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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,684,564 in 2025 vs 10,596,620 people in Sweden in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,624,449 people compared to 10,665,077 in Sweden.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 4.84 times bigger than Sweden's.
  • South Korea is ranked the 31st most populous country in the world, while Sweden is the 93rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.75% of the world: 0.62% for South Korea vs 0.13% for Sweden.
  • For the last 10 years, South Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.17% per year vs +0.81% in Sweden.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.58% growth), while Sweden has grown from 9.08M to 10.7M (17.5% growth).

South Korea vs Sweden: population by year and forecast

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Korea Sweden
2100 22,001,649 11,330,987
2099 22,324,514 11,334,835
2098 22,657,541 11,339,107
2097 22,998,315 11,340,268
2096 23,348,632 11,341,947
2095 23,711,049 11,344,893
2094 24,081,510 11,347,531
2093 24,460,970 11,349,412
2092 24,848,715 11,351,452
2091 25,242,926 11,352,899
2090 25,642,926 11,354,820
2089 26,048,094 11,357,746
2088 26,457,020 11,360,405
2087 26,871,556 11,364,197
2086 27,288,450 11,371,529
2085 27,710,065 11,376,573
2084 28,133,600 11,381,332
2083 28,564,090 11,384,862
2082 28,998,646 11,390,058
2081 29,441,497 11,391,696
2080 29,887,135 11,393,882
2079 30,337,095 11,393,412
2078 30,793,984 11,391,291
2077 31,258,278 11,389,212
2076 31,728,826 11,385,385
2075 32,205,338 11,381,261
2074 32,689,892 11,377,973
2073 33,180,187 11,375,051
2072 33,679,874 11,371,362
2071 34,187,068 11,366,451
2070 34,702,204 11,362,742
2069 35,224,472 11,358,895
2068 35,745,164 11,357,504
2067 36,274,411 11,356,672
2066 36,808,495 11,356,676
2065 37,349,660 11,355,953
2064 37,897,742 11,354,988
2063 38,450,082 11,354,834
2062 39,009,227 11,355,452
2061 39,565,102 11,353,198
2060 40,130,032 11,352,013
2059 40,692,438 11,349,674
2058 41,256,780 11,345,893
2057 41,813,259 11,340,487
2056 42,356,530 11,335,234
2055 42,888,143 11,328,291
2054 43,405,840 11,320,768
2053 43,917,075 11,310,127
2052 44,419,192 11,296,358
2051 44,901,452 11,280,503
2050 45,362,931 11,261,537
2049 45,809,553 11,242,070
2048 46,235,718 11,221,274
2047 46,645,885 11,199,365
2046 47,033,200 11,176,512
2045 47,409,815 11,152,739
2044 47,773,842 11,127,765
2043 48,120,989 11,102,354
2042 48,455,085 11,076,504
2041 48,782,206 11,052,951
2040 49,091,438 11,028,609
2039 49,388,464 11,005,487
2038 49,669,835 10,983,160
2037 49,932,869 10,961,591
2036 50,175,947 10,938,759
2035 50,401,135 10,916,327
2034 50,607,994 10,893,717
2033 50,796,030 10,869,588
2032 50,961,878 10,844,339
2031 51,109,725 10,819,037
2030 51,242,628 10,790,557
2029 51,360,529 10,759,017
2028 51,461,403 10,724,017
2027 51,551,313 10,685,143
2026 51,624,449 10,643,884
2025 51,684,564 10,596,620
2024 51,751,065 10,569,709
2023 51,712,619 10,536,632
2022 51,672,569 10,486,941
2021 51,769,539 10,415,811
2020 51,836,239 10,353,442
2019 51,764,822 10,278,887
2018 51,585,058 10,175,214
2017 51,361,911 10,057,698
2016 51,217,803 9,923,085
2015 51,014,947 9,799,186
2014 50,746,659 9,696,110
2013 50,428,893 9,600,379
2012 50,199,853 9,519,374
2011 49,936,638 9,449,213
2010 49,554,112 9,378,126
2009 49,307,835 9,298,515
2008 49,054,708 9,219,637
2007 48,683,638 9,148,092
2006 48,438,292 9,080,505
2005 48,184,561 9,029,572
2004 48,082,519 8,993,531
2003 47,892,330 8,958,229
2002 47,644,736 8,924,958
2001 47,370,164 8,895,960
2000 47,008,111 8,872,109
1999 46,616,677 8,857,874
1998 46,286,503 8,850,974
1997 45,953,580 8,846,062
1996 45,524,681 8,840,998
1995 45,092,991 8,826,939
1994 44,641,540 8,780,745
1993 44,194,628 8,718,561
1992 43,747,962 8,668,067
1991 43,295,704 8,617,375
1990 42,869,283 8,558,835
1989 42,449,038 8,492,964
1988 42,031,247 8,436,489
1987 41,621,690 8,397,804
1986 41,213,674 8,369,829
1985 40,805,744 8,350,386
1984 40,405,956 8,336,605
1983 39,910,403 8,329,033
1982 39,326,352 8,325,263
1981 38,723,248 8,320,503
1980 38,123,775 8,310,531
1979 37,534,236 8,293,678
1978 36,969,185 8,275,599
1977 36,411,795 8,251,540
1976 35,848,523 8,222,286
1975 35,280,725 8,192,437
1974 34,692,266 8,159,955
1973 34,103,149 8,136,312
1972 33,505,406 8,122,300
1971 32,882,704 8,098,334
1970 32,240,827 8,042,801
1969 31,544,266 7,968,072
1968 30,838,302 7,912,273
1967 30,130,983 7,867,931
1966 29,435,571 7,807,797
1965 28,704,674 7,733,853
1964 27,984,155 7,661,354
1963 27,261,747 7,604,328
1962 26,513,030 7,561,588
1961 25,765,673 7,519,998
1960 25,012,374 7,484,656

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/sweden | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Korea increased by 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth), while Sweden gained 842,580 people (a 9.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Korea gained 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth), while Sweden's population increased by 741,992 people (a 7.48% growth).

South Korea was ranked 25th most populous country in 2006 and is 31st in 2026. Sweden was ranked 88th in 2006 and ranked 93rd 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 Sweden will increase by 5.59% to 11,261,537 people and will still be ranked 93rd.

Sweden is projected to reach its peak in 2080 at 11.4M 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
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Korea Sweden
2100 -1.45% -0.03%
2099 -1.47% -0.04%
2098 -1.48% -0.01%
2097 -1.5% -0.01%
2096 -1.53% -0.03%
2095 -1.54% -0.02%
2094 -1.55% -0.02%
2093 -1.56% -0.02%
2092 -1.56% -0.01%
2091 -1.56% -0.02%
2090 -1.56% -0.03%
2089 -1.55% -0.02%
2088 -1.54% -0.03%
2087 -1.53% -0.06%
2086 -1.52% -0.04%
2085 -1.51% -0.04%
2084 -1.51% -0.03%
2083 -1.5% -0.05%
2082 -1.5% -0.01%
2081 -1.49% -0.02%
2080 -1.48% 0.004%
2079 -1.48% 0.02%
2078 -1.49% 0.02%
2077 -1.48% 0.03%
2076 -1.48% 0.04%
2075 -1.48% 0.03%
2074 -1.48% 0.03%
2073 -1.48% 0.03%
2072 -1.48% 0.04%
2071 -1.48% 0.03%
2070 -1.48% 0.03%
2069 -1.46% 0.01%
2068 -1.46% 0.007%
2067 -1.45% -0%
2066 -1.45% 0.006%
2065 -1.45% 0.009%
2064 -1.44% 0.001%
2063 -1.43% -0.005%
2062 -1.4% 0.02%
2061 -1.41% 0.01%
2060 -1.38% 0.02%
2059 -1.37% 0.03%
2058 -1.33% 0.05%
2057 -1.28% 0.05%
2056 -1.24% 0.06%
2055 -1.19% 0.07%
2054 -1.16% 0.09%
2053 -1.13% 0.12%
2052 -1.07% 0.14%
2051 -1.02% 0.17%
2050 -0.97% 0.17%
2049 -0.92% 0.19%
2048 -0.88% 0.2%
2047 -0.82% 0.2%
2046 -0.79% 0.21%
2045 -0.76% 0.22%
2044 -0.72% 0.23%
2043 -0.69% 0.23%
2042 -0.67% 0.21%
2041 -0.63% 0.22%
2040 -0.6% 0.21%
2039 -0.57% 0.2%
2038 -0.53% 0.2%
2037 -0.48% 0.21%
2036 -0.45% 0.21%
2035 -0.41% 0.21%
2034 -0.37% 0.22%
2033 -0.33% 0.23%
2032 -0.29% 0.23%
2031 -0.26% 0.26%
2030 -0.23% 0.29%
2029 -0.2% 0.33%
2028 -0.17% 0.36%
2027 -0.14% 0.39%
2026 -0.12% 0.45%
2025 -0.13% 0.25%
2024 0.07% 0.31%
2023 0.08% 0.47%
2022 -0.19% 0.68%
2021 -0.13% 0.6%
2020 0.14% 0.73%
2019 0.35% 1.02%
2018 0.43% 1.17%
2017 0.28% 1.36%
2016 0.4% 1.26%
2015 0.53% 1.06%
2014 0.63% 1%
2013 0.46% 0.85%
2012 0.53% 0.74%
2011 0.77% 0.76%
2010 0.5% 0.86%
2009 0.52% 0.86%
2008 0.76% 0.78%
2007 0.51% 0.74%
2006 0.53% 0.56%
2005 0.21% 0.4%
2004 0.4% 0.39%
2003 0.52% 0.37%
2002 0.58% 0.33%
2001 0.77% 0.27%
2000 0.84% 0.16%
1999 0.71% 0.08%
1998 0.72% 0.06%
1997 0.94% 0.06%
1996 0.96% 0.16%
1995 1.01% 0.53%
1994 1.01% 0.71%
1993 1.02% 0.58%
1992 1.04% 0.59%
1991 0.99% 0.68%
1990 0.99% 0.78%
1989 0.99% 0.67%
1988 0.98% 0.46%
1987 0.99% 0.33%
1986 1% 0.23%
1985 0.99% 0.17%
1984 1.24% 0.09%
1983 1.49% 0.05%
1982 1.56% 0.06%
1981 1.57% 0.12%
1980 1.57% 0.2%
1979 1.53% 0.22%
1978 1.53% 0.29%
1977 1.57% 0.36%
1976 1.61% 0.36%
1975 1.7% 0.4%
1974 1.73% 0.29%
1973 1.78% 0.17%
1972 1.89% 0.3%
1971 1.99% 0.69%
1970 2.21% 0.94%
1969 2.29% 0.71%
1968 2.35% 0.56%
1967 2.36% 0.77%
1966 2.55% 0.96%
1965 2.57% 0.95%
1964 2.65% 0.75%
1963 2.82% 0.57%
1962 2.9% 0.55%
1961 3.01% 0.47%

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/sweden | CC BY

In 2025, the population of South Korea declined by 0.13%, while Sweden's population grew by 0.25%.

Live population counters

South Korea Sweden
Current population
51624449
10665077
Population rank 31/197 93/197
Percent of world population 0.62% 0.13%
One net population change
7.93 minutes
19.6 minutes
One birth every
2.16 minutes
5.35 minutes
One death every
1.45 minutes
5.78 minutes
Daily growth/decline -182 +74
Annual growth/decline -66,501 +26,911
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +0.25%
Population growth rate rank 169/197 148/197
One migration net change every
8.02 minutes
11.2 minutes
Annual migration change +65,731 +47,079
Net migration rank 20/196 22/196
Foreign-born residents 1,811,507 2,272,158
Foreign-born residents rank 40/195 34/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.5% 21.4%
Foreign-born share rank 111/195 28/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Korea
Natural

Migration
Sweden
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Korea Sweden
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 65,731 - 47,079
2024 -119,027 75,963 7,399 50,115
2023 -124,111 87,800 5,269 55,209
2022 -124,014 87,800 10,487 58,955
2021 -56,947 -16,778 22,914 51,947
2020 -31,101 112,631 14,495 37,302
2019 10,353 128,622 25,697 72,619
2018 30,951 118,220 23,403 87,517
2017 71,907 104,029 24,138 102,671
2016 122,923 91,568 25,800 119,234
2015 163,248 276,427 23,518 80,534
2014 167,464 308,037 26,179 77,654
2013 166,415 301,926 23,041 66,760
2012 215,859 281,866 20,943 52,879
2011 214,728 269,958 21,733 46,049
2010 213,083 52,042 25,320 51,175
2009 197,231 5,308 21,387 63,638
2008 215,841 -19,630 18,439 56,452
2007 248,286 -42,293 15,552 54,907
2006 203,441 -28,434 15,436 51,675
2005 187,920 -47,821 9,030 27,030
2004 225,988 -42,549 9,893 25,842
2003 244,251 -31,994 6,271 29,161
2002 247,752 -18,105 893 31,364
2001 312,643 -28,006 -1,779 28,856
2000 390,167 -84,960 -2,662 24,900
1999 368,272 -107,448 -6,201 13,940
1998 393,436 -98,044 -3,541 11,325
1997 422,773 -109,130 -3,539 6,047
1996 446,142 -115,705 1,768 5,773
1995 468,967 -208,491 9,710 11,621
1994 473,200 -208,309 20,196 51,545
1993 477,302 -222,802 20,924 32,725
1992 494,352 -265,849 28,605 20,507
1991 467,594 -270,754 29,299 25,314
1990 411,546 79,294 29,100 35,668
1989 403,266 186,120 24,629 44,565
1988 399,297 192,534 15,186 30,064
1987 378,758 198,057 11,757 21,335
1986 395,651 189,782 9,206 15,211
1985 416,219 97,949 4,175 11,464
1984 436,384 101,394 3,335 8,668
1983 514,844 102,167 833 2,105
1982 605,626 48,638 1,665 2,524
1981 631,189 18,442 1,664 3,209
1980 583,294 -148,341 5,818 10,040
1979 623,068 -139,566 4,976 13,895
1978 499,084 -85,721 4,138 13,807
1977 578,947 -90,737 7,426 23,528
1976 530,558 -92,314 8,222 20,324
1975 603,300 -52,332 14,746 16,564
1974 673,030 27,005 23,664 9,217
1973 699,115 35,779 24,409 -9,551
1972 740,469 25,382 28,428 -13,519
1971 789,185 -6,326 31,583 2,334
1970 747,987 -27,999 30,563 47,242
1969 694,227 -21,175 23,904 48,824
1968 684,487 -16,868 30,858 8,545
1967 692,169 -16,484 41,700 11,075
1966 623,534 -16,688 45,286 24,920
1965 641,090 -146,386 44,857 32,444
1964 655,501 -102,284 45,968 23,581
1963 685,824 -80,226 35,741 11,009
1962 712,590 -94,606 30,246 9,627
1961 730,173 -93,179 30,832 14,401
1960 728,010 47,245 27,693 1,080

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/sweden | 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 Sweden 20.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 183,120 people) and 79.6% is from migration (a gain of 716,103 people).

As of 2024, 1,811,507 residents or 3.5% of the population were not native-born in South Korea, compared to 2,272,158 people or 21.4% in Sweden.

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
Sweden
City Population
Stockholm 985K
Gothenburg 675K
Malmo 339K
Uppsala 175K
Vasteras 132K
Orebro 129K
Linkoping 117K
Helsingborg 116K
Jonkoping 103K
Lund 98.3K

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/sweden | 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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