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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,751,065 in 2024 vs 9,646 people in Tuvalu in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,649,918 people compared to 9,341 in Tuvalu.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 5,529 times bigger than Tuvalu's.
  • South Korea is ranked the 31st most populous country in the world, while Tuvalu is the 196th.
  • The countries together account for 0.62% of the world: 0.62% for South Korea vs 0.0001% for Tuvalu.
  • For the last 10 years, South Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.24% per year vs -1.19% in Tuvalu.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.63% growth), while Tuvalu has declined from 10.1K to 9.34K (7.11% decline).

South Korea vs Tuvalu: population by year and forecast

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Tuvalu
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Korea Tuvalu
2100 22,012,503 12,153
2099 22,335,528 12,146
2098 22,668,719 12,126
2097 23,009,661 12,104
2096 23,360,151 12,081
2095 23,722,747 12,066
2094 24,093,391 12,048
2093 24,473,038 12,028
2092 24,860,975 11,999
2091 25,255,379 11,972
2090 25,655,577 11,941
2089 26,060,945 11,909
2088 26,470,073 11,874
2087 26,884,813 11,847
2086 27,301,913 11,812
2085 27,723,736 11,772
2084 28,147,480 11,728
2083 28,578,182 11,689
2082 29,012,953 11,649
2081 29,456,022 11,609
2080 29,901,880 11,547
2079 30,352,062 11,491
2078 30,809,176 11,441
2077 31,273,700 11,382
2076 31,744,480 11,324
2075 32,221,226 11,268
2074 32,706,020 11,203
2073 33,196,556 11,127
2072 33,696,490 11,069
2071 34,203,935 10,994
2070 34,719,324 10,936
2069 35,241,850 10,866
2068 35,762,799 10,798
2067 36,292,307 10,730
2066 36,826,655 10,666
2065 37,368,086 10,611
2064 37,916,439 10,546
2063 38,469,051 10,482
2062 39,028,473 10,425
2061 39,584,621 10,356
2060 40,149,830 10,299
2059 40,712,514 10,230
2058 41,277,134 10,167
2057 41,833,887 10,115
2056 42,377,427 10,048
2055 42,909,302 9,985
2054 43,427,254 9,927
2053 43,938,741 9,859
2052 44,441,106 9,802
2051 44,923,604 9,731
2050 45,385,311 9,666
2049 45,832,153 9,600
2048 46,258,529 9,533
2047 46,668,898 9,456
2046 47,056,404 9,390
2045 47,433,205 9,329
2044 47,797,411 9,267
2043 48,144,730 9,201
2042 48,478,991 9,136
2041 48,806,273 9,084
2040 49,115,658 9,043
2039 49,412,830 8,992
2038 49,694,340 8,952
2037 49,957,504 8,925
2036 50,200,702 8,910
2035 50,426,000 8,901
2034 50,632,962 8,894
2033 50,821,090 8,903
2032 50,987,020 8,923
2031 51,134,940 8,946
2030 51,267,908 8,997
2029 51,385,868 9,056
2028 51,486,791 9,132
2027 51,576,746 9,226
2026 51,649,918 9,341
2025 51,710,062 9,484
2024 51,751,065 9,646
2023 51,712,619 9,816
2022 51,672,569 9,992
2021 51,769,539 10,194
2020 51,836,239 10,399
2019 51,764,822 10,581
2018 51,585,058 10,751
2017 51,361,911 10,869
2016 51,217,803 10,930
2015 51,014,947 10,963
2014 50,746,659 10,984
2013 50,428,893 11,001
2012 50,199,853 10,934
2011 49,936,638 10,780
2010 49,554,112 10,614
2009 49,307,835 10,461
2008 49,054,708 10,321
2007 48,683,638 10,182
2006 48,438,292 10,056
2005 48,184,561 9,940
2004 48,082,519 9,816
2003 47,892,330 9,695
2002 47,644,736 9,623
2001 47,370,164 9,586
2000 47,008,111 9,544
1999 46,616,677 9,496
1998 46,286,503 9,451
1997 45,953,580 9,400
1996 45,524,681 9,342
1995 45,092,991 9,280
1994 44,641,540 9,207
1993 44,194,628 9,126
1992 43,747,962 9,038
1991 43,295,704 8,928
1990 42,869,283 8,798
1989 42,449,038 8,662
1988 42,031,247 8,518
1987 41,621,690 8,371
1986 41,213,674 8,217
1985 40,805,744 8,046
1984 40,405,956 7,902
1983 39,910,403 7,789
1982 39,326,352 7,664
1981 38,723,248 7,526
1980 38,123,775 7,366
1979 37,534,236 7,184
1978 36,969,185 6,957
1977 36,411,795 6,686
1976 35,848,523 6,404
1975 35,280,725 6,117
1974 34,692,266 5,822
1973 34,103,149 5,681
1972 33,505,406 5,692
1971 32,882,704 5,685
1970 32,240,827 5,663
1969 31,544,266 5,631
1968 30,838,302 5,624
1967 30,130,983 5,652
1966 29,435,571 5,686
1965 28,704,674 5,715
1964 27,984,155 5,752
1963 27,261,747 5,751
1962 26,513,030 5,699
1961 25,765,673 5,648
1960 25,012,374 5,598

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/tuvalu | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Korea increased by 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth), while Tuvalu gained 874 people (a 8.69% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Korea gained 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth), while Tuvalu's population decreased by 1,589 people (a 14.5% decline).

South Korea was ranked 25th most populous country in 2006 and is 31st in 2026. Tuvalu was ranked 195th in 2006 and ranked 196th 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 Tuvalu will increase by 3.48% to 9,666 people and will still be ranked 196th.

Tuvalu is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 12.2K 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
Tuvalu
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Korea Tuvalu
2100 -1.45% 0.06%
2099 -1.47% 0.17%
2098 -1.48% 0.18%
2097 -1.5% 0.19%
2096 -1.53% 0.12%
2095 -1.54% 0.15%
2094 -1.55% 0.16%
2093 -1.56% 0.25%
2092 -1.56% 0.22%
2091 -1.56% 0.26%
2090 -1.56% 0.27%
2089 -1.55% 0.3%
2088 -1.54% 0.23%
2087 -1.53% 0.29%
2086 -1.52% 0.35%
2085 -1.51% 0.37%
2084 -1.51% 0.33%
2083 -1.5% 0.35%
2082 -1.5% 0.34%
2081 -1.49% 0.54%
2080 -1.48% 0.48%
2079 -1.48% 0.43%
2078 -1.49% 0.52%
2077 -1.48% 0.51%
2076 -1.48% 0.5%
2075 -1.48% 0.58%
2074 -1.48% 0.69%
2073 -1.48% 0.53%
2072 -1.48% 0.68%
2071 -1.48% 0.54%
2070 -1.48% 0.64%
2069 -1.46% 0.63%
2068 -1.46% 0.63%
2067 -1.45% 0.6%
2066 -1.45% 0.51%
2065 -1.45% 0.62%
2064 -1.44% 0.61%
2063 -1.43% 0.55%
2062 -1.4% 0.67%
2061 -1.41% 0.55%
2060 -1.38% 0.68%
2059 -1.37% 0.61%
2058 -1.33% 0.52%
2057 -1.28% 0.66%
2056 -1.24% 0.64%
2055 -1.19% 0.58%
2054 -1.16% 0.69%
2053 -1.13% 0.58%
2052 -1.07% 0.73%
2051 -1.02% 0.67%
2050 -0.97% 0.69%
2049 -0.92% 0.7%
2048 -0.88% 0.82%
2047 -0.82% 0.71%
2046 -0.79% 0.65%
2045 -0.76% 0.67%
2044 -0.72% 0.71%
2043 -0.69% 0.72%
2042 -0.67% 0.57%
2041 -0.63% 0.46%
2040 -0.6% 0.56%
2039 -0.57% 0.44%
2038 -0.53% 0.31%
2037 -0.48% 0.17%
2036 -0.45% 0.1%
2035 -0.41% 0.08%
2034 -0.37% -0.1%
2033 -0.33% -0.22%
2032 -0.29% -0.27%
2031 -0.26% -0.56%
2030 -0.23% -0.66%
2029 -0.2% -0.83%
2028 -0.17% -1.02%
2027 -0.14% -1.23%
2026 -0.12% -1.51%
2025 -0.08% -1.68%
2024 0.07% -1.73%
2023 0.08% -1.76%
2022 -0.19% -1.98%
2021 -0.13% -1.97%
2020 0.14% -1.72%
2019 0.35% -1.58%
2018 0.43% -1.09%
2017 0.28% -0.56%
2016 0.4% -0.3%
2015 0.53% -0.19%
2014 0.63% -0.15%
2013 0.46% 0.61%
2012 0.53% 1.43%
2011 0.77% 1.56%
2010 0.5% 1.46%
2009 0.52% 1.36%
2008 0.76% 1.37%
2007 0.51% 1.25%
2006 0.53% 1.17%
2005 0.21% 1.26%
2004 0.4% 1.25%
2003 0.52% 0.75%
2002 0.58% 0.39%
2001 0.77% 0.44%
2000 0.84% 0.51%
1999 0.71% 0.48%
1998 0.72% 0.54%
1997 0.94% 0.62%
1996 0.96% 0.67%
1995 1.01% 0.79%
1994 1.01% 0.89%
1993 1.02% 0.97%
1992 1.04% 1.23%
1991 0.99% 1.48%
1990 0.99% 1.57%
1989 0.99% 1.69%
1988 0.98% 1.76%
1987 0.99% 1.87%
1986 1% 2.13%
1985 0.99% 1.82%
1984 1.24% 1.45%
1983 1.49% 1.63%
1982 1.56% 1.83%
1981 1.57% 2.17%
1980 1.57% 2.53%
1979 1.53% 3.26%
1978 1.53% 4.05%
1977 1.57% 4.4%
1976 1.61% 4.69%
1975 1.7% 5.07%
1974 1.73% 2.48%
1973 1.78% -0.19%
1972 1.89% 0.12%
1971 1.99% 0.39%
1970 2.21% 0.57%
1969 2.29% 0.12%
1968 2.35% -0.5%
1967 2.36% -0.6%
1966 2.55% -0.51%
1965 2.57% -0.64%
1964 2.65% 0.02%
1963 2.82% 0.91%
1962 2.9% 0.9%
1961 3.01% 0.89%

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/tuvalu | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Korea grew by 0.07%, while Tuvalu's population declined by 1.73%.

Live population counters

South Korea Tuvalu
Current population
51649918
9341
Population rank 31/197 196/197
Percent of world population 0.62% 0.0001%
One net population change
13.7 minutes
2.15 days
One birth every
2.26 minutes
1.62 days
One death every
1.69 minutes
4.1 days
Daily growth/decline +105 +0
Annual growth/decline +38,446 -170
Annual growth/decline rate +0.07% -1.73%
Population growth rate rank 160/197 195/197
One migration net change every
8.02 minutes
1.44 days
Annual migration change +65,731 -255
Net migration rank 20/196 86/196
Foreign-born residents 1,811,507 246
Foreign-born residents rank 40/195 195/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.5% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 111/195 126/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Korea
Natural

Migration
Tuvalu
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Korea Tuvalu
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 65,731 - -255
2024 - 75,963 - -280
2023 -77,569 87,800 137 -323
2022 -124,014 87,800 150 -320
2021 -56,947 -16,778 151 -366
2020 -31,101 112,631 161 -355
2019 10,353 128,622 166 -343
2018 30,951 118,220 169 -329
2017 71,907 104,029 163 -246
2016 122,923 91,568 157 -200
2015 163,248 276,427 153 -179
2014 167,464 308,037 149 -166
2013 166,415 301,926 148 -160
2012 215,859 281,866 148 1
2011 214,728 269,958 142 28
2010 213,083 52,042 136 22
2009 197,231 5,308 130 15
2008 215,841 -19,630 125 10
2007 248,286 -42,293 125 1
2006 203,441 -28,434 129 -5
2005 187,920 -47,821 131 -8
2004 225,988 -42,549 132 -10
2003 244,251 -31,994 136 -16
2002 247,752 -18,105 141 -104
2001 312,643 -28,006 151 -117
2000 390,167 -84,960 159 -118
1999 368,272 -107,448 166 -120
1998 393,436 -98,044 172 -122
1997 422,773 -109,130 177 -120
1996 446,142 -115,705 182 -121
1995 468,967 -208,491 191 -125
1994 473,200 -208,309 195 -120
1993 477,302 -222,802 202 -119
1992 494,352 -265,849 196 -104
1991 467,594 -270,754 203 -72
1990 411,546 79,294 204 -69
1989 403,266 186,120 208 -71
1988 399,297 192,534 215 -72
1987 378,758 198,057 219 -68
1986 395,651 189,782 219 -56
1985 416,219 97,949 215 -36
1984 436,384 101,394 212 -103
1983 514,844 102,167 206 -87
1982 605,626 48,638 198 -66
1981 631,189 18,442 186 -46
1980 583,294 -148,341 173 0
1979 623,068 -139,566 158 37
1978 499,084 -85,721 141 119
1977 578,947 -90,737 128 149
1976 530,558 -92,314 117 171
1975 603,300 -52,332 108 186
1974 673,030 27,005 102 197
1973 699,115 35,779 101 -121
1972 740,469 25,382 94 -102
1971 789,185 -6,326 101 -85
1970 747,987 -27,999 102 -71
1969 694,227 -21,175 102 -65
1968 684,487 -16,868 97 -127
1967 692,169 -16,484 92 -123
1966 623,534 -16,688 91 -121
1965 641,090 -146,386 93 -128
1964 655,501 -102,284 98 -135
1963 685,824 -80,226 106 -52
1962 712,590 -94,606 113 -61
1961 730,173 -93,179 120 -77
1960 728,010 47,245 126 -79

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/tuvalu | 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 Tuvalu 35.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,556 people) and 64.5% is from migration (a loss of 2,827 people).

As of 2024, 1,811,507 residents or 3.5% of the population were not native-born in South Korea, compared to 246 people or 2.6% in Tuvalu.

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
Tuvalu
City Population
Funafuti 6.02K
Vaiaku 516

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/tuvalu | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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