The current population of South Korea is 51,649,918 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 51,751,065 in 2024.
- South Korea is ranked 31/197 by population and was ranked 25th in 2006.
- Since 2006, population has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.63% growth in 20 years).
- South Korea's population peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and has been in decline since.
- For the last 20 years, South Korea has had an average growth rate of 0.33% per year.
- South Korea accounts for 0.62% of the world's population.
- The UN estimates that South Korea's population is going to decline by -12.1% to 45.4M people by 2050.
South Korea population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 22,012,503 | -1.45% |
| 2099 | 22,335,528 | -1.47% |
| 2098 | 22,668,719 | -1.48% |
| 2097 | 23,009,661 | -1.5% |
| 2096 | 23,360,151 | -1.53% |
| 2095 | 23,722,747 | -1.54% |
| 2094 | 24,093,391 | -1.55% |
| 2093 | 24,473,038 | -1.56% |
| 2092 | 24,860,975 | -1.56% |
| 2091 | 25,255,379 | -1.56% |
| 2090 | 25,655,577 | -1.56% |
| 2089 | 26,060,945 | -1.55% |
| 2088 | 26,470,073 | -1.54% |
| 2087 | 26,884,813 | -1.53% |
| 2086 | 27,301,913 | -1.52% |
| 2085 | 27,723,736 | -1.51% |
| 2084 | 28,147,480 | -1.51% |
| 2083 | 28,578,182 | -1.5% |
| 2082 | 29,012,953 | -1.5% |
| 2081 | 29,456,022 | -1.49% |
| 2080 | 29,901,880 | -1.48% |
| 2079 | 30,352,062 | -1.48% |
| 2078 | 30,809,176 | -1.49% |
| 2077 | 31,273,700 | -1.48% |
| 2076 | 31,744,480 | -1.48% |
| 2075 | 32,221,226 | -1.48% |
| 2074 | 32,706,020 | -1.48% |
| 2073 | 33,196,556 | -1.48% |
| 2072 | 33,696,490 | -1.48% |
| 2071 | 34,203,935 | -1.48% |
| 2070 | 34,719,324 | -1.48% |
| 2069 | 35,241,850 | -1.46% |
| 2068 | 35,762,799 | -1.46% |
| 2067 | 36,292,307 | -1.45% |
| 2066 | 36,826,655 | -1.45% |
| 2065 | 37,368,086 | -1.45% |
| 2064 | 37,916,439 | -1.44% |
| 2063 | 38,469,051 | -1.43% |
| 2062 | 39,028,473 | -1.4% |
| 2061 | 39,584,621 | -1.41% |
| 2060 | 40,149,830 | -1.38% |
| 2059 | 40,712,514 | -1.37% |
| 2058 | 41,277,134 | -1.33% |
| 2057 | 41,833,887 | -1.28% |
| 2056 | 42,377,427 | -1.24% |
| 2055 | 42,909,302 | -1.19% |
| 2054 | 43,427,254 | -1.16% |
| 2053 | 43,938,741 | -1.13% |
| 2052 | 44,441,106 | -1.07% |
| 2051 | 44,923,604 | -1.02% |
| 2050 | 45,385,311 | -0.97% |
| 2049 | 45,832,153 | -0.92% |
| 2048 | 46,258,529 | -0.88% |
| 2047 | 46,668,898 | -0.82% |
| 2046 | 47,056,404 | -0.79% |
| 2045 | 47,433,205 | -0.76% |
| 2044 | 47,797,411 | -0.72% |
| 2043 | 48,144,730 | -0.69% |
| 2042 | 48,478,991 | -0.67% |
| 2041 | 48,806,273 | -0.63% |
| 2040 | 49,115,658 | -0.6% |
| 2039 | 49,412,830 | -0.57% |
| 2038 | 49,694,340 | -0.53% |
| 2037 | 49,957,504 | -0.48% |
| 2036 | 50,200,702 | -0.45% |
| 2035 | 50,426,000 | -0.41% |
| 2034 | 50,632,962 | -0.37% |
| 2033 | 50,821,090 | -0.33% |
| 2032 | 50,987,020 | -0.29% |
| 2031 | 51,134,940 | -0.26% |
| 2030 | 51,267,908 | -0.23% |
| 2029 | 51,385,868 | -0.2% |
| 2028 | 51,486,791 | -0.17% |
| 2027 | 51,576,746 | -0.14% |
| 2026 | 51,649,918 | -0.12% |
| 2025 | 51,710,062 | -0.08% |
| 2024 | 51,751,065 | 0.07% |
| 2023 | 51,712,619 | 0.08% |
| 2022 | 51,672,569 | -0.19% |
| 2021 | 51,769,539 | -0.13% |
| 2020 | 51,836,239 | 0.14% |
| 2019 | 51,764,822 | 0.35% |
| 2018 | 51,585,058 | 0.43% |
| 2017 | 51,361,911 | 0.28% |
| 2016 | 51,217,803 | 0.4% |
| 2015 | 51,014,947 | 0.53% |
| 2014 | 50,746,659 | 0.63% |
| 2013 | 50,428,893 | 0.46% |
| 2012 | 50,199,853 | 0.53% |
| 2011 | 49,936,638 | 0.77% |
| 2010 | 49,554,112 | 0.5% |
| 2009 | 49,307,835 | 0.52% |
| 2008 | 49,054,708 | 0.76% |
| 2007 | 48,683,638 | 0.51% |
| 2006 | 48,438,292 | 0.53% |
| 2005 | 48,184,561 | 0.21% |
| 2004 | 48,082,519 | 0.4% |
| 2003 | 47,892,330 | 0.52% |
| 2002 | 47,644,736 | 0.58% |
| 2001 | 47,370,164 | 0.77% |
| 2000 | 47,008,111 | 0.84% |
| 1999 | 46,616,677 | 0.71% |
| 1998 | 46,286,503 | 0.72% |
| 1997 | 45,953,580 | 0.94% |
| 1996 | 45,524,681 | 0.96% |
| 1995 | 45,092,991 | 1.01% |
| 1994 | 44,641,540 | 1.01% |
| 1993 | 44,194,628 | 1.02% |
| 1992 | 43,747,962 | 1.04% |
| 1991 | 43,295,704 | 0.99% |
| 1990 | 42,869,283 | 0.99% |
| 1989 | 42,449,038 | 0.99% |
| 1988 | 42,031,247 | 0.98% |
| 1987 | 41,621,690 | 0.99% |
| 1986 | 41,213,674 | 1% |
| 1985 | 40,805,744 | 0.99% |
| 1984 | 40,405,956 | 1.24% |
| 1983 | 39,910,403 | 1.49% |
| 1982 | 39,326,352 | 1.56% |
| 1981 | 38,723,248 | 1.57% |
| 1980 | 38,123,775 | 1.57% |
| 1979 | 37,534,236 | 1.53% |
| 1978 | 36,969,185 | 1.53% |
| 1977 | 36,411,795 | 1.57% |
| 1976 | 35,848,523 | 1.61% |
| 1975 | 35,280,725 | 1.7% |
| 1974 | 34,692,266 | 1.73% |
| 1973 | 34,103,149 | 1.78% |
| 1972 | 33,505,406 | 1.89% |
| 1971 | 32,882,704 | 1.99% |
| 1970 | 32,240,827 | 2.21% |
| 1969 | 31,544,266 | 2.29% |
| 1968 | 30,838,302 | 2.35% |
| 1967 | 30,130,983 | 2.36% |
| 1966 | 29,435,571 | 2.55% |
| 1965 | 28,704,674 | 2.57% |
| 1964 | 27,984,155 | 2.65% |
| 1963 | 27,261,747 | 2.82% |
| 1962 | 26,513,030 | 2.9% |
| 1961 | 25,765,673 | 3.01% |
| 1960 | 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/south-korea | CC BY 
South Korea has a population of 51.6M as of 2026, compared to 51.2M in 2016, 48.4M in 2006, and 45.5M in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to increase by an average of 0.08% per year. South Korea is ranked 157th out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) South Korea will have 47,056,404 people (-8.89% decline) with a rank change from 31st to 45th.
By the year 2100, South Korea's population is projected to decline by 57.4% from its current level to 22M people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | 65,731 |
| 2024 | - | - | 75,963 |
| 2023 | 10,231 | -77,569 | 87,800 |
| 2022 | -36,214 | -124,014 | 87,800 |
| 2021 | -73,725 | -56,947 | -16,778 |
| 2020 | 81,530 | -31,101 | 112,631 |
| 2019 | 138,975 | 10,353 | 128,622 |
| 2018 | 149,171 | 30,951 | 118,220 |
| 2017 | 175,936 | 71,907 | 104,029 |
| 2016 | 214,491 | 122,923 | 91,568 |
| 2015 | 439,675 | 163,248 | 276,427 |
| 2014 | 475,501 | 167,464 | 308,037 |
| 2013 | 468,341 | 166,415 | 301,926 |
| 2012 | 497,725 | 215,859 | 281,866 |
| 2011 | 484,686 | 214,728 | 269,958 |
| 2010 | 265,125 | 213,083 | 52,042 |
| 2009 | 202,539 | 197,231 | 5,308 |
| 2008 | 196,211 | 215,841 | -19,630 |
| 2007 | 205,993 | 248,286 | -42,293 |
| 2006 | 175,007 | 203,441 | -28,434 |
| 2005 | 140,099 | 187,920 | -47,821 |
| 2004 | 183,439 | 225,988 | -42,549 |
| 2003 | 212,257 | 244,251 | -31,994 |
| 2002 | 229,647 | 247,752 | -18,105 |
| 2001 | 284,637 | 312,643 | -28,006 |
| 2000 | 305,207 | 390,167 | -84,960 |
| 1999 | 260,824 | 368,272 | -107,448 |
| 1998 | 295,392 | 393,436 | -98,044 |
| 1997 | 313,643 | 422,773 | -109,130 |
| 1996 | 330,437 | 446,142 | -115,705 |
| 1995 | 260,476 | 468,967 | -208,491 |
| 1994 | 264,891 | 473,200 | -208,309 |
| 1993 | 254,500 | 477,302 | -222,802 |
| 1992 | 228,503 | 494,352 | -265,849 |
| 1991 | 196,840 | 467,594 | -270,754 |
| 1990 | 490,840 | 411,546 | 79,294 |
| 1989 | 589,386 | 403,266 | 186,120 |
| 1988 | 591,831 | 399,297 | 192,534 |
| 1987 | 576,815 | 378,758 | 198,057 |
| 1986 | 585,433 | 395,651 | 189,782 |
| 1985 | 514,168 | 416,219 | 97,949 |
| 1984 | 537,778 | 436,384 | 101,394 |
| 1983 | 617,011 | 514,844 | 102,167 |
| 1982 | 654,264 | 605,626 | 48,638 |
| 1981 | 649,631 | 631,189 | 18,442 |
| 1980 | 434,953 | 583,294 | -148,341 |
| 1979 | 483,502 | 623,068 | -139,566 |
| 1978 | 413,363 | 499,084 | -85,721 |
| 1977 | 488,210 | 578,947 | -90,737 |
| 1976 | 438,244 | 530,558 | -92,314 |
| 1975 | 550,968 | 603,300 | -52,332 |
| 1974 | 700,035 | 673,030 | 27,005 |
| 1973 | 734,894 | 699,115 | 35,779 |
| 1972 | 765,851 | 740,469 | 25,382 |
| 1971 | 782,859 | 789,185 | -6,326 |
| 1970 | 719,988 | 747,987 | -27,999 |
| 1969 | 673,052 | 694,227 | -21,175 |
| 1968 | 667,619 | 684,487 | -16,868 |
| 1967 | 675,685 | 692,169 | -16,484 |
| 1966 | 606,846 | 623,534 | -16,688 |
| 1965 | 494,704 | 641,090 | -146,386 |
| 1964 | 553,217 | 655,501 | -102,284 |
| 1963 | 605,598 | 685,824 | -80,226 |
| 1962 | 617,984 | 712,590 | -94,606 |
| 1961 | 636,994 | 730,173 | -93,179 |
| 1960 | 775,255 | 728,010 | 47,245 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/south-korea | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 17.6% of the population change in South Korea 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, 1,811,507 residents or 3.5% of the population were not native-born in South Korea, compared to 566,098 and 1.2% in 2010.
South Korea population clock
South Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
51649918
|
31/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.62% | 31/197 |
| One net population change |
13.7 minutes
|
115/197 |
| One birth every |
2.26 minutes
|
83/196 |
| One death every |
1.69 minutes
|
34/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | +105 | 115/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | +38,446 | 115/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.07% | 160/197 |
| One migration net change every |
8.02 minutes
|
20/196 |
| Annual migration change | +65,731 | 20/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 1,811,507 | 40/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 3.5% | 111/195 |
Largest cities by population
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South Korea population statistics
|
South Korea
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 84.6 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 44.8 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 46.1 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.9:50.1 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 0.72 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 1,371 ppl/mi² | 144 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/south-korea | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.