The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,751,065 in 2024 vs 104,175 people in Tonga in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,649,918 people compared to 103,309 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 +0.24% per year vs -0.25% in Tonga.
- Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.63% growth), while Tonga has declined from 106K to 103K (2.77% decline).
South Korea vs Tonga: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
South Korea
|
Tonga
|
|
| 2100 | 22,012,503 | 117,647 |
| 2099 | 22,335,528 | 117,615 |
| 2098 | 22,668,719 | 117,560 |
| 2097 | 23,009,661 | 117,522 |
| 2096 | 23,360,151 | 117,491 |
| 2095 | 23,722,747 | 117,414 |
| 2094 | 24,093,391 | 117,321 |
| 2093 | 24,473,038 | 117,237 |
| 2092 | 24,860,975 | 117,127 |
| 2091 | 25,255,379 | 117,013 |
| 2090 | 25,655,577 | 116,869 |
| 2089 | 26,060,945 | 116,712 |
| 2088 | 26,470,073 | 116,511 |
| 2087 | 26,884,813 | 116,307 |
| 2086 | 27,301,913 | 116,118 |
| 2085 | 27,723,736 | 115,902 |
| 2084 | 28,147,480 | 115,658 |
| 2083 | 28,578,182 | 115,366 |
| 2082 | 29,012,953 | 115,071 |
| 2081 | 29,456,022 | 114,782 |
| 2080 | 29,901,880 | 114,453 |
| 2079 | 30,352,062 | 114,103 |
| 2078 | 30,809,176 | 113,740 |
| 2077 | 31,273,700 | 113,378 |
| 2076 | 31,744,480 | 112,974 |
| 2075 | 32,221,226 | 112,594 |
| 2074 | 32,706,020 | 112,208 |
| 2073 | 33,196,556 | 111,819 |
| 2072 | 33,696,490 | 111,405 |
| 2071 | 34,203,935 | 110,992 |
| 2070 | 34,719,324 | 110,605 |
| 2069 | 35,241,850 | 110,238 |
| 2068 | 35,762,799 | 109,853 |
| 2067 | 36,292,307 | 109,474 |
| 2066 | 36,826,655 | 109,090 |
| 2065 | 37,368,086 | 108,765 |
| 2064 | 37,916,439 | 108,405 |
| 2063 | 38,469,051 | 108,061 |
| 2062 | 39,028,473 | 107,738 |
| 2061 | 39,584,621 | 107,424 |
| 2060 | 40,149,830 | 107,145 |
| 2059 | 40,712,514 | 106,869 |
| 2058 | 41,277,134 | 106,617 |
| 2057 | 41,833,887 | 106,372 |
| 2056 | 42,377,427 | 106,158 |
| 2055 | 42,909,302 | 105,942 |
| 2054 | 43,427,254 | 105,725 |
| 2053 | 43,938,741 | 105,513 |
| 2052 | 44,441,106 | 105,313 |
| 2051 | 44,923,604 | 105,106 |
| 2050 | 45,385,311 | 104,871 |
| 2049 | 45,832,153 | 104,663 |
| 2048 | 46,258,529 | 104,414 |
| 2047 | 46,668,898 | 104,180 |
| 2046 | 47,056,404 | 103,879 |
| 2045 | 47,433,205 | 103,575 |
| 2044 | 47,797,411 | 103,241 |
| 2043 | 48,144,730 | 102,961 |
| 2042 | 48,478,991 | 102,718 |
| 2041 | 48,806,273 | 102,474 |
| 2040 | 49,115,658 | 102,254 |
| 2039 | 49,412,830 | 102,088 |
| 2038 | 49,694,340 | 101,861 |
| 2037 | 49,957,504 | 101,733 |
| 2036 | 50,200,702 | 101,653 |
| 2035 | 50,426,000 | 101,607 |
| 2034 | 50,632,962 | 101,598 |
| 2033 | 50,821,090 | 101,618 |
| 2032 | 50,987,020 | 101,659 |
| 2031 | 51,134,940 | 101,790 |
| 2030 | 51,267,908 | 101,954 |
| 2029 | 51,385,868 | 102,207 |
| 2028 | 51,486,791 | 102,521 |
| 2027 | 51,576,746 | 102,868 |
| 2026 | 51,649,918 | 103,309 |
| 2025 | 51,710,062 | 103,768 |
| 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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
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 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth), while Tonga's population decreased by 2,215 people (a 2.1% 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 45,385,311 people with a rank change from 31st to 48th. The population of Tonga will increase by 1.51% to 104,871 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
| 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 | -0.08% | -0.39% |
| 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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/tonga | CC BY
In 2024, the population of South Korea grew by 0.07%, while Tonga's population declined by 0.4%.
Live population counters
|
South Korea
|
Tonga
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
51649918
|
103309
|
| Population rank | 31/197 | 183/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.62% | 0.001% |
| One net population change |
13.7 minutes
|
20.8 hours
|
| One birth every |
2.26 minutes
|
3.62 hours
|
| One death every |
1.69 minutes
|
13 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +105 | -1 |
| Annual growth/decline | +38,446 | -422 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.07% | -0.4% |
| Population growth rate rank | 160/197 | 183/197 |
| 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
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
South Korea
|
Tonga
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 65,731 | - | -2,150 |
| 2024 | - | 75,963 | - | -2,149 |
| 2023 | -77,569 | 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 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/tonga | 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 Tonga 46.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 18,919 people) and 53.1% is from migration (a loss of 21,384 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 differences between South Korea and Tonga
|
South Korea
|
Tonga
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 84.6 years | 73.4 years |
| Average age | 44.8 years | 27.9 years |
| Median age | 46.1 years | 21.9 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.9:50.1 | 47.2:52.8 |
| Fertility rate | 0.72 births per woman | 3.13 births per woman |
| Population density | 1,371 ppl/mi² | 372 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/tonga | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.