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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,751,065 in 2024 vs 9,005,582 people in Switzerland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,649,918 people compared to 9,107,866 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 5.67 times bigger than Switzerland's.
  • South Korea is ranked the 31st most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.73% of the world: 0.62% for South Korea vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, South Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.24% per year vs +0.98% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.63% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.11M (21.7% growth).

South Korea vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Korea Switzerland
2100 22,012,503 9,234,296
2099 22,335,528 9,226,472
2098 22,668,719 9,220,109
2097 23,009,661 9,212,728
2096 23,360,151 9,208,997
2095 23,722,747 9,203,477
2094 24,093,391 9,199,095
2093 24,473,038 9,196,672
2092 24,860,975 9,194,082
2091 25,255,379 9,191,145
2090 25,655,577 9,189,122
2089 26,060,945 9,188,754
2088 26,470,073 9,190,102
2087 26,884,813 9,189,763
2086 27,301,913 9,191,494
2085 27,723,736 9,195,728
2084 28,147,480 9,199,983
2083 28,578,182 9,204,908
2082 29,012,953 9,210,695
2081 29,456,022 9,217,065
2080 29,901,880 9,223,475
2079 30,352,062 9,230,920
2078 30,809,176 9,237,649
2077 31,273,700 9,245,300
2076 31,744,480 9,250,248
2075 32,221,226 9,255,753
2074 32,706,020 9,266,455
2073 33,196,556 9,275,439
2072 33,696,490 9,283,185
2071 34,203,935 9,292,913
2070 34,719,324 9,303,843
2069 35,241,850 9,311,935
2068 35,762,799 9,320,335
2067 36,292,307 9,327,741
2066 36,826,655 9,339,455
2065 37,368,086 9,351,481
2064 37,916,439 9,362,413
2063 38,469,051 9,372,441
2062 39,028,473 9,383,258
2061 39,584,621 9,395,036
2060 40,149,830 9,403,920
2059 40,712,514 9,414,241
2058 41,277,134 9,422,560
2057 41,833,887 9,428,212
2056 42,377,427 9,435,441
2055 42,909,302 9,443,890
2054 43,427,254 9,451,268
2053 43,938,741 9,456,389
2052 44,441,106 9,456,418
2051 44,923,604 9,456,395
2050 45,385,311 9,454,544
2049 45,832,153 9,451,083
2048 46,258,529 9,444,091
2047 46,668,898 9,437,061
2046 47,056,404 9,430,954
2045 47,433,205 9,425,155
2044 47,797,411 9,418,152
2043 48,144,730 9,410,763
2042 48,478,991 9,400,808
2041 48,806,273 9,393,857
2040 49,115,658 9,382,662
2039 49,412,830 9,373,984
2038 49,694,340 9,365,030
2037 49,957,504 9,354,254
2036 50,200,702 9,342,450
2035 50,426,000 9,328,907
2034 50,632,962 9,312,054
2033 50,821,090 9,294,881
2032 50,987,020 9,276,221
2031 51,134,940 9,253,034
2030 51,267,908 9,228,188
2029 51,385,868 9,201,743
2028 51,486,791 9,170,620
2027 51,576,746 9,135,740
2026 51,649,918 9,097,532
2025 51,710,062 9,053,983
2024 51,751,065 9,005,582
2023 51,712,619 8,888,822
2022 51,672,569 8,777,088
2021 51,769,539 8,704,546
2020 51,836,239 8,638,167
2019 51,764,822 8,575,280
2018 51,585,058 8,514,329
2017 51,361,911 8,451,840
2016 51,217,803 8,373,338
2015 51,014,947 8,282,396
2014 50,746,659 8,188,649
2013 50,428,893 8,089,346
2012 50,199,853 7,996,861
2011 49,936,638 7,912,398
2010 49,554,112 7,824,909
2009 49,307,835 7,743,831
2008 49,054,708 7,647,675
2007 48,683,638 7,551,117
2006 48,438,292 7,483,934
2005 48,184,561 7,437,115
2004 48,082,519 7,389,625
2003 47,892,330 7,339,001
2002 47,644,736 7,284,753
2001 47,370,164 7,229,854
2000 47,008,111 7,184,250
1999 46,616,677 7,143,991
1998 46,286,503 7,110,001
1997 45,953,580 7,088,906
1996 45,524,681 7,071,850
1995 45,092,991 7,040,687
1994 44,641,540 6,993,795
1993 44,194,628 6,938,265
1992 43,747,962 6,875,364
1991 43,295,704 6,799,978
1990 42,869,283 6,715,519
1989 42,449,038 6,646,912
1988 42,031,247 6,593,386
1987 41,621,690 6,545,106
1986 41,213,674 6,504,124
1985 40,805,744 6,470,365
1984 40,405,956 6,441,865
1983 39,910,403 6,418,773
1982 39,326,352 6,391,309
1981 38,723,248 6,354,074
1980 38,123,775 6,319,408
1979 37,534,236 6,294,365
1978 36,969,185 6,281,738
1977 36,411,795 6,281,174
1976 35,848,523 6,302,504
1975 35,280,725 6,338,632
1974 34,692,266 6,341,405
1973 34,103,149 6,307,347
1972 33,505,406 6,260,956
1971 32,882,704 6,213,399
1970 32,240,827 6,180,877
1969 31,544,266 6,136,387
1968 30,838,302 6,067,714
1967 30,130,983 5,991,785
1966 29,435,571 5,918,002
1965 28,704,674 5,856,472
1964 27,984,155 5,789,228
1963 27,261,747 5,694,247
1962 26,513,030 5,573,815
1961 25,765,673 5,434,294
1960 25,012,374 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Korea increased by 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Korea gained 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 734,528 people (a 8.77% growth).

South Korea was ranked 25th most populous country in 2006 and is 31st in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Switzerland will increase by 3.81% to 9,454,544 people and rank change from 100th to 103rd.

Switzerland is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 9.46M 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
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Korea Switzerland
2100 -1.45% 0.08%
2099 -1.47% 0.07%
2098 -1.48% 0.08%
2097 -1.5% 0.04%
2096 -1.53% 0.06%
2095 -1.54% 0.05%
2094 -1.55% 0.03%
2093 -1.56% 0.03%
2092 -1.56% 0.03%
2091 -1.56% 0.02%
2090 -1.56% 0.004%
2089 -1.55% -0.01%
2088 -1.54% 0.004%
2087 -1.53% -0.02%
2086 -1.52% -0.05%
2085 -1.51% -0.05%
2084 -1.51% -0.05%
2083 -1.5% -0.06%
2082 -1.5% -0.07%
2081 -1.49% -0.07%
2080 -1.48% -0.08%
2079 -1.48% -0.07%
2078 -1.49% -0.08%
2077 -1.48% -0.05%
2076 -1.48% -0.06%
2075 -1.48% -0.12%
2074 -1.48% -0.1%
2073 -1.48% -0.08%
2072 -1.48% -0.1%
2071 -1.48% -0.12%
2070 -1.48% -0.09%
2069 -1.46% -0.09%
2068 -1.46% -0.08%
2067 -1.45% -0.13%
2066 -1.45% -0.13%
2065 -1.45% -0.12%
2064 -1.44% -0.11%
2063 -1.43% -0.12%
2062 -1.4% -0.13%
2061 -1.41% -0.09%
2060 -1.38% -0.11%
2059 -1.37% -0.09%
2058 -1.33% -0.06%
2057 -1.28% -0.08%
2056 -1.24% -0.09%
2055 -1.19% -0.08%
2054 -1.16% -0.05%
2053 -1.13% -0%
2052 -1.07% 0%
2051 -1.02% 0.02%
2050 -0.97% 0.04%
2049 -0.92% 0.07%
2048 -0.88% 0.07%
2047 -0.82% 0.06%
2046 -0.79% 0.06%
2045 -0.76% 0.07%
2044 -0.72% 0.08%
2043 -0.69% 0.11%
2042 -0.67% 0.07%
2041 -0.63% 0.12%
2040 -0.6% 0.09%
2039 -0.57% 0.1%
2038 -0.53% 0.12%
2037 -0.48% 0.13%
2036 -0.45% 0.15%
2035 -0.41% 0.18%
2034 -0.37% 0.18%
2033 -0.33% 0.2%
2032 -0.29% 0.25%
2031 -0.26% 0.27%
2030 -0.23% 0.29%
2029 -0.2% 0.34%
2028 -0.17% 0.38%
2027 -0.14% 0.42%
2026 -0.12% 0.48%
2025 -0.08% 0.54%
2024 0.07% 1.31%
2023 0.08% 1.27%
2022 -0.19% 0.83%
2021 -0.13% 0.77%
2020 0.14% 0.73%
2019 0.35% 0.72%
2018 0.43% 0.74%
2017 0.28% 0.94%
2016 0.4% 1.1%
2015 0.53% 1.14%
2014 0.63% 1.23%
2013 0.46% 1.16%
2012 0.53% 1.07%
2011 0.77% 1.12%
2010 0.5% 1.05%
2009 0.52% 1.26%
2008 0.76% 1.28%
2007 0.51% 0.9%
2006 0.53% 0.63%
2005 0.21% 0.64%
2004 0.4% 0.69%
2003 0.52% 0.74%
2002 0.58% 0.76%
2001 0.77% 0.63%
2000 0.84% 0.56%
1999 0.71% 0.48%
1998 0.72% 0.3%
1997 0.94% 0.24%
1996 0.96% 0.44%
1995 1.01% 0.67%
1994 1.01% 0.8%
1993 1.02% 0.91%
1992 1.04% 1.11%
1991 0.99% 1.26%
1990 0.99% 1.03%
1989 0.99% 0.81%
1988 0.98% 0.74%
1987 0.99% 0.63%
1986 1% 0.52%
1985 0.99% 0.44%
1984 1.24% 0.36%
1983 1.49% 0.43%
1982 1.56% 0.59%
1981 1.57% 0.55%
1980 1.57% 0.4%
1979 1.53% 0.2%
1978 1.53% 0.009%
1977 1.57% -0.34%
1976 1.61% -0.57%
1975 1.7% -0.04%
1974 1.73% 0.54%
1973 1.78% 0.74%
1972 1.89% 0.77%
1971 1.99% 0.53%
1970 2.21% 0.73%
1969 2.29% 1.13%
1968 2.35% 1.27%
1967 2.36% 1.25%
1966 2.55% 1.05%
1965 2.57% 1.16%
1964 2.65% 1.67%
1963 2.82% 2.16%
1962 2.9% 2.57%
1961 3.01% 2%

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/switzerland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Korea grew by 0.07%, while Switzerland's population grew by 1.31%.

Live population counters

South Korea Switzerland
Current population
51649918
9107866
Population rank 31/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.62% 0.11%
One net population change
13.7 minutes
4.5 minutes
One birth every
2.26 minutes
6.57 minutes
One death every
1.69 minutes
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +105 +320
Annual growth/decline +38,446 +116,760
Annual growth/decline rate +0.07% +1.31%
Population growth rate rank 160/197 81/197
One migration net change every
8.02 minutes
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change +65,731 +37,253
Net migration rank 20/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 1,811,507 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 40/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.5% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 111/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Korea
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Korea Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 65,731 - 37,253
2024 - 75,963 - 40,099
2023 -77,569 87,800 8,000 45,098
2022 -124,014 87,800 7,899 96,424
2021 -56,947 -16,778 18,279 50,665
2020 -31,101 112,631 9,502 55,523
2019 10,353 128,622 18,008 44,517
2018 30,951 118,220 20,434 41,253
2017 71,907 104,029 20,284 45,658
2016 122,923 91,568 22,608 71,009
2015 163,248 276,427 19,050 71,876
2014 167,464 308,037 21,290 78,122
2013 166,415 301,926 17,797 83,823
2012 215,859 281,866 18,393 67,840
2011 214,728 269,958 18,990 67,194
2010 213,083 52,042 17,997 76,388
2009 197,231 5,308 15,487 69,324
2008 215,841 -19,630 15,295 94,430
2007 248,286 -42,293 13,592 72,475
2006 203,441 -28,434 12,723 37,308
2005 187,920 -47,821 11,899 33,203
2004 225,988 -42,549 13,302 39,484
2003 244,251 -31,994 8,807 42,567
2002 247,752 -18,105 10,199 49,650
2001 312,643 -28,006 10,845 35,420
2000 390,167 -84,960 15,806 24,463
1999 368,272 -107,448 16,431 25,599
1998 393,436 -98,044 16,353 11,325
1997 422,773 -109,130 17,722 -1,939
1996 446,142 -115,705 19,801 -131
1995 468,967 -208,491 19,010 25,343
1994 473,200 -208,309 20,982 30,274
1993 477,302 -222,802 21,509 40,267
1992 494,352 -265,849 24,064 42,014
1991 467,594 -270,754 23,800 69,738
1990 411,546 79,294 20,146 58,428
1989 403,266 186,120 19,941 34,432
1988 399,297 192,534 21,099 34,602
1987 378,758 198,057 15,708 27,081
1986 395,651 189,782 16,261 23,242
1985 416,219 97,949 14,882 14,402
1984 436,384 101,394 16,105 12,532
1983 514,844 102,167 12,837 5,663
1982 605,626 48,638 15,339 21,929
1981 631,189 18,442 13,979 24,229
1980 583,294 -148,341 14,535 17,841
1979 623,068 -139,566 14,477 4,262
1978 499,084 -85,721 13,820 -6,552
1977 578,947 -90,737 16,959 -22,516
1976 530,558 -92,314 17,017 -54,255
1975 603,300 -52,332 22,820 -58,187
1974 673,030 27,005 27,902 2,008
1973 699,115 35,779 30,906 8,158
1972 740,469 25,382 35,061 19,991
1971 789,185 -6,326 38,523 2,636
1970 747,987 -27,999 42,648 -18,326
1969 694,227 -21,175 44,182 20,754
1968 684,487 -16,868 47,328 25,828
1967 692,169 -16,484 52,128 27,697
1966 623,534 -16,688 53,854 14,979
1965 641,090 -146,386 56,222 -1,351
1964 655,501 -102,284 59,050 21,455
1963 685,824 -80,226 52,956 58,415
1962 712,590 -94,606 49,050 82,798
1961 730,173 -93,179 48,365 101,278
1960 728,010 47,245 42,090 22,313

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 165,354 people) and 78.4% is from migration (a gain of 600,145 people).

As of 2024, 1,811,507 residents or 3.5% of the population were not native-born in South Korea, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

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
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/switzerland | 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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