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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,684,564 in 2025 vs 103,742 people in Tonga in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,624,449 people compared to 103,283 in Tonga.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 500 times bigger than Tonga's.
  • South Korea is ranked the 31st most populous country in the world, while Tonga is the 183rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.62% of the world: 0.62% for South Korea vs 0.001% for Tonga.
  • For the last 10 years, South Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.17% per year vs -0.25% in Tonga.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.58% growth), while Tonga has declined from 106K to 103K (2.8% decline).

South Korea vs Tonga: population by year and forecast

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Tonga
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Korea Tonga
2100 22,001,649 117,617
2099 22,324,514 117,585
2098 22,657,541 117,530
2097 22,998,315 117,492
2096 23,348,632 117,461
2095 23,711,049 117,383
2094 24,081,510 117,290
2093 24,460,970 117,207
2092 24,848,715 117,097
2091 25,242,926 116,983
2090 25,642,926 116,838
2089 26,048,094 116,682
2088 26,457,020 116,481
2087 26,871,556 116,277
2086 27,288,450 116,088
2085 27,710,065 115,872
2084 28,133,600 115,628
2083 28,564,090 115,336
2082 28,998,646 115,041
2081 29,441,497 114,752
2080 29,887,135 114,424
2079 30,337,095 114,074
2078 30,793,984 113,710
2077 31,258,278 113,349
2076 31,728,826 112,945
2075 32,205,338 112,565
2074 32,689,892 112,179
2073 33,180,187 111,790
2072 33,679,874 111,377
2071 34,187,068 110,963
2070 34,702,204 110,576
2069 35,224,472 110,209
2068 35,745,164 109,825
2067 36,274,411 109,446
2066 36,808,495 109,062
2065 37,349,660 108,736
2064 37,897,742 108,377
2063 38,450,082 108,033
2062 39,009,227 107,710
2061 39,565,102 107,396
2060 40,130,032 107,117
2059 40,692,438 106,842
2058 41,256,780 106,589
2057 41,813,259 106,345
2056 42,356,530 106,130
2055 42,888,143 105,915
2054 43,405,840 105,698
2053 43,917,075 105,486
2052 44,419,192 105,286
2051 44,901,452 105,079
2050 45,362,931 104,844
2049 45,809,553 104,636
2048 46,235,718 104,387
2047 46,645,885 104,154
2046 47,033,200 103,852
2045 47,409,815 103,548
2044 47,773,842 103,215
2043 48,120,989 102,934
2042 48,455,085 102,692
2041 48,782,206 102,447
2040 49,091,438 102,228
2039 49,388,464 102,061
2038 49,669,835 101,835
2037 49,932,869 101,707
2036 50,175,947 101,627
2035 50,401,135 101,580
2034 50,607,994 101,571
2033 50,796,030 101,591
2032 50,961,878 101,633
2031 51,109,725 101,764
2030 51,242,628 101,928
2029 51,360,529 102,181
2028 51,461,403 102,494
2027 51,551,313 102,841
2026 51,624,449 103,283
2025 51,684,564 103,742
2024 51,751,065 104,175
2023 51,712,619 104,597
2022 51,672,569 105,042
2021 51,769,539 105,490
2020 51,836,239 105,704
2019 51,764,822 105,669
2018 51,585,058 105,567
2017 51,361,911 105,356
2016 51,217,803 105,524
2015 51,014,947 106,095
2014 50,746,659 106,609
2013 50,428,893 107,078
2012 50,199,853 107,460
2011 49,936,638 107,570
2010 49,554,112 107,400
2009 49,307,835 107,203
2008 49,054,708 107,020
2007 48,683,638 106,726
2006 48,438,292 106,253
2005 48,184,561 105,671
2004 48,082,519 105,071
2003 47,892,330 104,464
2002 47,644,736 103,874
2001 47,370,164 103,288
2000 47,008,111 102,677
1999 46,616,677 102,046
1998 46,286,503 101,388
1997 45,953,580 100,674
1996 45,524,681 100,275
1995 45,092,991 100,225
1994 44,641,540 100,166
1993 44,194,628 100,103
1992 43,747,962 100,022
1991 43,295,704 99,895
1990 42,869,283 99,700
1989 42,449,038 99,403
1988 42,031,247 98,969
1987 41,621,690 98,376
1986 41,213,674 98,010
1985 40,805,744 97,984
1984 40,405,956 97,990
1983 39,910,403 97,998
1982 39,326,352 97,980
1981 38,723,248 97,909
1980 38,123,775 97,769
1979 37,534,236 97,544
1978 36,969,185 97,204
1977 36,411,795 96,725
1976 35,848,523 95,325
1975 35,280,725 93,017
1974 34,692,266 90,683
1973 34,103,149 88,805
1972 33,505,406 87,356
1971 32,882,704 85,896
1970 32,240,827 84,401
1969 31,544,266 82,885
1968 30,838,302 81,353
1967 30,130,983 79,814
1966 29,435,571 78,002
1965 28,704,674 75,924
1964 27,984,155 73,879
1963 27,261,747 71,885
1962 26,513,030 69,940
1961 25,765,673 68,037
1960 25,012,374 66,170

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/tonga | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Korea increased by 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth), while Tonga lost 729 people (a 0.69% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Korea gained 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth), while Tonga's population decreased by 2,241 people (a 2.12% decline).

South Korea was ranked 25th most populous country in 2006 and is 31st in 2026. Tonga was ranked 182nd in 2006 and ranked 183rd 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 Tonga will increase by 1.51% to 104,844 people and will still be ranked 183rd.

Tonga is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 118K 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
Tonga
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Korea Tonga
2100 -1.45% 0.03%
2099 -1.47% 0.05%
2098 -1.48% 0.03%
2097 -1.5% 0.03%
2096 -1.53% 0.07%
2095 -1.54% 0.08%
2094 -1.55% 0.07%
2093 -1.56% 0.09%
2092 -1.56% 0.1%
2091 -1.56% 0.12%
2090 -1.56% 0.13%
2089 -1.55% 0.17%
2088 -1.54% 0.18%
2087 -1.53% 0.16%
2086 -1.52% 0.19%
2085 -1.51% 0.21%
2084 -1.51% 0.25%
2083 -1.5% 0.26%
2082 -1.5% 0.25%
2081 -1.49% 0.29%
2080 -1.48% 0.31%
2079 -1.48% 0.32%
2078 -1.49% 0.32%
2077 -1.48% 0.36%
2076 -1.48% 0.34%
2075 -1.48% 0.34%
2074 -1.48% 0.35%
2073 -1.48% 0.37%
2072 -1.48% 0.37%
2071 -1.48% 0.35%
2070 -1.48% 0.33%
2069 -1.46% 0.35%
2068 -1.46% 0.35%
2067 -1.45% 0.35%
2066 -1.45% 0.3%
2065 -1.45% 0.33%
2064 -1.44% 0.32%
2063 -1.43% 0.3%
2062 -1.4% 0.29%
2061 -1.41% 0.26%
2060 -1.38% 0.26%
2059 -1.37% 0.24%
2058 -1.33% 0.23%
2057 -1.28% 0.2%
2056 -1.24% 0.2%
2055 -1.19% 0.2%
2054 -1.16% 0.2%
2053 -1.13% 0.19%
2052 -1.07% 0.2%
2051 -1.02% 0.22%
2050 -0.97% 0.2%
2049 -0.92% 0.24%
2048 -0.88% 0.22%
2047 -0.82% 0.29%
2046 -0.79% 0.29%
2045 -0.76% 0.32%
2044 -0.72% 0.27%
2043 -0.69% 0.24%
2042 -0.67% 0.24%
2041 -0.63% 0.21%
2040 -0.6% 0.16%
2039 -0.57% 0.22%
2038 -0.53% 0.13%
2037 -0.48% 0.08%
2036 -0.45% 0.05%
2035 -0.41% 0.009%
2034 -0.37% -0.02%
2033 -0.33% -0.04%
2032 -0.29% -0.13%
2031 -0.26% -0.16%
2030 -0.23% -0.25%
2029 -0.2% -0.31%
2028 -0.17% -0.34%
2027 -0.14% -0.43%
2026 -0.12% -0.44%
2025 -0.13% -0.42%
2024 0.07% -0.4%
2023 0.08% -0.42%
2022 -0.19% -0.42%
2021 -0.13% -0.2%
2020 0.14% 0.03%
2019 0.35% 0.1%
2018 0.43% 0.2%
2017 0.28% -0.16%
2016 0.4% -0.54%
2015 0.53% -0.48%
2014 0.63% -0.44%
2013 0.46% -0.36%
2012 0.53% -0.1%
2011 0.77% 0.16%
2010 0.5% 0.18%
2009 0.52% 0.17%
2008 0.76% 0.28%
2007 0.51% 0.45%
2006 0.53% 0.55%
2005 0.21% 0.57%
2004 0.4% 0.58%
2003 0.52% 0.57%
2002 0.58% 0.57%
2001 0.77% 0.6%
2000 0.84% 0.62%
1999 0.71% 0.65%
1998 0.72% 0.71%
1997 0.94% 0.4%
1996 0.96% 0.05%
1995 1.01% 0.06%
1994 1.01% 0.06%
1993 1.02% 0.08%
1992 1.04% 0.13%
1991 0.99% 0.2%
1990 0.99% 0.3%
1989 0.99% 0.44%
1988 0.98% 0.6%
1987 0.99% 0.37%
1986 1% 0.03%
1985 0.99% -0.006%
1984 1.24% -0.008%
1983 1.49% 0.02%
1982 1.56% 0.07%
1981 1.57% 0.14%
1980 1.57% 0.23%
1979 1.53% 0.35%
1978 1.53% 0.5%
1977 1.57% 1.47%
1976 1.61% 2.48%
1975 1.7% 2.57%
1974 1.73% 2.11%
1973 1.78% 1.66%
1972 1.89% 1.7%
1971 1.99% 1.77%
1970 2.21% 1.83%
1969 2.29% 1.88%
1968 2.35% 1.93%
1967 2.36% 2.32%
1966 2.55% 2.74%
1965 2.57% 2.77%
1964 2.65% 2.77%
1963 2.82% 2.78%
1962 2.9% 2.8%
1961 3.01% 2.82%

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/tonga | CC BY

In 2025, the population of South Korea declined by 0.13%, while Tonga's population declined by 0.42%.

Live population counters

South Korea Tonga
Current population
51624449
103283
Population rank 31/197 183/197
Percent of world population 0.62% 0.001%
One net population change
7.93 minutes
20.3 hours
One birth every
2.16 minutes
3.65 hours
One death every
1.45 minutes
13.1 hours
Daily growth/decline -182 -1
Annual growth/decline -66,501 -433
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% -0.42%
Population growth rate rank 169/197 181/197
One migration net change every
8.02 minutes
4.09 hours
Annual migration change +65,731 -2,150
Net migration rank 20/196 99/196
Foreign-born residents 1,811,507 3,581
Foreign-born residents rank 40/195 187/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.5% 3.4%
Foreign-born share rank 111/195 113/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Korea
Natural

Migration
Tonga
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Korea Tonga
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 65,731 - -2,150
2024 -119,027 75,963 1,729 -2,149
2023 -124,111 87,800 1,744 -2,173
2022 -124,014 87,800 1,772 -2,218
2021 -56,947 -16,778 1,773 -2,220
2020 -31,101 112,631 1,816 -1,807
2019 10,353 128,622 1,841 -1,778
2018 30,951 118,220 1,873 -1,723
2017 71,907 104,029 1,912 -1,642
2016 122,923 91,568 1,989 -2,591
2015 163,248 276,427 2,064 -2,610
2014 167,464 308,037 2,135 -2,622
2013 166,415 301,926 2,199 -2,637
2012 215,859 281,866 2,255 -2,578
2011 214,728 269,958 2,298 -2,198
2010 213,083 52,042 2,332 -2,097
2009 197,231 5,308 2,358 -2,204
2008 215,841 -19,630 2,397 -2,177
2007 248,286 -42,293 2,423 -2,057
2006 203,441 -28,434 2,459 -1,875
2005 187,920 -47,821 2,495 -1,906
2004 225,988 -42,549 2,478 -1,876
2003 244,251 -31,994 2,448 -1,844
2002 247,752 -18,105 2,396 -1,815
2001 312,643 -28,006 2,358 -1,766
2000 390,167 -84,960 2,346 -1,721
1999 368,272 -107,448 2,352 -1,710
1998 393,436 -98,044 2,344 -1,665
1997 422,773 -109,130 2,332 -1,589
1996 446,142 -115,705 2,393 -2,338
1995 468,967 -208,491 2,476 -2,422
1994 473,200 -208,309 2,547 -2,484
1993 477,302 -222,802 2,594 -2,532
1992 494,352 -265,849 2,622 -2,524
1991 467,594 -270,754 2,637 -2,484
1990 411,546 79,294 2,641 -2,409
1989 403,266 186,120 2,644 -2,280
1988 399,297 192,534 2,649 -2,138
1987 378,758 198,057 2,646 -1,970
1986 395,651 189,782 2,704 -2,650
1985 416,219 97,949 2,762 -2,775
1984 436,384 101,394 2,814 -2,823
1983 514,844 102,167 2,840 -2,840
1982 605,626 48,638 2,853 -2,814
1981 631,189 18,442 2,882 -2,778
1980 583,294 -148,341 2,885 -2,708
1979 623,068 -139,566 2,884 -2,604
1978 499,084 -85,721 2,862 -2,457
1977 578,947 -90,737 2,822 -2,273
1976 530,558 -92,314 2,769 -523
1975 603,300 -52,332 2,709 -346
1974 673,030 27,005 2,650 -344
1973 699,115 35,779 2,617 -1,168
1972 740,469 25,382 2,605 -1,153
1971 789,185 -6,326 2,611 -1,138
1970 747,987 -27,999 2,628 -1,122
1969 694,227 -21,175 2,632 -1,101
1968 684,487 -16,868 2,614 -1,078
1967 692,169 -16,484 2,603 -1,060
1966 623,534 -16,688 2,550 -465
1965 641,090 -146,386 2,498 -426
1964 655,501 -102,284 2,445 -428
1963 685,824 -80,226 2,394 -426
1962 712,590 -94,606 2,343 -420
1961 730,173 -93,179 2,284 -401
1960 728,010 47,245 2,230 -384

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/tonga | 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 Tonga 47% is from natural causes (a gain of 18,513 people) and 53% is from migration (a loss of 20,911 people).

As of 2024, 1,811,507 residents or 3.5% of the population were not native-born in South Korea, compared to 3,581 people or 3.4% in Tonga.

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
Tonga
City Population
Nukualofa 23.2K
Mua 5K

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/tonga | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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