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Population in South Korea compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,684,564 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,624,449 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 2.35 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • South Korea is ranked the 31st most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.89% of the world: 0.62% for South Korea vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, South Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.17% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.58% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

South Korea vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Korea Sri Lanka
2100 22,001,649 20,009,380
2099 22,324,514 20,121,095
2098 22,657,541 20,234,513
2097 22,998,315 20,345,619
2096 23,348,632 20,456,607
2095 23,711,049 20,566,246
2094 24,081,510 20,674,019
2093 24,460,970 20,780,946
2092 24,848,715 20,886,274
2091 25,242,926 20,990,047
2090 25,642,926 21,095,968
2089 26,048,094 21,198,788
2088 26,457,020 21,299,229
2087 26,871,556 21,398,269
2086 27,288,450 21,496,892
2085 27,710,065 21,594,661
2084 28,133,600 21,687,323
2083 28,564,090 21,778,597
2082 28,998,646 21,866,395
2081 29,441,497 21,954,337
2080 29,887,135 22,038,953
2079 30,337,095 22,122,744
2078 30,793,984 22,200,069
2077 31,258,278 22,274,355
2076 31,728,826 22,345,857
2075 32,205,338 22,414,609
2074 32,689,892 22,485,066
2073 33,180,187 22,550,427
2072 33,679,874 22,610,645
2071 34,187,068 22,669,042
2070 34,702,204 22,725,948
2069 35,224,472 22,779,050
2068 35,745,164 22,831,596
2067 36,274,411 22,885,941
2066 36,808,495 22,935,123
2065 37,349,660 22,985,942
2064 37,897,742 23,030,844
2063 38,450,082 23,071,114
2062 39,009,227 23,107,970
2061 39,565,102 23,139,924
2060 40,130,032 23,171,649
2059 40,692,438 23,199,387
2058 41,256,780 23,224,997
2057 41,813,259 23,247,211
2056 42,356,530 23,267,292
2055 42,888,143 23,278,653
2054 43,405,840 23,287,520
2053 43,917,075 23,297,347
2052 44,419,192 23,301,287
2051 44,901,452 23,302,108
2050 45,362,931 23,299,282
2049 45,809,553 23,293,630
2048 46,235,718 23,283,465
2047 46,645,885 23,267,251
2046 47,033,200 23,244,081
2045 47,409,815 23,212,221
2044 47,773,842 23,181,041
2043 48,120,989 23,144,217
2042 48,455,085 23,103,489
2041 48,782,206 23,056,478
2040 49,091,438 23,005,928
2039 49,388,464 22,948,866
2038 49,669,835 22,888,821
2037 49,932,869 22,822,943
2036 50,175,947 22,756,462
2035 50,401,135 22,685,766
2034 50,607,994 22,611,514
2033 50,796,030 22,532,374
2032 50,961,878 22,449,310
2031 51,109,725 22,364,063
2030 51,242,628 22,273,377
2029 51,360,529 22,181,300
2028 51,461,403 22,082,826
2027 51,551,313 21,979,196
2026 51,624,449 21,870,145
2025 51,684,564 21,756,000
2024 51,751,065 21,916,000
2023 51,712,619 22,037,000
2022 51,672,569 22,181,000
2021 51,769,539 22,156,000
2020 51,836,239 21,919,000
2019 51,764,822 21,803,000
2018 51,585,058 21,670,000
2017 51,361,911 21,453,000
2016 51,217,803 21,209,000
2015 51,014,947 20,970,000
2014 50,746,659 20,778,000
2013 50,428,893 20,585,000
2012 50,199,853 21,169,458
2011 49,936,638 21,009,048
2010 49,554,112 20,879,089
2009 49,307,835 20,756,435
2008 49,054,708 20,629,378
2007 48,683,638 20,492,545
2006 48,438,292 20,352,411
2005 48,184,561 20,216,524
2004 48,082,519 20,087,605
2003 47,892,330 19,951,521
2002 47,644,736 19,805,752
2001 47,370,164 19,600,362
2000 47,008,111 19,293,054
1999 46,616,677 18,944,731
1998 46,286,503 18,596,003
1997 45,953,580 18,248,200
1996 45,524,681 17,905,018
1995 45,092,991 17,564,068
1994 44,641,540 17,275,773
1993 44,194,628 17,025,918
1992 43,747,962 16,739,284
1991 43,295,704 16,475,354
1990 42,869,283 16,352,458
1989 42,449,038 16,248,557
1988 42,031,247 16,078,621
1987 41,621,690 15,916,576
1986 41,213,674 15,731,256
1985 40,805,744 15,544,154
1984 40,405,956 15,441,860
1983 39,910,403 15,388,794
1982 39,326,352 15,286,567
1981 38,723,248 15,099,414
1980 38,123,775 14,847,974
1979 37,534,236 14,579,614
1978 36,969,185 14,310,128
1977 36,411,795 14,049,371
1976 35,848,523 13,796,770
1975 35,280,725 13,548,984
1974 34,692,266 13,305,693
1973 34,103,149 13,060,916
1972 33,505,406 12,809,205
1971 32,882,704 12,551,910
1970 32,240,827 12,287,110
1969 31,544,266 12,013,858
1968 30,838,302 11,736,088
1967 30,130,983 11,457,328
1966 29,435,571 11,183,928
1965 28,704,674 10,916,965
1964 27,984,155 10,653,397
1963 27,261,747 10,395,040
1962 26,513,030 10,143,754
1961 25,765,673 9,899,372
1960 25,012,374 9,661,389

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/south-korea/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Korea increased by 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Korea gained 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).

South Korea was ranked 25th most populous country in 2006 and is 31st in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) South Korea's population will shrink by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people with a rank change from 31st to 48th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

Sri Lanka is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 23.3M 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

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Korea Sri Lanka
2100 -1.45% -0.56%
2099 -1.47% -0.56%
2098 -1.48% -0.55%
2097 -1.5% -0.54%
2096 -1.53% -0.53%
2095 -1.54% -0.52%
2094 -1.55% -0.51%
2093 -1.56% -0.5%
2092 -1.56% -0.49%
2091 -1.56% -0.5%
2090 -1.56% -0.49%
2089 -1.55% -0.47%
2088 -1.54% -0.46%
2087 -1.53% -0.46%
2086 -1.52% -0.45%
2085 -1.51% -0.43%
2084 -1.51% -0.42%
2083 -1.5% -0.4%
2082 -1.5% -0.4%
2081 -1.49% -0.38%
2080 -1.48% -0.38%
2079 -1.48% -0.35%
2078 -1.49% -0.33%
2077 -1.48% -0.32%
2076 -1.48% -0.31%
2075 -1.48% -0.31%
2074 -1.48% -0.29%
2073 -1.48% -0.27%
2072 -1.48% -0.26%
2071 -1.48% -0.25%
2070 -1.48% -0.23%
2069 -1.46% -0.23%
2068 -1.46% -0.24%
2067 -1.45% -0.21%
2066 -1.45% -0.22%
2065 -1.45% -0.19%
2064 -1.44% -0.17%
2063 -1.43% -0.16%
2062 -1.4% -0.14%
2061 -1.41% -0.14%
2060 -1.38% -0.12%
2059 -1.37% -0.11%
2058 -1.33% -0.1%
2057 -1.28% -0.09%
2056 -1.24% -0.05%
2055 -1.19% -0.04%
2054 -1.16% -0.04%
2053 -1.13% -0.02%
2052 -1.07% -0.004%
2051 -1.02% 0.01%
2050 -0.97% 0.02%
2049 -0.92% 0.04%
2048 -0.88% 0.07%
2047 -0.82% 0.1%
2046 -0.79% 0.14%
2045 -0.76% 0.13%
2044 -0.72% 0.16%
2043 -0.69% 0.18%
2042 -0.67% 0.2%
2041 -0.63% 0.22%
2040 -0.6% 0.25%
2039 -0.57% 0.26%
2038 -0.53% 0.29%
2037 -0.48% 0.29%
2036 -0.45% 0.31%
2035 -0.41% 0.33%
2034 -0.37% 0.35%
2033 -0.33% 0.37%
2032 -0.29% 0.38%
2031 -0.26% 0.41%
2030 -0.23% 0.42%
2029 -0.2% 0.45%
2028 -0.17% 0.47%
2027 -0.14% 0.5%
2026 -0.12% 0.52%
2025 -0.13% -0.73%
2024 0.07% -0.55%
2023 0.08% -0.65%
2022 -0.19% 0.11%
2021 -0.13% 1.08%
2020 0.14% 0.53%
2019 0.35% 0.61%
2018 0.43% 1.01%
2017 0.28% 1.15%
2016 0.4% 1.14%
2015 0.53% 0.92%
2014 0.63% 0.94%
2013 0.46% -2.76%
2012 0.53% 0.76%
2011 0.77% 0.62%
2010 0.5% 0.59%
2009 0.52% 0.62%
2008 0.76% 0.67%
2007 0.51% 0.69%
2006 0.53% 0.67%
2005 0.21% 0.64%
2004 0.4% 0.68%
2003 0.52% 0.74%
2002 0.58% 1.05%
2001 0.77% 1.59%
2000 0.84% 1.84%
1999 0.71% 1.88%
1998 0.72% 1.91%
1997 0.94% 1.92%
1996 0.96% 1.94%
1995 1.01% 1.67%
1994 1.01% 1.47%
1993 1.02% 1.71%
1992 1.04% 1.6%
1991 0.99% 0.75%
1990 0.99% 0.64%
1989 0.99% 1.06%
1988 0.98% 1.02%
1987 0.99% 1.18%
1986 1% 1.2%
1985 0.99% 0.66%
1984 1.24% 0.34%
1983 1.49% 0.67%
1982 1.56% 1.24%
1981 1.57% 1.69%
1980 1.57% 1.84%
1979 1.53% 1.88%
1978 1.53% 1.86%
1977 1.57% 1.83%
1976 1.61% 1.83%
1975 1.7% 1.83%
1974 1.73% 1.87%
1973 1.78% 1.97%
1972 1.89% 2.05%
1971 1.99% 2.16%
1970 2.21% 2.27%
1969 2.29% 2.37%
1968 2.35% 2.43%
1967 2.36% 2.44%
1966 2.55% 2.45%
1965 2.57% 2.47%
1964 2.65% 2.49%
1963 2.82% 2.48%
1962 2.9% 2.47%
1961 3.01% 2.46%

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/south-korea/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of South Korea declined by 0.13%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

South Korea Sri Lanka
Current population
51624449
21926160
Population rank 31/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.62% 0.26%
One net population change
7.93 minutes
3.29 minutes
One birth every
2.16 minutes
2.37 minutes
One death every
1.45 minutes
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline -182 -438
Annual growth/decline -66,501 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 169/197 190/197
One migration net change every
8.02 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change +65,731 -30,724
Net migration rank 20/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 1,811,507 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 40/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.5% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 111/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Korea
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Korea Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 65,731 - -30,724
2024 -119,027 75,963 50,407 -27,245
2023 -124,111 87,800 66,111 -28,011
2022 -124,014 87,800 95,378 -27,435
2021 -56,947 -16,778 121,858 -29,586
2020 -31,101 112,631 170,968 -29,875
2019 10,353 128,622 172,243 -28,426
2018 30,951 118,220 183,610 -28,607
2017 71,907 104,029 187,993 -22,324
2016 122,923 91,568 194,232 -18,388
2015 163,248 276,427 201,815 -29,797
2014 167,464 308,037 211,541 -33,672
2013 166,415 301,926 221,021 -37,754
2012 215,859 281,866 229,138 -41,955
2011 214,728 269,958 224,461 -90,839
2010 213,083 52,042 224,325 -98,060
2009 197,231 5,308 200,175 -81,130
2008 215,841 -19,630 232,225 -97,144
2007 248,286 -42,293 248,287 -109,695
2006 203,441 -28,434 248,706 -107,045
2005 187,920 -47,821 248,683 -118,594
2004 225,988 -42,549 212,527 -84,795
2003 244,251 -31,994 252,008 -107,573
2002 247,752 -18,105 252,840 -105,718
2001 312,643 -28,006 244,377 19,273
2000 390,167 -84,960 227,060 123,894
1999 368,272 -107,448 206,876 138,799
1998 393,436 -98,044 201,059 150,724
1997 422,773 -109,130 208,193 135,636
1996 446,142 -115,705 215,290 127,236
1995 468,967 -208,491 221,957 117,416
1994 473,200 -208,309 228,904 8,323
1993 477,302 -222,802 226,257 36,232
1992 494,352 -265,849 222,230 88,542
1991 467,594 -270,754 218,117 -1,047
1990 411,546 79,294 224,454 -195,736
1989 403,266 186,120 212,401 -33,305
1988 399,297 192,534 219,184 -58,415
1987 378,758 198,057 226,414 -63,105
1986 395,651 189,782 233,782 -26,460
1985 416,219 97,949 247,836 -80,950
1984 436,384 101,394 263,175 -225,450
1983 514,844 102,167 277,768 -209,362
1982 605,626 48,638 300,030 -163,987
1981 631,189 18,442 328,096 -89,824
1980 583,294 -148,341 328,155 -63,541
1979 623,068 -139,566 329,791 -57,683
1978 499,084 -85,721 317,055 -50,189
1977 578,947 -90,737 300,038 -45,383
1976 530,558 -92,314 291,816 -41,258
1975 603,300 -52,332 282,496 -37,475
1974 673,030 27,005 275,521 -33,979
1973 699,115 35,779 278,577 -30,582
1972 740,469 25,382 282,494 -27,071
1971 789,185 -6,326 281,200 -22,021
1970 747,987 -27,999 286,719 -16,299
1969 694,227 -21,175 286,218 -10,152
1968 684,487 -16,868 286,642 -7,163
1967 692,169 -16,484 284,738 -6,696
1966 623,534 -16,688 275,549 -6,794
1965 641,090 -146,386 272,422 -7,249
1964 655,501 -102,284 269,584 -7,614
1963 685,824 -80,226 262,880 -8,118
1962 712,590 -94,606 256,719 -8,909
1961 730,173 -93,179 251,087 -10,144
1960 728,010 47,245 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/sri-lanka | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 4.97% of the population change in South Korea is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 people). In Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 people).

As of 2024, 1,811,507 residents or 3.5% of the population were not native-born in South Korea, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/south-korea/sri-lanka | 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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