +1.04% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Singapore has increased from 4.4M people to 6.13M (39.2% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Singapore vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Singapore
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Singapore South Korea
2100 4,344,248 22,012,503
2099 4,387,645 22,335,528
2098 4,435,189 22,668,719
2097 4,483,484 23,009,661
2096 4,533,994 23,360,151
2095 4,585,243 23,722,747
2094 4,639,568 24,093,391
2093 4,692,749 24,473,038
2092 4,745,364 24,860,975
2091 4,802,089 25,255,379
2090 4,859,572 25,655,577
2089 4,919,853 26,060,945
2088 4,977,701 26,470,073
2087 5,036,662 26,884,813
2086 5,096,772 27,301,913
2085 5,155,480 27,723,736
2084 5,212,381 28,147,480
2083 5,269,612 28,578,182
2082 5,327,281 29,012,953
2081 5,383,608 29,456,022
2080 5,438,023 29,901,880
2079 5,491,695 30,352,062
2078 5,541,781 30,809,176
2077 5,589,429 31,273,700
2076 5,632,686 31,744,480
2075 5,679,862 32,221,226
2074 5,725,351 32,706,020
2073 5,764,008 33,196,556
2072 5,799,655 33,696,490
2071 5,833,262 34,203,935
2070 5,864,115 34,719,324
2069 5,896,709 35,241,850
2068 5,927,631 35,762,799
2067 5,955,955 36,292,307
2066 5,988,826 36,826,655
2065 6,020,244 37,368,086
2064 6,046,805 37,916,439
2063 6,069,231 38,469,051
2062 6,093,782 39,028,473
2061 6,116,847 39,584,621
2060 6,142,295 40,149,830
2059 6,163,191 40,712,514
2058 6,185,611 41,277,134
2057 6,203,303 41,833,887
2056 6,221,491 42,377,427
2055 6,240,206 42,909,302
2054 6,261,488 43,427,254
2053 6,277,678 43,938,741
2052 6,290,046 44,441,106
2051 6,307,270 44,923,604
2050 6,325,698 45,385,311
2049 6,342,616 45,832,153
2048 6,355,818 46,258,529
2047 6,373,684 46,668,898
2046 6,387,901 47,056,404
2045 6,399,811 47,433,205
2044 6,412,802 47,797,411
2043 6,420,804 48,144,730
2042 6,427,555 48,478,991
2041 6,433,153 48,806,273
2040 6,434,727 49,115,658
2039 6,431,367 49,412,830
2038 6,422,540 49,694,340
2037 6,410,923 49,957,504
2036 6,398,937 50,200,702
2035 6,382,637 50,426,000
2034 6,360,610 50,632,962
2033 6,333,556 50,821,090
2032 6,306,749 50,987,020
2031 6,277,847 51,134,940
2030 6,250,608 51,267,908
2029 6,221,161 51,385,868
2028 6,186,754 51,486,791
2027 6,150,947 51,576,746
2026 6,116,548 51,649,918
2025 6,078,250 51,710,062
2024 6,036,860 51,751,065
2023 5,917,648 51,712,619
2022 5,637,022 51,672,569
2021 5,453,566 51,769,539
2020 5,685,807 51,836,239
2019 5,703,569 51,764,822
2018 5,638,676 51,585,058
2017 5,612,253 51,361,911
2016 5,607,283 51,217,803
2015 5,535,002 51,014,947
2014 5,469,724 50,746,659
2013 5,399,162 50,428,893
2012 5,312,437 50,199,853
2011 5,183,688 49,936,638
2010 5,076,732 49,554,112
2009 4,987,573 49,307,835
2008 4,839,396 49,054,708
2007 4,588,599 48,683,638
2006 4,401,365 48,438,292
2005 4,265,762 48,184,561
2004 4,166,664 48,082,519
2003 4,114,826 47,892,330
2002 4,175,950 47,644,736
2001 4,138,012 47,370,164
2000 4,027,887 47,008,111
1999 3,958,723 46,616,677
1998 3,927,213 46,286,503
1997 3,796,038 45,953,580
1996 3,670,704 45,524,681
1995 3,524,506 45,092,991
1994 3,419,048 44,641,540
1993 3,313,471 44,194,628
1992 3,230,698 43,747,962
1991 3,135,083 43,295,704
1990 3,047,132 42,869,283
1989 2,930,901 42,449,038
1988 2,846,108 42,031,247
1987 2,774,789 41,621,690
1986 2,733,373 41,213,674
1985 2,735,957 40,805,744
1984 2,732,221 40,405,956
1983 2,681,061 39,910,403
1982 2,646,466 39,326,352
1981 2,532,835 38,723,248
1980 2,413,945 38,123,775
1979 2,383,500 37,534,236
1978 2,353,600 36,969,185
1977 2,325,300 36,411,795
1976 2,293,300 35,848,523
1975 2,262,600 35,280,725
1974 2,229,800 34,692,266
1973 2,193,000 34,103,149
1972 2,152,400 33,505,406
1971 2,112,900 32,882,704
1970 2,074,507 32,240,827
1969 2,042,500 31,544,266
1968 2,012,000 30,838,302
1967 1,977,600 30,130,983
1966 1,934,400 29,435,571
1965 1,886,900 28,704,674
1964 1,841,600 27,984,155
1963 1,795,000 27,261,747
1962 1,750,200 26,513,030
1961 1,702,400 25,765,673
1960 1,646,400 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/singapore/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Singapore increased by 1,205,918 people (a 27.4% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Singapore gained 518,569 people (a 9.25% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Singapore was ranked 117th most populous country in 2006 and is 113th 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) Singapore's population will grow by 3.26% to 6,325,698 people with a rank change from 113th to 118th. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Singapore is projected to reach its peak in 2040 at 6.43M 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

Singapore
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Singapore South Korea
2100 -0.99% -1.45%
2099 -1.07% -1.47%
2098 -1.08% -1.48%
2097 -1.11% -1.5%
2096 -1.12% -1.53%
2095 -1.17% -1.54%
2094 -1.13% -1.55%
2093 -1.11% -1.56%
2092 -1.18% -1.56%
2091 -1.18% -1.56%
2090 -1.23% -1.56%
2089 -1.16% -1.55%
2088 -1.17% -1.54%
2087 -1.18% -1.53%
2086 -1.14% -1.52%
2085 -1.09% -1.51%
2084 -1.09% -1.51%
2083 -1.08% -1.5%
2082 -1.05% -1.5%
2081 -1% -1.49%
2080 -0.98% -1.48%
2079 -0.9% -1.48%
2078 -0.85% -1.49%
2077 -0.77% -1.48%
2076 -0.83% -1.48%
2075 -0.79% -1.48%
2074 -0.67% -1.48%
2073 -0.61% -1.48%
2072 -0.58% -1.48%
2071 -0.53% -1.48%
2070 -0.55% -1.48%
2069 -0.52% -1.46%
2068 -0.48% -1.46%
2067 -0.55% -1.45%
2066 -0.52% -1.45%
2065 -0.44% -1.45%
2064 -0.37% -1.44%
2063 -0.4% -1.43%
2062 -0.38% -1.4%
2061 -0.41% -1.41%
2060 -0.34% -1.38%
2059 -0.36% -1.37%
2058 -0.29% -1.33%
2057 -0.29% -1.28%
2056 -0.3% -1.24%
2055 -0.34% -1.19%
2054 -0.26% -1.16%
2053 -0.2% -1.13%
2052 -0.27% -1.07%
2051 -0.29% -1.02%
2050 -0.27% -0.97%
2049 -0.21% -0.92%
2048 -0.28% -0.88%
2047 -0.22% -0.82%
2046 -0.19% -0.79%
2045 -0.2% -0.76%
2044 -0.12% -0.72%
2043 -0.11% -0.69%
2042 -0.09% -0.67%
2041 -0.02% -0.63%
2040 0.05% -0.6%
2039 0.14% -0.57%
2038 0.18% -0.53%
2037 0.19% -0.48%
2036 0.26% -0.45%
2035 0.35% -0.41%
2034 0.43% -0.37%
2033 0.43% -0.33%
2032 0.46% -0.29%
2031 0.44% -0.26%
2030 0.47% -0.23%
2029 0.56% -0.2%
2028 0.58% -0.17%
2027 0.56% -0.14%
2026 0.63% -0.12%
2025 0.69% -0.08%
2024 2.01% 0.07%
2023 4.98% 0.08%
2022 3.36% -0.19%
2021 -4.08% -0.13%
2020 -0.31% 0.14%
2019 1.15% 0.35%
2018 0.47% 0.43%
2017 0.09% 0.28%
2016 1.31% 0.4%
2015 1.19% 0.53%
2014 1.31% 0.63%
2013 1.63% 0.46%
2012 2.48% 0.53%
2011 2.11% 0.77%
2010 1.79% 0.5%
2009 3.06% 0.52%
2008 5.47% 0.76%
2007 4.25% 0.51%
2006 3.18% 0.53%
2005 2.38% 0.21%
2004 1.26% 0.4%
2003 -1.46% 0.52%
2002 0.92% 0.58%
2001 2.73% 0.77%
2000 1.75% 0.84%
1999 0.8% 0.71%
1998 3.46% 0.72%
1997 3.41% 0.94%
1996 4.15% 0.96%
1995 3.08% 1.01%
1994 3.19% 1.01%
1993 2.56% 1.02%
1992 3.05% 1.04%
1991 2.89% 0.99%
1990 3.97% 0.99%
1989 2.98% 0.99%
1988 2.57% 0.98%
1987 1.52% 0.99%
1986 -0.09% 1%
1985 0.14% 0.99%
1984 1.91% 1.24%
1983 1.31% 1.49%
1982 4.49% 1.56%
1981 4.93% 1.57%
1980 1.28% 1.57%
1979 1.27% 1.53%
1978 1.22% 1.53%
1977 1.4% 1.57%
1976 1.36% 1.61%
1975 1.47% 1.7%
1974 1.68% 1.73%
1973 1.89% 1.78%
1972 1.87% 1.89%
1971 1.85% 1.99%
1970 1.57% 2.21%
1969 1.52% 2.29%
1968 1.74% 2.35%
1967 2.23% 2.36%
1966 2.52% 2.55%
1965 2.46% 2.57%
1964 2.6% 2.65%
1963 2.56% 2.82%
1962 2.81% 2.9%
1961 3.4% 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/singapore/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Singapore grew by 2.01%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Singapore South Korea
Current population
6125852
51649918
Population rank 113/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.62%
One net population change
4.41 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
12 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
14.3 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +327 +105
Annual growth/decline +119,212 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +2.01% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 50/197 160/197
One migration net change every
31.2 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change +16,892 +65,731
Net migration rank 36/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 2,841,665 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 26/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 48.7% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 9/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Singapore
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Singapore South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 16,892 - 65,731
2024 - 20,011 - 75,963
2023 7,101 26,996 -77,569 87,800
2022 9,019 214,842 -124,014 87,800
2021 15,270 -44,030 -56,947 -16,778
2020 18,763 -145,556 -31,101 112,631
2019 21,674 870 10,353 128,622
2018 21,427 21,820 30,951 118,220
2017 21,888 -8,880 71,907 104,029
2016 25,794 13,737 122,923 91,568
2015 27,121 41,852 163,248 276,427
2014 27,896 40,154 167,464 308,037
2013 25,376 52,176 166,415 301,926
2012 29,750 78,501 215,859 281,866
2011 25,919 89,856 214,728 269,958
2010 24,876 72,571 213,083 52,042
2009 27,930 95,841 197,231 5,308
2008 28,068 176,182 215,841 -19,630
2007 26,614 192,292 248,286 -42,293
2006 25,968 135,625 203,441 -28,434
2005 24,741 92,023 187,920 -47,821
2004 24,583 50,487 225,988 -42,549
2003 24,689 -30,012 244,251 -31,994
2002 29,231 -40,023 247,752 -18,105
2001 31,035 45,027 312,643 -28,006
2000 37,057 55,218 390,167 -84,960
1999 32,857 19,681 368,272 -107,448
1998 33,381 51,905 393,436 -98,044
1997 37,960 95,241 422,773 -109,130
1996 38,542 102,018 446,142 -115,705
1995 38,065 91,947 468,967 -208,491
1994 39,319 71,170 473,200 -208,309
1993 40,425 58,820 477,302 -222,802
1992 39,091 54,359 494,352 -265,849
1991 39,188 57,821 467,594 -270,754
1990 41,136 66,950 411,546 79,294
1989 36,929 68,031 403,266 186,120
1988 42,407 40,976 399,297 192,534
1987 33,020 25,411 378,758 198,057
1986 27,880 -7,858 395,651 189,782
1985 32,010 -31,036 416,219 97,949
1984 31,967 -4,396 436,384 101,394
1983 30,296 11,699 514,844 102,167
1982 33,346 41,568 605,626 48,638
1981 32,167 85,869 631,189 18,442
1980 30,657 42,433 583,294 -148,341
1979 28,363 -2,384 623,068 -139,566
1978 27,537 436 499,084 -85,721
1977 26,508 2,757 578,947 -90,737
1976 31,189 949 530,558 -92,314
1975 28,509 4,104 603,300 -52,332
1974 31,664 2,748 673,030 27,005
1973 36,404 -495 699,115 35,779
1972 38,098 -1,631 740,469 25,382
1971 35,708 573 789,185 -6,326
1970 35,059 4,024 747,987 -27,999
1969 34,314 6,763 694,227 -21,175
1968 36,216 6,792 684,487 -16,868
1967 40,145 6,006 692,169 -16,484
1966 44,298 3,507 623,534 -16,688
1965 45,474 4,199 641,090 -146,386
1964 47,697 3,043 655,501 -102,284
1963 49,542 2,668 685,824 -80,226
1962 48,830 3,714 712,590 -94,606
1961 49,880 3,490 730,173 -93,179
1960 51,533 2,008 728,010 47,245

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 54.8% of the population change in Singapore is from natural causes (a gain of 195,953 people) and 45.2% is from migration (a gain of 161,805 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, 2,841,665 residents or 48.7% of the population were not native-born in Singapore, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Singapore
City Population
Singapore 5.87M
Bukit Merah 152K
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/singapore/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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