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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,684,564 in 2025 vs 85,878,556 people in Turkey in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,624,449 people compared to 86,225,430 in Turkey.

Population statistics:

  • Turkey's population is 1.67 times bigger than South Korea's.
  • South Korea is ranked the 31st most populous country in the world, while Turkey is the 18th.
  • The countries together account for 1.66% of the world: 0.62% for South Korea vs 1.04% for Turkey.
  • For the last 10 years, South Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.17% per year vs +0.98% in Turkey.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.58% growth), while Turkey has grown from 70M to 86.2M (23.1% growth).

South Korea vs Turkey: population by year and forecast

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Turkey
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Korea Turkey
2100 22,001,649 64,394,191
2099 22,324,514 65,045,868
2098 22,657,541 65,690,351
2097 22,998,315 66,342,622
2096 23,348,632 66,990,674
2095 23,711,049 67,642,188
2094 24,081,510 68,296,562
2093 24,460,970 68,963,773
2092 24,848,715 69,625,957
2091 25,242,926 70,290,255
2090 25,642,926 70,960,483
2089 26,048,094 71,623,547
2088 26,457,020 72,281,102
2087 26,871,556 72,928,397
2086 27,288,450 73,576,610
2085 27,710,065 74,223,570
2084 28,133,600 74,853,312
2083 28,564,090 75,483,067
2082 28,998,646 76,111,533
2081 29,441,497 76,726,689
2080 29,887,135 77,339,541
2079 30,337,095 77,938,889
2078 30,793,984 78,532,577
2077 31,258,278 79,120,573
2076 31,728,826 79,705,459
2075 32,205,338 80,277,544
2074 32,689,892 80,848,141
2073 33,180,187 81,396,237
2072 33,679,874 81,938,080
2071 34,187,068 82,465,112
2070 34,702,204 82,981,973
2069 35,224,472 83,480,362
2068 35,745,164 83,963,140
2067 36,274,411 84,428,242
2066 36,808,495 84,886,666
2065 37,349,660 85,336,225
2064 37,897,742 85,771,285
2063 38,450,082 86,187,013
2062 39,009,227 86,587,114
2061 39,565,102 86,962,577
2060 40,130,032 87,319,314
2059 40,692,438 87,663,392
2058 41,256,780 87,973,789
2057 41,813,259 88,264,809
2056 42,356,530 88,534,755
2055 42,888,143 88,764,080
2054 43,405,840 88,972,362
2053 43,917,075 89,151,673
2052 44,419,192 89,310,785
2051 44,901,452 89,437,110
2050 45,362,931 89,541,520
2049 45,809,553 89,614,107
2048 46,235,718 89,651,068
2047 46,645,885 89,659,415
2046 47,033,200 89,634,354
2045 47,409,815 89,608,012
2044 47,773,842 89,557,421
2043 48,120,989 89,493,042
2042 48,455,085 89,404,193
2041 48,782,206 89,303,546
2040 49,091,438 89,187,952
2039 49,388,464 89,051,669
2038 49,669,835 88,901,719
2037 49,932,869 88,727,471
2036 50,175,947 88,537,927
2035 50,401,135 88,343,153
2034 50,607,994 88,139,515
2033 50,796,030 87,918,397
2032 50,961,878 87,687,495
2031 51,109,725 87,437,150
2030 51,242,628 87,166,904
2029 51,360,529 86,903,490
2028 51,461,403 86,627,469
2027 51,551,313 86,350,539
2026 51,624,449 86,093,293
2025 51,684,564 85,878,556
2024 51,751,065 85,518,661
2023 51,712,619 85,325,965
2022 51,672,569 84,979,913
2021 51,769,539 84,147,318
2020 51,836,239 83,384,680
2019 51,764,822 82,579,440
2018 51,585,058 81,407,204
2017 51,361,911 80,312,698
2016 51,217,803 79,277,962
2015 51,014,947 78,218,479
2014 50,746,659 77,181,884
2013 50,428,893 76,147,624
2012 50,199,853 75,175,827
2011 49,936,638 74,223,629
2010 49,554,112 73,142,150
2009 49,307,835 72,039,206
2008 49,054,708 71,051,678
2007 48,683,638 70,158,112
2006 48,438,292 70,045,349
2005 48,184,561 69,329,557
2004 48,082,519 68,592,617
2003 47,892,330 67,831,730
2002 47,644,736 67,048,795
2001 47,370,164 66,245,128
2000 47,008,111 65,425,961
1999 46,616,677 64,591,923
1998 46,286,503 63,734,383
1997 45,953,580 62,852,966
1996 45,524,681 61,951,134
1995 45,092,991 61,024,503
1994 44,641,540 60,033,836
1993 44,194,628 58,999,167
1992 43,747,962 57,990,118
1991 43,295,704 57,009,887
1990 42,869,283 56,015,628
1989 42,449,038 54,976,723
1988 42,031,247 53,909,626
1987 41,621,690 52,843,670
1986 41,213,674 51,777,772
1985 40,805,744 50,687,115
1984 40,405,956 49,574,069
1983 39,910,403 48,447,410
1982 39,326,352 47,322,096
1981 38,723,248 46,321,190
1980 38,123,775 45,408,815
1979 37,534,236 44,510,429
1978 36,969,185 43,645,306
1977 36,411,795 42,773,298
1976 35,848,523 41,899,984
1975 35,280,725 41,053,126
1974 34,692,266 40,210,234
1973 34,103,149 39,329,533
1972 33,505,406 38,430,221
1971 32,882,704 37,518,611
1970 32,240,827 36,638,465
1969 31,544,266 35,787,774
1968 30,838,302 34,921,684
1967 30,130,983 34,050,421
1966 29,435,571 33,177,672
1965 28,704,674 32,345,220
1964 27,984,155 31,543,072
1963 27,261,747 30,726,841
1962 26,513,030 29,916,147
1961 25,765,673 29,119,238
1960 25,012,374 28,329,898

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/turkey | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Korea increased by 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth), while Turkey gained 9,232,613 people (a 13.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Korea gained 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth), while Turkey's population increased by 6,947,468 people (a 8.76% growth).

South Korea was ranked 25th most populous country in 2006 and is 31st in 2026. Turkey was ranked 18th in 2006 and still ranked 18th 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 Turkey will increase by 3.85% to 89,541,520 people and rank change from 18th to 19th.

Turkey is projected to reach its peak in 2047 at 89.7M 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
Turkey
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Korea Turkey
2100 -1.45% -1%
2099 -1.47% -0.98%
2098 -1.48% -0.98%
2097 -1.5% -0.97%
2096 -1.53% -0.96%
2095 -1.54% -0.96%
2094 -1.55% -0.97%
2093 -1.56% -0.95%
2092 -1.56% -0.95%
2091 -1.56% -0.94%
2090 -1.56% -0.93%
2089 -1.55% -0.91%
2088 -1.54% -0.89%
2087 -1.53% -0.88%
2086 -1.52% -0.87%
2085 -1.51% -0.84%
2084 -1.51% -0.83%
2083 -1.5% -0.83%
2082 -1.5% -0.8%
2081 -1.49% -0.79%
2080 -1.48% -0.77%
2079 -1.48% -0.76%
2078 -1.49% -0.74%
2077 -1.48% -0.73%
2076 -1.48% -0.71%
2075 -1.48% -0.71%
2074 -1.48% -0.67%
2073 -1.48% -0.66%
2072 -1.48% -0.64%
2071 -1.48% -0.62%
2070 -1.48% -0.6%
2069 -1.46% -0.57%
2068 -1.46% -0.55%
2067 -1.45% -0.54%
2066 -1.45% -0.53%
2065 -1.45% -0.51%
2064 -1.44% -0.48%
2063 -1.43% -0.46%
2062 -1.4% -0.43%
2061 -1.41% -0.41%
2060 -1.38% -0.39%
2059 -1.37% -0.35%
2058 -1.33% -0.33%
2057 -1.28% -0.3%
2056 -1.24% -0.26%
2055 -1.19% -0.23%
2054 -1.16% -0.2%
2053 -1.13% -0.18%
2052 -1.07% -0.14%
2051 -1.02% -0.12%
2050 -0.97% -0.08%
2049 -0.92% -0.04%
2048 -0.88% -0.009%
2047 -0.82% 0.03%
2046 -0.79% 0.03%
2045 -0.76% 0.06%
2044 -0.72% 0.07%
2043 -0.69% 0.1%
2042 -0.67% 0.11%
2041 -0.63% 0.13%
2040 -0.6% 0.15%
2039 -0.57% 0.17%
2038 -0.53% 0.2%
2037 -0.48% 0.21%
2036 -0.45% 0.22%
2035 -0.41% 0.23%
2034 -0.37% 0.25%
2033 -0.33% 0.26%
2032 -0.29% 0.29%
2031 -0.26% 0.31%
2030 -0.23% 0.3%
2029 -0.2% 0.32%
2028 -0.17% 0.32%
2027 -0.14% 0.3%
2026 -0.12% 0.25%
2025 -0.13% 0.42%
2024 0.07% 0.23%
2023 0.08% 0.41%
2022 -0.19% 0.99%
2021 -0.13% 0.91%
2020 0.14% 0.98%
2019 0.35% 1.44%
2018 0.43% 1.36%
2017 0.28% 1.31%
2016 0.4% 1.35%
2015 0.53% 1.34%
2014 0.63% 1.36%
2013 0.46% 1.29%
2012 0.53% 1.28%
2011 0.77% 1.48%
2010 0.5% 1.53%
2009 0.52% 1.39%
2008 0.76% 1.27%
2007 0.51% 0.16%
2006 0.53% 1.03%
2005 0.21% 1.07%
2004 0.4% 1.12%
2003 0.52% 1.17%
2002 0.58% 1.21%
2001 0.77% 1.25%
2000 0.84% 1.29%
1999 0.71% 1.35%
1998 0.72% 1.4%
1997 0.94% 1.46%
1996 0.96% 1.52%
1995 1.01% 1.65%
1994 1.01% 1.75%
1993 1.02% 1.74%
1992 1.04% 1.72%
1991 0.99% 1.77%
1990 0.99% 1.89%
1989 0.99% 1.98%
1988 0.98% 2.02%
1987 0.99% 2.06%
1986 1% 2.15%
1985 0.99% 2.25%
1984 1.24% 2.33%
1983 1.49% 2.38%
1982 1.56% 2.16%
1981 1.57% 2.01%
1980 1.57% 2.02%
1979 1.53% 1.98%
1978 1.53% 2.04%
1977 1.57% 2.08%
1976 1.61% 2.06%
1975 1.7% 2.1%
1974 1.73% 2.24%
1973 1.78% 2.34%
1972 1.89% 2.43%
1971 1.99% 2.4%
1970 2.21% 2.38%
1969 2.29% 2.48%
1968 2.35% 2.56%
1967 2.36% 2.63%
1966 2.55% 2.57%
1965 2.57% 2.54%
1964 2.65% 2.66%
1963 2.82% 2.71%
1962 2.9% 2.74%
1961 3.01% 2.79%

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/turkey | CC BY

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

Live population counters

South Korea Turkey
Current population
51624449
86225430
Population rank 31/197 18/197
Percent of world population 0.62% 1.04%
One net population change
7.93 minutes
1.46 minutes
One birth every
2.16 minutes
33.5 seconds
One death every
1.45 minutes
1.08 minutes
Daily growth/decline -182 +986
Annual growth/decline -66,501 +359,895
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +0.42%
Population growth rate rank 169/197 138/197
One migration net change every
8.02 minutes
2.04 minutes
Annual migration change +65,731 -258,205
Net migration rank 20/196 188/196
Foreign-born residents 1,811,507 7,083,501
Foreign-born residents rank 40/195 11/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.5% 8.1%
Foreign-born share rank 111/195 75/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Korea
Natural

Migration
Turkey
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Korea Turkey
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 65,731 - -258,205
2024 -119,027 75,963 453,249 -275,952
2023 -124,111 87,800 426,630 -318,070
2022 -124,014 87,800 535,373 -301,544
2021 -56,947 -16,778 521,713 20,283
2020 -31,101 112,631 608,708 37,934
2019 10,353 128,622 751,472 -15,690
2018 30,951 118,220 830,353 187,570
2017 71,907 104,029 875,408 659,846
2016 122,923 91,568 895,841 352,063
2015 163,248 276,427 930,799 1,063,140
2014 167,464 308,037 957,055 1,033,384
2013 166,415 301,926 921,386 438,618
2012 215,859 281,866 917,145 258,623
2011 214,728 269,958 875,839 68,849
2010 213,083 52,042 892,334 55,532
2009 197,231 5,308 900,491 24,276
2008 215,841 -19,630 868,749 47,915
2007 248,286 -42,293 876,626 -186,402
2006 203,441 -28,434 897,351 -190,194
2005 187,920 -47,821 898,650 -174,177
2004 225,988 -42,549 896,025 -146,574
2003 244,251 -31,994 893,683 -121,383
2002 247,752 -18,105 922,927 -129,444
2001 312,643 -28,006 980,560 -166,759
2000 390,167 -84,960 1,020,515 -195,996
1999 368,272 -107,448 1,063,312 -219,778
1998 393,436 -98,044 1,103,242 -231,744
1997 422,773 -109,130 1,099,738 -208,465
1996 446,142 -115,705 1,091,827 -179,423
1995 468,967 -208,491 1,090,630 -149,737
1994 473,200 -208,309 1,078,208 -37,762
1993 477,302 -222,802 1,064,168 -35,245
1992 494,352 -265,849 1,039,125 -49,923
1991 467,594 -270,754 1,041,229 -69,982
1990 411,546 79,294 1,044,467 -27,193
1989 403,266 186,120 1,094,036 -33,519
1988 399,297 192,534 1,101,266 -27,659
1987 378,758 198,057 1,099,042 -40,772
1986 395,651 189,782 1,102,660 -29,134
1985 416,219 97,949 1,098,846 8,960
1984 436,384 101,394 1,096,529 21,787
1983 514,844 102,167 1,095,106 39,871
1982 605,626 48,638 1,091,863 23,728
1981 631,189 18,442 1,100,082 -213,889
1980 583,294 -148,341 1,090,538 -151,969
1979 623,068 -139,566 1,076,707 -218,509
1978 499,084 -85,721 1,054,863 -182,818
1977 578,947 -90,737 1,023,779 -151,825
1976 530,558 -92,314 1,009,999 -135,377
1975 603,300 -52,332 1,012,904 -193,829
1974 673,030 27,005 1,020,053 -153,311
1973 699,115 35,779 1,025,675 -130,985
1972 740,469 25,382 1,023,781 -119,850
1971 789,185 -6,326 1,014,165 -94,891
1970 747,987 -27,999 991,950 -150,924
1969 694,227 -21,175 970,958 -110,578
1968 684,487 -16,868 950,778 -78,973
1967 692,169 -16,484 936,727 -65,993
1966 623,534 -16,688 925,790 -50,999
1965 641,090 -146,386 904,016 -113,911
1964 655,501 -102,284 884,152 -69,978
1963 685,824 -80,226 862,626 -44,317
1962 712,590 -94,606 837,473 -34,353
1961 730,173 -93,179 816,911 -26,187
1960 728,010 47,245 773,009 14,948

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/turkey | 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 Turkey 82.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,829,546 people) and 17.1% is from migration (a gain of 1,409,580 people).

As of 2024, 1,811,507 residents or 3.5% of the population were not native-born in South Korea, compared to 7,083,501 people or 8.1% in Turkey.

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
Turkey
City Population
Istanbul 15.7M
Ankara 5.8M
Izmir 4.49M
Bursa 2.9M
Antalya 2.43M
Konya 2.23M
Urfa 1.99M
Kocaeli 1.85M
Adana 1.77M
Diyarbakir 1.73M

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/turkey | 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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