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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,684,564 in 2025 vs 9,492 people in Tuvalu in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,624,449 people compared to 9,349 in Tuvalu.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 5,522 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 +0.17% per year vs -1.32% in Tuvalu.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.58% growth), while Tuvalu has declined from 10.1K to 9.35K (7.03% decline).

South Korea vs Tuvalu: population by year and forecast

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Tuvalu
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Korea Tuvalu
2100 22,001,649 12,163
2099 22,324,514 12,156
2098 22,657,541 12,135
2097 22,998,315 12,114
2096 23,348,632 12,091
2095 23,711,049 12,076
2094 24,081,510 12,058
2093 24,460,970 12,038
2092 24,848,715 12,008
2091 25,242,926 11,982
2090 25,642,926 11,951
2089 26,048,094 11,919
2088 26,457,020 11,883
2087 26,871,556 11,857
2086 27,288,450 11,822
2085 27,710,065 11,781
2084 28,133,600 11,737
2083 28,564,090 11,699
2082 28,998,646 11,658
2081 29,441,497 11,618
2080 29,887,135 11,556
2079 30,337,095 11,500
2078 30,793,984 11,451
2077 31,258,278 11,391
2076 31,728,826 11,334
2075 32,205,338 11,277
2074 32,689,892 11,212
2073 33,180,187 11,136
2072 33,679,874 11,077
2071 34,187,068 11,003
2070 34,702,204 10,944
2069 35,224,472 10,875
2068 35,745,164 10,807
2067 36,274,411 10,739
2066 36,808,495 10,675
2065 37,349,660 10,620
2064 37,897,742 10,554
2063 38,450,082 10,491
2062 39,009,227 10,433
2061 39,565,102 10,364
2060 40,130,032 10,307
2059 40,692,438 10,238
2058 41,256,780 10,175
2057 41,813,259 10,123
2056 42,356,530 10,056
2055 42,888,143 9,993
2054 43,405,840 9,935
2053 43,917,075 9,867
2052 44,419,192 9,810
2051 44,901,452 9,739
2050 45,362,931 9,674
2049 45,809,553 9,608
2048 46,235,718 9,541
2047 46,645,885 9,464
2046 47,033,200 9,397
2045 47,409,815 9,337
2044 47,773,842 9,274
2043 48,120,989 9,209
2042 48,455,085 9,143
2041 48,782,206 9,092
2040 49,091,438 9,050
2039 49,388,464 8,999
2038 49,669,835 8,960
2037 49,932,869 8,932
2036 50,175,947 8,917
2035 50,401,135 8,908
2034 50,607,994 8,901
2033 50,796,030 8,910
2032 50,961,878 8,930
2031 51,109,725 8,954
2030 51,242,628 9,004
2029 51,360,529 9,064
2028 51,461,403 9,139
2027 51,551,313 9,233
2026 51,624,449 9,349
2025 51,684,564 9,492
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth), while Tuvalu's population decreased by 1,581 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 45,362,931 people with a rank change from 31st to 48th. The population of Tuvalu will increase by 3.48% to 9,674 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 -0.13% -1.6%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/tuvalu | CC BY

In 2025, the population of South Korea declined by 0.13%, while Tuvalu's population declined by 1.6%.

Live population counters

South Korea Tuvalu
Current population
51624449
9349
Population rank 31/197 196/197
Percent of world population 0.62% 0.0001%
One net population change
7.93 minutes
2.38 days
One birth every
2.16 minutes
1.73 days
One death every
1.45 minutes
4.1 days
Daily growth/decline -182 +0
Annual growth/decline -66,501 -154
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% -1.6%
Population growth rate rank 169/197 195/197
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 -119,027 75,963 122 -280
2023 -124,111 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/tuvalu | 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 Tuvalu 34.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,529 people) and 65.8% is from migration (a loss of 2,941 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 (1960–2025, 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/tuvalu | 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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