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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,751,065 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,649,918 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 1.06 times bigger than Spain's.
  • South Korea is ranked the 31st most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.21% of the world: 0.62% for South Korea vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, South Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.24% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.63% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

South Korea vs Spain: population by year and forecast

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Korea Spain
2100 22,012,503 33,862,981
2099 22,335,528 34,039,965
2098 22,668,719 34,215,187
2097 23,009,661 34,387,116
2096 23,360,151 34,552,002
2095 23,722,747 34,719,411
2094 24,093,391 34,882,039
2093 24,473,038 35,044,043
2092 24,860,975 35,204,657
2091 25,255,379 35,366,895
2090 25,655,577 35,535,838
2089 26,060,945 35,707,942
2088 26,470,073 35,877,681
2087 26,884,813 36,043,209
2086 27,301,913 36,210,710
2085 27,723,736 36,386,207
2084 28,147,480 36,564,622
2083 28,578,182 36,749,680
2082 29,012,953 36,936,644
2081 29,456,022 37,133,976
2080 29,901,880 37,337,517
2079 30,352,062 37,551,557
2078 30,809,176 37,771,135
2077 31,273,700 38,002,963
2076 31,744,480 38,249,247
2075 32,221,226 38,506,040
2074 32,706,020 38,777,715
2073 33,196,556 39,056,249
2072 33,696,490 39,348,447
2071 34,203,935 39,642,346
2070 34,719,324 39,949,413
2069 35,241,850 40,256,590
2068 35,762,799 40,575,543
2067 36,292,307 40,893,798
2066 36,826,655 41,218,263
2065 37,368,086 41,543,254
2064 37,916,439 41,878,338
2063 38,469,051 42,208,320
2062 39,028,473 42,542,893
2061 39,584,621 42,874,096
2060 40,149,830 43,191,452
2059 40,712,514 43,506,737
2058 41,277,134 43,809,907
2057 41,833,887 44,112,668
2056 42,377,427 44,415,689
2055 42,909,302 44,691,749
2054 43,427,254 44,958,971
2053 43,938,741 45,223,225
2052 44,441,106 45,470,541
2051 44,923,604 45,695,307
2050 45,385,311 45,911,520
2049 45,832,153 46,127,777
2048 46,258,529 46,322,244
2047 46,668,898 46,510,152
2046 47,056,404 46,687,914
2045 47,433,205 46,858,778
2044 47,797,411 47,016,278
2043 48,144,730 47,158,325
2042 48,478,991 47,301,091
2041 48,806,273 47,434,593
2040 49,115,658 47,563,236
2039 49,412,830 47,685,343
2038 49,694,340 47,798,797
2037 49,957,504 47,910,899
2036 50,200,702 48,020,350
2035 50,426,000 48,124,430
2034 50,632,962 48,220,051
2033 50,821,090 48,311,842
2032 50,987,020 48,402,470
2031 51,134,940 48,495,278
2030 51,267,908 48,579,920
2029 51,385,868 48,648,699
2028 51,486,791 48,707,969
2027 51,576,746 48,758,200
2026 51,649,918 48,806,901
2025 51,710,062 48,838,057
2024 51,751,065 48,848,840
2023 51,712,619 48,352,528
2022 51,672,569 47,786,102
2021 51,769,539 47,443,821
2020 51,836,239 47,359,424
2019 51,764,822 47,118,501
2018 51,585,058 46,782,011
2017 51,361,911 46,571,232
2016 51,217,803 46,458,139
2015 51,014,947 46,422,303
2014 50,746,659 46,460,733
2013 50,428,893 46,604,197
2012 50,199,853 46,773,055
2011 49,936,638 46,742,697
2010 49,554,112 46,576,897
2009 49,307,835 46,362,946
2008 49,054,708 45,954,106
2007 48,683,638 45,226,803
2006 48,438,292 44,397,319
2005 48,184,561 43,653,155
2004 48,082,519 42,921,895
2003 47,892,330 42,187,645
2002 47,644,736 41,431,558
2001 47,370,164 40,850,412
2000 47,008,111 40,567,864
1999 46,616,677 40,386,875
1998 46,286,503 40,223,509
1997 45,953,580 40,057,389
1996 45,524,681 39,889,852
1995 45,092,991 39,724,050
1994 44,641,540 39,549,108
1993 44,194,628 39,361,262
1992 43,747,962 39,157,685
1991 43,295,704 38,966,376
1990 42,869,283 38,867,322
1989 42,449,038 38,827,764
1988 42,031,247 38,766,939
1987 41,621,690 38,684,815
1986 41,213,674 38,584,624
1985 40,805,744 38,469,512
1984 40,405,956 38,330,364
1983 39,910,403 38,171,525
1982 39,326,352 37,986,012
1981 38,723,248 37,758,631
1980 38,123,775 37,491,165
1979 37,534,236 37,191,330
1978 36,969,185 36,864,898
1977 36,411,795 36,511,638
1976 35,848,523 36,137,812
1975 35,280,725 35,757,900
1974 34,692,266 35,373,335
1973 34,103,149 34,988,947
1972 33,505,406 34,604,469
1971 32,882,704 34,224,490
1970 32,240,827 33,814,531
1969 31,544,266 33,441,054
1968 30,838,302 33,113,134
1967 30,130,983 32,682,947
1966 29,435,571 32,283,194
1965 28,704,674 31,954,292
1964 27,984,155 31,609,195
1963 27,261,747 31,296,651
1962 26,513,030 31,023,366
1961 25,765,673 30,739,250
1960 25,012,374 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Korea increased by 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Korea gained 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

South Korea was ranked 25th most populous country in 2006 and is 31st in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) South Korea's population will shrink by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people with a rank change from 31st to 48th. The population of Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 38.5% of the population in South Korea and 21.6% in Spain.

Population growth rate by year

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Korea Spain
2100 -1.45% -0.52%
2099 -1.47% -0.51%
2098 -1.48% -0.5%
2097 -1.5% -0.48%
2096 -1.53% -0.48%
2095 -1.54% -0.47%
2094 -1.55% -0.46%
2093 -1.56% -0.46%
2092 -1.56% -0.46%
2091 -1.56% -0.48%
2090 -1.56% -0.48%
2089 -1.55% -0.47%
2088 -1.54% -0.46%
2087 -1.53% -0.46%
2086 -1.52% -0.48%
2085 -1.51% -0.49%
2084 -1.51% -0.5%
2083 -1.5% -0.51%
2082 -1.5% -0.53%
2081 -1.49% -0.55%
2080 -1.48% -0.57%
2079 -1.48% -0.58%
2078 -1.49% -0.61%
2077 -1.48% -0.64%
2076 -1.48% -0.67%
2075 -1.48% -0.7%
2074 -1.48% -0.71%
2073 -1.48% -0.74%
2072 -1.48% -0.74%
2071 -1.48% -0.77%
2070 -1.48% -0.76%
2069 -1.46% -0.79%
2068 -1.46% -0.78%
2067 -1.45% -0.79%
2066 -1.45% -0.78%
2065 -1.45% -0.8%
2064 -1.44% -0.78%
2063 -1.43% -0.79%
2062 -1.4% -0.77%
2061 -1.41% -0.73%
2060 -1.38% -0.72%
2059 -1.37% -0.69%
2058 -1.33% -0.69%
2057 -1.28% -0.68%
2056 -1.24% -0.62%
2055 -1.19% -0.59%
2054 -1.16% -0.58%
2053 -1.13% -0.54%
2052 -1.07% -0.49%
2051 -1.02% -0.47%
2050 -0.97% -0.47%
2049 -0.92% -0.42%
2048 -0.88% -0.4%
2047 -0.82% -0.38%
2046 -0.79% -0.36%
2045 -0.76% -0.33%
2044 -0.72% -0.3%
2043 -0.69% -0.3%
2042 -0.67% -0.28%
2041 -0.63% -0.27%
2040 -0.6% -0.26%
2039 -0.57% -0.24%
2038 -0.53% -0.23%
2037 -0.48% -0.23%
2036 -0.45% -0.22%
2035 -0.41% -0.2%
2034 -0.37% -0.19%
2033 -0.33% -0.19%
2032 -0.29% -0.19%
2031 -0.26% -0.17%
2030 -0.23% -0.14%
2029 -0.2% -0.12%
2028 -0.17% -0.1%
2027 -0.14% -0.1%
2026 -0.12% -0.06%
2025 -0.08% -0.02%
2024 0.07% 1.03%
2023 0.08% 1.19%
2022 -0.19% 0.72%
2021 -0.13% 0.18%
2020 0.14% 0.51%
2019 0.35% 0.72%
2018 0.43% 0.45%
2017 0.28% 0.24%
2016 0.4% 0.08%
2015 0.53% -0.08%
2014 0.63% -0.31%
2013 0.46% -0.36%
2012 0.53% 0.06%
2011 0.77% 0.36%
2010 0.5% 0.46%
2009 0.52% 0.89%
2008 0.76% 1.61%
2007 0.51% 1.87%
2006 0.53% 1.7%
2005 0.21% 1.7%
2004 0.4% 1.74%
2003 0.52% 1.82%
2002 0.58% 1.42%
2001 0.77% 0.7%
2000 0.84% 0.45%
1999 0.71% 0.41%
1998 0.72% 0.41%
1997 0.94% 0.42%
1996 0.96% 0.42%
1995 1.01% 0.44%
1994 1.01% 0.48%
1993 1.02% 0.52%
1992 1.04% 0.49%
1991 0.99% 0.25%
1990 0.99% 0.1%
1989 0.99% 0.16%
1988 0.98% 0.21%
1987 0.99% 0.26%
1986 1% 0.3%
1985 0.99% 0.36%
1984 1.24% 0.42%
1983 1.49% 0.49%
1982 1.56% 0.6%
1981 1.57% 0.71%
1980 1.57% 0.81%
1979 1.53% 0.89%
1978 1.53% 0.97%
1977 1.57% 1.03%
1976 1.61% 1.06%
1975 1.7% 1.09%
1974 1.73% 1.1%
1973 1.78% 1.11%
1972 1.89% 1.11%
1971 1.99% 1.21%
1970 2.21% 1.12%
1969 2.29% 0.99%
1968 2.35% 1.32%
1967 2.36% 1.24%
1966 2.55% 1.03%
1965 2.57% 1.09%
1964 2.65% 1%
1963 2.82% 0.88%
1962 2.9% 0.92%
1961 3.01% 0.93%

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/south-korea/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Korea grew by 0.07%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

South Korea Spain
Current population
51649918
48806901
Population rank 31/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.62% 0.59%
One net population change
13.7 minutes
1.06 minutes
One birth every
2.26 minutes
1.62 minutes
One death every
1.69 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +105 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +38,446 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +0.07% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 160/197 100/197
One migration net change every
8.02 minutes
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change +65,731 +96,630
Net migration rank 20/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 1,811,507 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 40/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.5% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 111/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Korea
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Korea Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 65,731 - 96,630
2024 - 75,963 - 111,674
2023 -77,569 87,800 -111,211 119,099
2022 -124,014 87,800 -133,801 299,779
2021 -56,947 -16,778 -113,865 144,385
2020 -31,101 112,631 -151,551 236,854
2019 10,353 128,622 -56,542 464,783
2018 30,951 118,220 -56,139 337,467
2017 71,907 104,029 -32,600 201,135
2016 122,923 91,568 0 106,474
2015 163,248 276,427 -4,642 -1,979
2014 167,464 308,037 32,522 -97,870
2013 166,415 301,926 37,284 -250,741
2012 215,859 281,866 51,450 -153,486
2011 214,728 269,958 84,137 60,761
2010 213,083 52,042 102,469 69,406
2009 197,231 5,308 106,635 129,557
2008 215,841 -19,630 133,267 434,135
2007 248,286 -42,293 108,545 772,317
2006 203,441 -28,434 110,994 659,720
2005 187,920 -47,821 78,576 629,803
2004 225,988 -42,549 85,844 661,158
2003 244,251 -31,994 54,844 658,428
2002 247,752 -18,105 53,861 737,880
2001 312,643 -28,006 44,936 181,307
2000 390,167 -84,960 36,512 176,269
1999 368,272 -107,448 8,077 178,559
1998 393,436 -98,044 4,022 182,926
1997 422,773 -109,130 20,028 165,345
1996 446,142 -115,705 11,967 162,704
1995 468,967 -208,491 15,889 162,434
1994 473,200 -208,309 31,639 160,407
1993 477,302 -222,802 47,234 160,907
1992 494,352 -265,849 62,652 177,544
1991 467,594 -270,754 58,450 122,841
1990 411,546 79,294 66,075 -30,684
1989 403,266 186,120 81,538 -25,892
1988 399,297 192,534 100,794 -17,663
1987 378,758 198,057 116,054 -12,681
1986 395,651 189,782 131,188 -13,540
1985 416,219 97,949 146,184 -589
1984 436,384 101,394 172,487 2,754
1983 514,844 102,167 183,223 1,241
1982 605,626 48,638 231,714 -7,384
1981 631,189 18,442 237,879 2,563
1980 583,294 -148,341 281,184 20,166
1979 623,068 -139,566 312,407 -5,929
1978 499,084 -85,721 339,157 -2,504
1977 578,947 -90,737 361,465 -1,332
1976 530,558 -92,314 375,834 2,804
1975 603,300 -52,332 371,882 -218
1974 673,030 27,005 396,182 105,838
1973 699,115 35,779 374,381 8,624
1972 740,469 25,382 391,030 7,935
1971 789,185 -6,326 369,625 7,363
1970 747,987 -27,999 378,723 -60,580
1969 694,227 -21,175 367,851 -49,956
1968 684,487 -16,868 387,423 -46,088
1967 692,169 -16,484 402,001 -42,344
1966 623,534 -16,688 397,084 -41,467
1965 641,090 -146,386 405,819 -42,476
1964 655,501 -102,284 429,885 -41,461
1963 685,824 -80,226 394,338 -44,446
1962 712,590 -94,606 384,690 -45,211
1961 730,173 -93,179 396,537 -46,517
1960 728,010 47,245 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/spain | 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). In Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 1,811,507 residents or 3.5% of the population were not native-born in South Korea, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

Biggest cities by population

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/south-korea/spain | 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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