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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,684,564 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,624,449 people compared to 26,956,472 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 1.92 times bigger than Syria's.
  • South Korea is ranked the 31st most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.95% of the world: 0.62% for South Korea vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, South Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.17% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.58% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

South Korea vs Syria: population by year and forecast

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Korea Syria
2100 22,001,649 44,500,028
2099 22,324,514 44,570,009
2098 22,657,541 44,629,837
2097 22,998,315 44,692,566
2096 23,348,632 44,747,012
2095 23,711,049 44,774,686
2094 24,081,510 44,824,294
2093 24,460,970 44,853,295
2092 24,848,715 44,882,700
2091 25,242,926 44,895,349
2090 25,642,926 44,926,869
2089 26,048,094 44,925,891
2088 26,457,020 44,920,667
2087 26,871,556 44,928,298
2086 27,288,450 44,947,658
2085 27,710,065 44,913,669
2084 28,133,600 44,878,845
2083 28,564,090 44,850,592
2082 28,998,646 44,790,014
2081 29,441,497 44,723,244
2080 29,887,135 44,624,321
2079 30,337,095 44,567,127
2078 30,793,984 44,529,618
2077 31,258,278 44,484,155
2076 31,728,826 44,400,339
2075 32,205,338 44,306,882
2074 32,689,892 44,209,517
2073 33,180,187 44,102,028
2072 33,679,874 43,965,642
2071 34,187,068 43,821,617
2070 34,702,204 43,678,154
2069 35,224,472 43,530,683
2068 35,745,164 43,348,487
2067 36,274,411 43,154,741
2066 36,808,495 42,944,885
2065 37,349,660 42,695,249
2064 37,897,742 42,445,036
2063 38,450,082 42,198,056
2062 39,009,227 41,949,014
2061 39,565,102 41,695,586
2060 40,130,032 41,410,547
2059 40,692,438 41,097,942
2058 41,256,780 40,815,606
2057 41,813,259 40,534,091
2056 42,356,530 40,224,053
2055 42,888,143 39,918,930
2054 43,405,840 39,584,624
2053 43,917,075 39,242,144
2052 44,419,192 38,940,206
2051 44,901,452 38,629,604
2050 45,362,931 38,307,069
2049 45,809,553 37,986,965
2048 46,235,718 37,682,780
2047 46,645,885 37,391,752
2046 47,033,200 37,081,479
2045 47,409,815 36,744,441
2044 47,773,842 36,428,225
2043 48,120,989 36,090,851
2042 48,455,085 35,729,021
2041 48,782,206 35,352,033
2040 49,091,438 34,947,817
2039 49,388,464 34,533,772
2038 49,669,835 34,091,760
2037 49,932,869 33,612,993
2036 50,175,947 33,134,445
2035 50,401,135 32,608,669
2034 50,607,994 32,062,309
2033 50,796,030 31,477,500
2032 50,961,878 30,883,996
2031 51,109,725 30,248,264
2030 51,242,628 29,592,787
2029 51,360,529 28,871,638
2028 51,461,403 28,141,821
2027 51,551,313 27,355,002
2026 51,624,449 26,535,554
2025 51,684,564 25,620,427
2024 51,751,065 24,672,760
2023 51,712,619 23,594,623
2022 51,672,569 22,462,173
2021 51,769,539 21,628,839
2020 51,836,239 21,049,429
2019 51,764,822 20,353,534
2018 51,585,058 19,577,845
2017 51,361,911 19,224,668
2016 51,217,803 19,193,834
2015 51,014,947 19,424,618
2014 50,746,659 20,273,659
2013 50,428,893 21,666,917
2012 50,199,853 22,759,763
2011 49,936,638 22,878,098
2010 49,554,112 22,482,421
2009 49,307,835 21,976,969
2008 49,054,708 21,636,564
2007 48,683,638 20,884,125
2006 48,438,292 19,637,022
2005 48,184,561 18,814,091
2004 48,082,519 18,336,875
2003 47,892,330 17,889,296
2002 47,644,736 17,468,332
2001 47,370,164 17,051,338
2000 47,008,111 16,637,888
1999 46,616,677 16,228,061
1998 46,286,503 15,820,413
1997 45,953,580 15,417,542
1996 45,524,681 15,018,104
1995 45,092,991 14,616,801
1994 44,641,540 14,208,583
1993 44,194,628 13,795,686
1992 43,747,962 13,385,571
1991 43,295,704 12,980,821
1990 42,869,283 12,579,208
1989 42,449,038 12,179,060
1988 42,031,247 11,782,264
1987 41,621,690 11,388,923
1986 41,213,674 11,002,844
1985 40,805,744 10,625,672
1984 40,405,956 10,258,398
1983 39,910,403 9,904,809
1982 39,326,352 9,572,511
1981 38,723,248 9,260,189
1980 38,123,775 8,957,663
1979 37,534,236 8,661,909
1978 36,969,185 8,372,759
1977 36,411,795 8,090,501
1976 35,848,523 7,817,320
1975 35,280,725 7,554,364
1974 34,692,266 7,302,160
1973 34,103,149 7,060,321
1972 33,505,406 6,826,024
1971 32,882,704 6,598,094
1970 32,240,827 6,380,609
1969 31,544,266 6,175,166
1968 30,838,302 5,978,742
1967 30,130,983 5,790,198
1966 29,435,571 5,609,047
1965 28,704,674 5,435,267
1964 27,984,155 5,269,087
1963 27,261,747 5,110,467
1962 26,513,030 4,959,340
1961 25,765,673 4,815,466
1960 25,012,374 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Korea increased by 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Korea gained 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% growth).

South Korea was ranked 25th most populous country in 2006 and is 31st in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Syria is projected to reach its peak in 2086 at 44.9M 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
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Korea Syria
2100 -1.45% -0.16%
2099 -1.47% -0.13%
2098 -1.48% -0.14%
2097 -1.5% -0.12%
2096 -1.53% -0.06%
2095 -1.54% -0.11%
2094 -1.55% -0.06%
2093 -1.56% -0.07%
2092 -1.56% -0.03%
2091 -1.56% -0.07%
2090 -1.56% 0.002%
2089 -1.55% 0.01%
2088 -1.54% -0.02%
2087 -1.53% -0.04%
2086 -1.52% 0.08%
2085 -1.51% 0.08%
2084 -1.51% 0.06%
2083 -1.5% 0.14%
2082 -1.5% 0.15%
2081 -1.49% 0.22%
2080 -1.48% 0.13%
2079 -1.48% 0.08%
2078 -1.49% 0.1%
2077 -1.48% 0.19%
2076 -1.48% 0.21%
2075 -1.48% 0.22%
2074 -1.48% 0.24%
2073 -1.48% 0.31%
2072 -1.48% 0.33%
2071 -1.48% 0.33%
2070 -1.48% 0.34%
2069 -1.46% 0.42%
2068 -1.46% 0.45%
2067 -1.45% 0.49%
2066 -1.45% 0.58%
2065 -1.45% 0.59%
2064 -1.44% 0.59%
2063 -1.43% 0.59%
2062 -1.4% 0.61%
2061 -1.41% 0.69%
2060 -1.38% 0.76%
2059 -1.37% 0.69%
2058 -1.33% 0.69%
2057 -1.28% 0.77%
2056 -1.24% 0.76%
2055 -1.19% 0.84%
2054 -1.16% 0.87%
2053 -1.13% 0.78%
2052 -1.07% 0.8%
2051 -1.02% 0.84%
2050 -0.97% 0.84%
2049 -0.92% 0.81%
2048 -0.88% 0.78%
2047 -0.82% 0.84%
2046 -0.79% 0.92%
2045 -0.76% 0.87%
2044 -0.72% 0.93%
2043 -0.69% 1.01%
2042 -0.67% 1.07%
2041 -0.63% 1.16%
2040 -0.6% 1.2%
2039 -0.57% 1.3%
2038 -0.53% 1.42%
2037 -0.48% 1.44%
2036 -0.45% 1.61%
2035 -0.41% 1.7%
2034 -0.37% 1.86%
2033 -0.33% 1.92%
2032 -0.29% 2.1%
2031 -0.26% 2.21%
2030 -0.23% 2.5%
2029 -0.2% 2.59%
2028 -0.17% 2.88%
2027 -0.14% 3.09%
2026 -0.12% 3.57%
2025 -0.13% 3.84%
2024 0.07% 4.57%
2023 0.08% 5.04%
2022 -0.19% 3.85%
2021 -0.13% 2.75%
2020 0.14% 3.42%
2019 0.35% 3.96%
2018 0.43% 1.84%
2017 0.28% 0.16%
2016 0.4% -1.19%
2015 0.53% -4.19%
2014 0.63% -6.43%
2013 0.46% -4.8%
2012 0.53% -0.52%
2011 0.77% 1.76%
2010 0.5% 2.3%
2009 0.52% 1.57%
2008 0.76% 3.6%
2007 0.51% 6.35%
2006 0.53% 4.37%
2005 0.21% 2.6%
2004 0.4% 2.5%
2003 0.52% 2.41%
2002 0.58% 2.45%
2001 0.77% 2.48%
2000 0.84% 2.53%
1999 0.71% 2.58%
1998 0.72% 2.61%
1997 0.94% 2.66%
1996 0.96% 2.75%
1995 1.01% 2.87%
1994 1.01% 2.99%
1993 1.02% 3.06%
1992 1.04% 3.12%
1991 0.99% 3.19%
1990 0.99% 3.29%
1989 0.99% 3.37%
1988 0.98% 3.45%
1987 0.99% 3.51%
1986 1% 3.55%
1985 0.99% 3.58%
1984 1.24% 3.57%
1983 1.49% 3.47%
1982 1.56% 3.37%
1981 1.57% 3.38%
1980 1.57% 3.41%
1979 1.53% 3.45%
1978 1.53% 3.49%
1977 1.57% 3.49%
1976 1.61% 3.48%
1975 1.7% 3.45%
1974 1.73% 3.43%
1973 1.78% 3.43%
1972 1.89% 3.45%
1971 1.99% 3.41%
1970 2.21% 3.33%
1969 2.29% 3.29%
1968 2.35% 3.26%
1967 2.36% 3.23%
1966 2.55% 3.2%
1965 2.57% 3.15%
1964 2.65% 3.1%
1963 2.82% 3.05%
1962 2.9% 2.99%
1961 3.01% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of South Korea declined by 0.13%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

South Korea Syria
Current population
51624449
26956472
Population rank 31/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.62% 0.32%
One net population change
7.93 minutes
33.4 seconds
One birth every
2.16 minutes
55.2 seconds
One death every
1.45 minutes
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline -182 +2,596
Annual growth/decline -66,501 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 169/197 5/197
One migration net change every
8.02 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change +65,731 +421,693
Net migration rank 20/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 1,811,507 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 40/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.5% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 111/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Korea
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Korea Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 65,731 - 421,693
2024 -119,027 75,963 449,784 546,494
2023 -124,111 87,800 402,713 757,309
2022 -124,014 87,800 369,750 735,142
2021 -56,947 -16,778 350,560 211,220
2020 -31,101 112,631 327,992 269,050
2019 10,353 128,622 293,762 500,985
2018 30,951 118,220 242,530 514,102
2017 71,907 104,029 237,214 -287,501
2016 122,923 91,568 236,007 -124,063
2015 163,248 276,427 253,977 -827,496
2014 167,464 308,037 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 166,415 301,926 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 215,859 281,866 475,520 -999,267
2011 214,728 269,958 543,950 -256,888
2010 213,083 52,042 558,666 -54,359
2009 197,231 5,308 559,314 -52,703
2008 215,841 -19,630 576,593 -402,393
2007 248,286 -42,293 529,162 801,514
2006 203,441 -28,434 480,616 682,911
2005 187,920 -47,821 468,960 13,382
2004 225,988 -42,549 461,209 10,881
2003 244,251 -31,994 457,000 -33,920
2002 247,752 -18,105 453,967 -35,096
2001 312,643 -28,006 451,503 -36,383
2000 390,167 -84,960 446,211 -34,425
1999 368,272 -107,448 439,261 -31,394
1998 393,436 -98,044 433,447 -26,025
1997 422,773 -109,130 429,887 -31,571
1996 446,142 -115,705 430,765 -30,197
1995 468,967 -208,491 430,172 -28,122
1994 473,200 -208,309 426,996 -12,630
1993 477,302 -222,802 420,244 -8,828
1992 494,352 -265,849 412,878 -4,063
1991 467,594 -270,754 410,830 -10,154
1990 411,546 79,294 409,177 -6,620
1989 403,266 186,120 406,111 -8,379
1988 399,297 192,534 404,285 -8,426
1987 378,758 198,057 399,159 -8,335
1986 395,651 189,782 390,821 -9,485
1985 416,219 97,949 379,231 -6,221
1984 436,384 101,394 366,768 -5,245
1983 514,844 102,167 355,375 -9,729
1982 605,626 48,638 319,664 -721
1981 631,189 18,442 330,237 -24,536
1980 583,294 -148,341 332,464 -33,114
1979 623,068 -139,566 324,943 -32,793
1978 499,084 -85,721 316,724 -30,567
1977 578,947 -90,737 306,630 -28,275
1976 530,558 -92,314 294,267 -26,268
1975 603,300 -52,332 282,299 -24,389
1974 673,030 27,005 270,735 -24,242
1973 699,115 35,779 254,687 -17,502
1972 740,469 25,382 249,027 -17,610
1971 789,185 -6,326 239,610 -15,167
1970 747,987 -27,999 230,117 -19,594
1969 694,227 -21,175 219,114 -18,749
1968 684,487 -16,868 209,454 -16,968
1967 692,169 -16,484 199,223 -14,618
1966 623,534 -16,688 191,122 -13,434
1965 641,090 -146,386 182,560 -12,704
1964 655,501 -102,284 174,549 -12,044
1963 685,824 -80,226 166,555 -11,817
1962 712,590 -94,606 159,155 -11,641
1961 730,173 -93,179 151,485 -11,237
1960 728,010 47,245 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/syria | 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 Syria 58% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,164,289 people) and 42% is from migration (a gain of 2,295,242 people).

As of 2024, 1,811,507 residents or 3.5% of the population were not native-born in South Korea, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

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
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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