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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,751,065 in 2024 vs 71,668,011 people in Thailand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,649,918 people compared to 71,571,743 in Thailand.

Population statistics:

  • Thailand's population is 1.39 times bigger than South Korea's.
  • South Korea is ranked the 31st most populous country in the world, while Thailand is the 21st.
  • The countries together account for 1.49% of the world: 0.62% for South Korea vs 0.86% for Thailand.
  • For the last 10 years, South Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.24% per year vs +0.23% in Thailand.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.63% growth), while Thailand has grown from 66.6M to 71.6M (7.52% growth).

South Korea vs Thailand: population by year and forecast

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Korea Thailand
2100 22,012,503 45,712,111
2099 22,335,528 46,056,854
2098 22,668,719 46,406,925
2097 23,009,661 46,761,683
2096 23,360,151 47,122,446
2095 23,722,747 47,487,866
2094 24,093,391 47,857,414
2093 24,473,038 48,230,566
2092 24,860,975 48,609,149
2091 25,255,379 48,988,448
2090 25,655,577 49,372,024
2089 26,060,945 49,760,635
2088 26,470,073 50,146,313
2087 26,884,813 50,536,233
2086 27,301,913 50,929,394
2085 27,723,736 51,326,092
2084 28,147,480 51,728,619
2083 28,578,182 52,131,789
2082 29,012,953 52,537,598
2081 29,456,022 52,942,608
2080 29,901,880 53,352,029
2079 30,352,062 53,766,821
2078 30,809,176 54,181,891
2077 31,273,700 54,599,508
2076 31,744,480 55,019,721
2075 32,221,226 55,442,571
2074 32,706,020 55,872,412
2073 33,196,556 56,304,891
2072 33,696,490 56,739,842
2071 34,203,935 57,177,118
2070 34,719,324 57,621,370
2069 35,241,850 58,066,637
2068 35,762,799 58,516,959
2067 36,292,307 58,967,738
2066 36,826,655 59,418,676
2065 37,368,086 59,878,082
2064 37,916,439 60,336,709
2063 38,469,051 60,797,201
2062 39,028,473 61,262,000
2061 39,584,621 61,724,999
2060 40,149,830 62,192,387
2059 40,712,514 62,656,203
2058 41,277,134 63,118,413
2057 41,833,887 63,577,864
2056 42,377,427 64,032,675
2055 42,909,302 64,478,337
2054 43,427,254 64,917,436
2053 43,938,741 65,343,383
2052 44,441,106 65,763,356
2051 44,923,604 66,167,939
2050 45,385,311 66,558,274
2049 45,832,153 66,936,876
2048 46,258,529 67,296,897
2047 46,668,898 67,641,907
2046 47,056,404 67,972,603
2045 47,433,205 68,287,399
2044 47,797,411 68,585,177
2043 48,144,730 68,870,333
2042 48,478,991 69,139,548
2041 48,806,273 69,396,419
2040 49,115,658 69,632,464
2039 49,412,830 69,854,146
2038 49,694,340 70,062,543
2037 49,957,504 70,256,027
2036 50,200,702 70,435,348
2035 50,426,000 70,604,705
2034 50,632,962 70,756,791
2033 50,821,090 70,897,217
2032 50,987,020 71,025,384
2031 51,134,940 71,140,609
2030 51,267,908 71,247,320
2029 51,385,868 71,342,891
2028 51,486,791 71,428,869
2027 51,576,746 71,505,168
2026 51,649,918 71,571,743
2025 51,710,062 71,625,629
2024 51,751,065 71,668,011
2023 51,712,619 71,702,435
2022 51,672,569 71,735,329
2021 51,769,539 71,727,332
2020 51,836,239 71,641,484
2019 51,764,822 71,522,271
2018 51,585,058 71,376,079
2017 51,361,911 71,160,187
2016 51,217,803 70,859,841
2015 51,014,947 70,540,795
2014 50,746,659 70,216,367
2013 50,428,893 69,845,114
2012 50,199,853 69,436,098
2011 49,936,638 69,007,208
2010 49,554,112 68,579,447
2009 49,307,835 68,121,080
2008 49,054,708 67,619,830
2007 48,683,638 67,102,394
2006 48,438,292 66,567,687
2005 48,184,561 66,017,420
2004 48,082,519 65,452,047
2003 47,892,330 64,868,166
2002 47,644,736 64,266,437
2001 47,370,164 63,651,141
2000 47,008,111 63,007,815
1999 46,616,677 62,299,043
1998 46,286,503 61,522,630
1997 45,953,580 60,724,584
1996 45,524,681 59,920,064
1995 45,092,991 59,098,232
1994 44,641,540 58,260,854
1993 44,194,628 57,408,198
1992 43,747,962 56,528,834
1991 43,295,704 55,637,434
1990 42,869,283 54,738,329
1989 42,449,038 53,848,956
1988 42,031,247 52,969,595
1987 41,621,690 52,074,105
1986 41,213,674 51,177,834
1985 40,805,744 50,270,753
1984 40,405,956 49,351,708
1983 39,910,403 48,423,309
1982 39,326,352 47,494,577
1981 38,723,248 46,575,855
1980 38,123,775 45,650,022
1979 37,534,236 44,718,434
1978 36,969,185 43,788,976
1977 36,411,795 42,843,974
1976 35,848,523 41,896,504
1975 35,280,725 40,940,005
1974 34,692,266 39,952,891
1973 34,103,149 38,947,787
1972 33,505,406 37,933,929
1971 32,882,704 36,937,387
1970 32,240,827 35,954,408
1969 31,544,266 34,973,782
1968 30,838,302 34,002,560
1967 30,130,983 33,037,801
1966 29,435,571 32,086,071
1965 28,704,674 31,149,337
1964 27,984,155 30,232,141
1963 27,261,747 29,342,322
1962 26,513,030 28,481,040
1961 25,765,673 27,650,334
1960 25,012,374 26,851,747

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/thailand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Korea increased by 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth), while Thailand gained 4,292,154 people (a 6.45% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Korea gained 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth), while Thailand's population increased by 711,902 people (a 1% growth).

South Korea was ranked 25th most populous country in 2006 and is 31st in 2026. Thailand was ranked 19th in 2006 and ranked 21st 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 Thailand will decrease by 7% to 66,558,274 people and rank change from 21st to 31st.

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 23.1% in Thailand.

Population growth rate by year

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Korea Thailand
2100 -1.45% -0.75%
2099 -1.47% -0.75%
2098 -1.48% -0.76%
2097 -1.5% -0.77%
2096 -1.53% -0.77%
2095 -1.54% -0.77%
2094 -1.55% -0.77%
2093 -1.56% -0.78%
2092 -1.56% -0.77%
2091 -1.56% -0.78%
2090 -1.56% -0.78%
2089 -1.55% -0.77%
2088 -1.54% -0.77%
2087 -1.53% -0.77%
2086 -1.52% -0.77%
2085 -1.51% -0.78%
2084 -1.51% -0.77%
2083 -1.5% -0.77%
2082 -1.5% -0.76%
2081 -1.49% -0.77%
2080 -1.48% -0.77%
2079 -1.48% -0.77%
2078 -1.49% -0.76%
2077 -1.48% -0.76%
2076 -1.48% -0.76%
2075 -1.48% -0.77%
2074 -1.48% -0.77%
2073 -1.48% -0.77%
2072 -1.48% -0.76%
2071 -1.48% -0.77%
2070 -1.48% -0.77%
2069 -1.46% -0.77%
2068 -1.46% -0.76%
2067 -1.45% -0.76%
2066 -1.45% -0.77%
2065 -1.45% -0.76%
2064 -1.44% -0.76%
2063 -1.43% -0.76%
2062 -1.4% -0.75%
2061 -1.41% -0.75%
2060 -1.38% -0.74%
2059 -1.37% -0.73%
2058 -1.33% -0.72%
2057 -1.28% -0.71%
2056 -1.24% -0.69%
2055 -1.19% -0.68%
2054 -1.16% -0.65%
2053 -1.13% -0.64%
2052 -1.07% -0.61%
2051 -1.02% -0.59%
2050 -0.97% -0.57%
2049 -0.92% -0.53%
2048 -0.88% -0.51%
2047 -0.82% -0.49%
2046 -0.79% -0.46%
2045 -0.76% -0.43%
2044 -0.72% -0.41%
2043 -0.69% -0.39%
2042 -0.67% -0.37%
2041 -0.63% -0.34%
2040 -0.6% -0.32%
2039 -0.57% -0.3%
2038 -0.53% -0.28%
2037 -0.48% -0.25%
2036 -0.45% -0.24%
2035 -0.41% -0.21%
2034 -0.37% -0.2%
2033 -0.33% -0.18%
2032 -0.29% -0.16%
2031 -0.26% -0.15%
2030 -0.23% -0.13%
2029 -0.2% -0.12%
2028 -0.17% -0.11%
2027 -0.14% -0.09%
2026 -0.12% -0.08%
2025 -0.08% -0.06%
2024 0.07% -0.05%
2023 0.08% -0.05%
2022 -0.19% 0.01%
2021 -0.13% 0.12%
2020 0.14% 0.17%
2019 0.35% 0.2%
2018 0.43% 0.3%
2017 0.28% 0.42%
2016 0.4% 0.45%
2015 0.53% 0.46%
2014 0.63% 0.53%
2013 0.46% 0.59%
2012 0.53% 0.62%
2011 0.77% 0.62%
2010 0.5% 0.67%
2009 0.52% 0.74%
2008 0.76% 0.77%
2007 0.51% 0.8%
2006 0.53% 0.83%
2005 0.21% 0.86%
2004 0.4% 0.9%
2003 0.52% 0.94%
2002 0.58% 0.97%
2001 0.77% 1.02%
2000 0.84% 1.14%
1999 0.71% 1.26%
1998 0.72% 1.31%
1997 0.94% 1.34%
1996 0.96% 1.39%
1995 1.01% 1.44%
1994 1.01% 1.49%
1993 1.02% 1.56%
1992 1.04% 1.6%
1991 0.99% 1.64%
1990 0.99% 1.65%
1989 0.99% 1.66%
1988 0.98% 1.72%
1987 0.99% 1.75%
1986 1% 1.8%
1985 0.99% 1.86%
1984 1.24% 1.92%
1983 1.49% 1.96%
1982 1.56% 1.97%
1981 1.57% 2.03%
1980 1.57% 2.08%
1979 1.53% 2.12%
1978 1.53% 2.21%
1977 1.57% 2.26%
1976 1.61% 2.34%
1975 1.7% 2.47%
1974 1.73% 2.58%
1973 1.78% 2.67%
1972 1.89% 2.7%
1971 1.99% 2.73%
1970 2.21% 2.8%
1969 2.29% 2.86%
1968 2.35% 2.92%
1967 2.36% 2.97%
1966 2.55% 3.01%
1965 2.57% 3.03%
1964 2.65% 3.03%
1963 2.82% 3.02%
1962 2.9% 3%
1961 3.01% 2.97%

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/thailand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Korea grew by 0.07%, while Thailand's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

South Korea Thailand
Current population
51649918
71571743
Population rank 31/197 21/197
Percent of world population 0.62% 0.86%
One net population change
13.7 minutes
15.3 minutes
One birth every
2.26 minutes
53.3 seconds
One death every
1.69 minutes
49.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +105 -94
Annual growth/decline +38,446 -34,424
Annual growth/decline rate +0.07% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 160/197 168/197
One migration net change every
8.02 minutes
19.2 minutes
Annual migration change +65,731 +27,509
Net migration rank 20/196 30/196
Foreign-born residents 1,811,507 3,179,399
Foreign-born residents rank 40/195 21/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.5% 4.4%
Foreign-born share rank 111/195 100/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Korea
Natural

Migration
Thailand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Korea Thailand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 65,731 - 27,509
2024 - 75,963 - 23,321
2023 -77,569 87,800 -46,105 19,648
2022 -124,014 87,800 -61,046 21,683
2021 -56,947 -16,778 57,382 -2,093
2020 -31,101 112,631 84,107 32,277
2019 10,353 128,622 116,867 5,221
2018 30,951 118,220 159,383 10,984
2017 71,907 104,029 194,695 66,805
2016 122,923 91,568 226,255 112,978
2015 163,248 276,427 266,362 32,500
2014 167,464 308,037 294,628 55,358
2013 166,415 301,926 325,059 67,452
2012 215,859 281,866 351,485 74,033
2011 214,728 269,958 365,670 66,607
2010 213,083 52,042 370,466 52,791
2009 197,231 5,308 382,636 110,883
2008 215,841 -19,630 401,730 107,333
2007 248,286 -42,293 425,362 100,486
2006 203,441 -28,434 441,211 102,362
2005 187,920 -47,821 456,378 100,542
2004 225,988 -42,549 466,542 107,199
2003 244,251 -31,994 488,003 105,917
2002 247,752 -18,105 504,299 105,215
2001 312,643 -28,006 524,230 96,817
2000 390,167 -84,960 543,884 121,640
1999 368,272 -107,448 578,073 173,924
1998 393,436 -98,044 617,318 183,471
1997 422,773 -109,130 644,834 150,411
1996 446,142 -115,705 661,397 152,397
1995 468,967 -208,491 682,703 147,226
1994 473,200 -208,309 712,589 132,271
1993 477,302 -222,802 737,696 122,746
1992 494,352 -265,849 754,999 143,318
1991 467,594 -270,754 760,508 124,034
1990 411,546 79,294 760,808 152,916
1989 403,266 186,120 774,563 90,497
1988 399,297 192,534 765,252 128,469
1987 378,758 198,057 774,498 122,791
1986 395,651 189,782 783,430 111,820
1985 416,219 97,949 776,935 141,963
1984 436,384 101,394 779,856 139,345
1983 514,844 102,167 794,239 143,393
1982 605,626 48,638 817,951 101,885
1981 631,189 18,442 839,297 78,337
1980 583,294 -148,341 845,575 88,478
1979 623,068 -139,566 843,434 85,693
1978 499,084 -85,721 847,799 82,011
1977 578,947 -90,737 871,232 88,937
1976 530,558 -92,314 894,072 40,656
1975 603,300 -52,332 911,980 66,306
1974 673,030 27,005 923,151 72,801
1973 699,115 35,779 933,540 80,704
1972 740,469 25,382 940,420 73,082
1971 789,185 -6,326 936,215 43,400
1970 747,987 -27,999 937,116 49,221
1969 694,227 -21,175 948,314 26,551
1968 684,487 -16,868 953,806 13,718
1967 692,169 -16,484 944,980 17,005
1966 623,534 -16,688 929,469 12,016
1965 641,090 -146,386 909,000 22,995
1964 655,501 -102,284 885,137 17,249
1963 685,824 -80,226 860,728 16,494
1962 712,590 -94,606 828,741 16,605
1961 730,173 -93,179 801,140 14,968
1960 728,010 47,245 774,190 6,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/thailand | 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 Thailand 78.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,292,528 people) and 21.6% is from migration (a gain of 355,361 people).

As of 2024, 1,811,507 residents or 3.5% of the population were not native-born in South Korea, compared to 3,179,399 people or 4.4% in Thailand.

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
Thailand
City Population
Bangkok 5.68M
Chiang Mai 1.2M
Nonthaburi 256K
Pak Kret 190K
Hat Yai 159K
Nakhon Ratchasima 134K
Chaophraya Surasak 133K
Surat Thani 131K
Udon Thani 130K
Klaeng 130K

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/thailand | 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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