Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,684,564 in 2025 vs 38,980,376 people in Ukraine in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,624,449 people compared to 40,408,451 in Ukraine.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 1.28 times bigger than Ukraine's.
  • South Korea is ranked the 31st most populous country in the world, while Ukraine is the 40th.
  • The countries together account for 1.11% of the world: 0.62% for South Korea vs 0.49% for Ukraine.
  • For the last 10 years, South Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.17% per year vs -1.44% in Ukraine.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.58% growth), while Ukraine has declined from 47.3M to 40.4M (14.5% decline).

South Korea vs Ukraine: population by year and forecast

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Ukraine
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Korea Ukraine
2100 22,001,649 15,603,179
2099 22,324,514 15,862,593
2098 22,657,541 16,125,815
2097 22,998,315 16,393,353
2096 23,348,632 16,664,587
2095 23,711,049 16,939,471
2094 24,081,510 17,219,443
2093 24,460,970 17,504,349
2092 24,848,715 17,793,601
2091 25,242,926 18,087,289
2090 25,642,926 18,386,570
2089 26,048,094 18,689,852
2088 26,457,020 18,998,014
2087 26,871,556 19,311,662
2086 27,288,450 19,630,012
2085 27,710,065 19,952,247
2084 28,133,600 20,280,817
2083 28,564,090 20,613,034
2082 28,998,646 20,949,887
2081 29,441,497 21,289,979
2080 29,887,135 21,633,931
2079 30,337,095 21,981,015
2078 30,793,984 22,331,415
2077 31,258,278 22,684,635
2076 31,728,826 23,041,181
2075 32,205,338 23,400,319
2074 32,689,892 23,762,428
2073 33,180,187 24,126,690
2072 33,679,874 24,491,363
2071 34,187,068 24,859,381
2070 34,702,204 25,229,957
2069 35,224,472 25,602,485
2068 35,745,164 25,976,390
2067 36,274,411 26,352,535
2066 36,808,495 26,730,314
2065 37,349,660 27,109,886
2064 37,897,742 27,491,024
2063 38,450,082 27,872,631
2062 39,009,227 28,254,738
2061 39,565,102 28,638,347
2060 40,130,032 29,021,488
2059 40,692,438 29,404,719
2058 41,256,780 29,788,559
2057 41,813,259 30,170,070
2056 42,356,530 30,548,973
2055 42,888,143 30,926,521
2054 43,405,840 31,299,425
2053 43,917,075 31,669,550
2052 44,419,192 32,035,413
2051 44,901,452 32,397,707
2050 45,362,931 32,754,538
2049 45,809,553 33,107,228
2048 46,235,718 33,451,994
2047 46,645,885 33,793,296
2046 47,033,200 34,131,561
2045 47,409,815 34,463,236
2044 47,773,842 34,790,682
2043 48,120,989 35,115,069
2042 48,455,085 35,437,607
2041 48,782,206 35,758,248
2040 49,091,438 36,075,749
2039 49,388,464 36,396,426
2038 49,669,835 36,714,126
2037 49,932,869 37,031,794
2036 50,175,947 37,345,665
2035 50,401,135 37,659,856
2034 50,607,994 37,972,332
2033 50,796,030 38,283,563
2032 50,961,878 38,592,696
2031 51,109,725 38,902,570
2030 51,242,628 39,210,256
2029 51,360,529 39,514,695
2028 51,461,403 39,816,523
2027 51,551,313 40,111,670
2026 51,624,449 40,408,451
2025 51,684,564 38,980,376
2024 51,751,065 37,860,221
2023 51,712,619 37,732,836
2022 51,672,569 41,048,766
2021 51,769,539 44,298,640
2020 51,836,239 44,680,014
2019 51,764,822 44,957,458
2018 51,585,058 45,208,907
2017 51,361,911 45,436,041
2016 51,217,803 45,616,832
2015 51,014,947 45,784,896
2014 50,746,659 45,972,380
2013 50,428,893 46,126,770
2012 50,199,853 46,210,056
2011 49,936,638 46,307,853
2010 49,554,112 46,456,003
2009 49,307,835 46,623,731
2008 49,054,708 46,819,175
2007 48,683,638 47,062,798
2006 48,438,292 47,278,694
2005 48,184,561 47,585,556
2004 48,082,519 47,979,507
2003 47,892,330 48,315,136
2002 47,644,736 48,677,281
2001 47,370,164 49,106,855
2000 47,008,111 49,556,660
1999 46,616,677 49,976,446
1998 46,286,503 50,379,731
1997 45,953,580 50,786,885
1996 45,524,681 51,226,109
1995 45,092,991 51,665,539
1994 44,641,540 52,075,998
1993 44,194,628 52,350,126
1992 43,747,962 52,323,671
1991 43,295,704 52,170,961
1990 42,869,283 52,054,092
1989 42,449,038 51,917,817
1988 42,031,247 51,724,853
1987 41,621,690 51,515,732
1986 41,213,674 51,318,745
1985 40,805,744 51,108,770
1984 40,405,956 50,887,599
1983 39,910,403 50,637,029
1982 39,326,352 50,402,724
1981 38,723,248 50,189,281
1980 38,123,775 49,955,152
1979 37,534,236 49,721,381
1978 36,969,185 49,521,243
1977 36,411,795 49,336,481
1976 35,848,523 49,120,842
1975 35,280,725 48,865,229
1974 34,692,266 48,576,570
1973 34,103,149 48,277,121
1972 33,505,406 47,946,893
1971 32,882,704 47,573,287
1970 32,240,827 47,261,306
1969 31,544,266 46,976,256
1968 30,838,302 46,614,325
1967 30,130,983 46,215,988
1966 29,435,571 45,802,519
1965 28,704,674 45,386,892
1964 27,984,155 44,951,156
1963 27,261,747 44,462,372
1962 26,513,030 43,943,674
1961 25,765,673 43,399,766
1960 25,012,374 42,824,093

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/ukraine | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Korea increased by 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth), while Ukraine lost 1,661,862 people (a 3.52% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Korea gained 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth), while Ukraine's population decreased by 5,208,381 people (a 11.4% decline).

South Korea was ranked 25th most populous country in 2006 and is 31st in 2026. Ukraine was ranked 27th in 2006 and ranked 40th 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 Ukraine will decrease by 18.9% to 32,754,538 people and rank change from 40th to 60th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 38.5% of the population in South Korea and 43% in Ukraine.

Population growth rate by year

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Ukraine
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Korea Ukraine
2100 -1.45% -1.64%
2099 -1.47% -1.63%
2098 -1.48% -1.63%
2097 -1.5% -1.63%
2096 -1.53% -1.62%
2095 -1.54% -1.63%
2094 -1.55% -1.63%
2093 -1.56% -1.63%
2092 -1.56% -1.62%
2091 -1.56% -1.63%
2090 -1.56% -1.62%
2089 -1.55% -1.62%
2088 -1.54% -1.62%
2087 -1.53% -1.62%
2086 -1.52% -1.62%
2085 -1.51% -1.62%
2084 -1.51% -1.61%
2083 -1.5% -1.61%
2082 -1.5% -1.6%
2081 -1.49% -1.59%
2080 -1.48% -1.58%
2079 -1.48% -1.57%
2078 -1.49% -1.56%
2077 -1.48% -1.55%
2076 -1.48% -1.53%
2075 -1.48% -1.52%
2074 -1.48% -1.51%
2073 -1.48% -1.49%
2072 -1.48% -1.48%
2071 -1.48% -1.47%
2070 -1.48% -1.46%
2069 -1.46% -1.44%
2068 -1.46% -1.43%
2067 -1.45% -1.41%
2066 -1.45% -1.4%
2065 -1.45% -1.39%
2064 -1.44% -1.37%
2063 -1.43% -1.35%
2062 -1.4% -1.34%
2061 -1.41% -1.32%
2060 -1.38% -1.3%
2059 -1.37% -1.29%
2058 -1.33% -1.26%
2057 -1.28% -1.24%
2056 -1.24% -1.22%
2055 -1.19% -1.19%
2054 -1.16% -1.17%
2053 -1.13% -1.14%
2052 -1.07% -1.12%
2051 -1.02% -1.09%
2050 -0.97% -1.07%
2049 -0.92% -1.03%
2048 -0.88% -1.01%
2047 -0.82% -0.99%
2046 -0.79% -0.96%
2045 -0.76% -0.94%
2044 -0.72% -0.92%
2043 -0.69% -0.91%
2042 -0.67% -0.9%
2041 -0.63% -0.88%
2040 -0.6% -0.88%
2039 -0.57% -0.87%
2038 -0.53% -0.86%
2037 -0.48% -0.84%
2036 -0.45% -0.83%
2035 -0.41% -0.82%
2034 -0.37% -0.81%
2033 -0.33% -0.8%
2032 -0.29% -0.8%
2031 -0.26% -0.78%
2030 -0.23% -0.77%
2029 -0.2% -0.76%
2028 -0.17% -0.74%
2027 -0.14% -0.73%
2026 -0.12% 3.66%
2025 -0.13% 2.96%
2024 0.07% 0.34%
2023 0.08% -8.08%
2022 -0.19% -7.34%
2021 -0.13% -0.85%
2020 0.14% -0.62%
2019 0.35% -0.56%
2018 0.43% -0.5%
2017 0.28% -0.4%
2016 0.4% -0.37%
2015 0.53% -0.41%
2014 0.63% -0.33%
2013 0.46% -0.18%
2012 0.53% -0.21%
2011 0.77% -0.32%
2010 0.5% -0.36%
2009 0.52% -0.42%
2008 0.76% -0.52%
2007 0.51% -0.46%
2006 0.53% -0.64%
2005 0.21% -0.82%
2004 0.4% -0.69%
2003 0.52% -0.74%
2002 0.58% -0.87%
2001 0.77% -0.91%
2000 0.84% -0.84%
1999 0.71% -0.8%
1998 0.72% -0.8%
1997 0.94% -0.86%
1996 0.96% -0.85%
1995 1.01% -0.79%
1994 1.01% -0.52%
1993 1.02% 0.05%
1992 1.04% 0.29%
1991 0.99% 0.22%
1990 0.99% 0.26%
1989 0.99% 0.37%
1988 0.98% 0.41%
1987 0.99% 0.38%
1986 1% 0.41%
1985 0.99% 0.43%
1984 1.24% 0.49%
1983 1.49% 0.46%
1982 1.56% 0.43%
1981 1.57% 0.47%
1980 1.57% 0.47%
1979 1.53% 0.4%
1978 1.53% 0.37%
1977 1.57% 0.44%
1976 1.61% 0.52%
1975 1.7% 0.59%
1974 1.73% 0.62%
1973 1.78% 0.69%
1972 1.89% 0.79%
1971 1.99% 0.66%
1970 2.21% 0.61%
1969 2.29% 0.78%
1968 2.35% 0.86%
1967 2.36% 0.9%
1966 2.55% 0.92%
1965 2.57% 0.97%
1964 2.65% 1.1%
1963 2.82% 1.18%
1962 2.9% 1.25%
1961 3.01% 1.34%

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/ukraine | CC BY

In 2025, the population of South Korea declined by 0.13%, while Ukraine's population grew by 2.96%.

Live population counters

South Korea Ukraine
Current population
51624449
40408451
Population rank 31/197 40/197
Percent of world population 0.62% 0.49%
One net population change
7.93 minutes
28.2 seconds
One birth every
2.16 minutes
2.54 minutes
One death every
1.45 minutes
1.02 minutes
Daily growth/decline -182 +3,069
Annual growth/decline -66,501 +1,120,155
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +2.96%
Population growth rate rank 169/197 13/197
One migration net change every
8.02 minutes
18.6 seconds
Annual migration change +65,731 +1,702,358
Net migration rank 20/196 1/196
Foreign-born residents 1,811,507 5,064,173
Foreign-born residents rank 40/195 14/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.5% 13.4%
Foreign-born share rank 111/195 51/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Korea
Natural

Migration
Ukraine
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Korea Ukraine
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 65,731 - 1,702,358
2024 -119,027 75,963 -308,069 1,146,012
2023 -124,111 87,800 -283,185 -299,961
2022 -124,014 87,800 -349,284 -5,699,445
2021 -56,947 -16,778 -449,941 -1,129
2020 -31,101 112,631 -307,533 -4,167
2019 10,353 128,622 -236,296 -6,908
2018 30,951 118,220 -227,491 -32,220
2017 71,907 104,029 -158,390 -36,155
2016 122,923 91,568 -135,710 -31,340
2015 163,248 276,427 -147,107 -21,992
2014 167,464 308,037 -140,216 -65,678
2013 166,415 301,926 -129,662 26,781
2012 215,859 281,866 -130,451 66,768
2011 214,728 269,958 -158,372 26,457
2010 213,083 52,042 -180,388 16,030
2009 197,231 5,308 -197,918 26,796
2008 215,841 -19,630 -229,086 9,312
2007 248,286 -42,293 -282,659 15,237
2006 203,441 -28,434 -300,787 136,442
2005 187,920 -47,821 -337,857 -111,493
2004 225,988 -42,549 -344,157 5,644
2003 244,251 -31,994 -351,299 18,540
2002 247,752 -18,105 -364,544 -26,991
2001 312,643 -28,006 -374,734 -92,847
2000 390,167 -84,960 -364,143 -67,865
1999 368,272 -107,448 -348,286 -59,247
1998 393,436 -98,044 -318,299 -80,684
1997 422,773 -109,130 -306,549 -108,735
1996 446,142 -115,705 -305,154 -158,008
1995 468,967 -208,491 -281,629 -134,053
1994 473,200 -208,309 -238,820 -166,380
1993 477,302 -222,802 -169,405 26,357
1992 494,352 -265,849 -95,857 291,788
1991 467,594 -270,754 -16,486 125,962
1990 411,546 79,294 48,463 75,760
1989 403,266 186,120 106,431 36,978
1988 399,297 192,534 162,002 75,637
1987 378,758 198,057 198,850 -18,275
1986 395,651 189,782 225,751 -12,369
1985 416,219 97,949 201,011 5,546
1984 436,384 101,394 222,430 13,340
1983 514,844 102,167 241,741 23,608
1982 605,626 48,638 194,101 9,096
1981 631,189 18,442 182,839 40,807
1980 583,294 -148,341 197,223 47,406
1979 623,068 -139,566 197,294 25,635
1978 499,084 -85,721 206,554 -29,180
1977 578,947 -90,737 216,932 -24,745
1976 530,558 -92,314 247,323 -8,219
1975 603,300 -52,332 256,787 15,336
1974 673,030 27,005 273,486 31,725
1973 699,115 35,779 274,938 18,777
1972 740,469 25,382 309,785 56,928
1971 789,185 -6,326 305,849 74,604
1970 747,987 -27,999 291,839 -48,335
1969 694,227 -21,175 274,858 51,763
1968 684,487 -16,868 295,162 102,096
1967 692,169 -16,484 313,899 85,527
1966 623,534 -16,688 337,794 89,737
1965 641,090 -146,386 334,365 69,354
1964 655,501 -102,284 391,120 76,650
1963 685,824 -80,226 449,648 60,178
1962 712,590 -94,606 481,887 45,712
1961 730,173 -93,179 508,602 51,625
1960 728,010 47,245 538,812 52,281

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/ukraine | 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 Ukraine 34.3% is from natural causes (a loss of 2,603,006 people) and 65.7% is from migration (a loss of 4,987,305 people).

As of 2024, 1,811,507 residents or 3.5% of the population were not native-born in South Korea, compared to 5,064,173 people or 13.4% in Ukraine.

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
Ukraine
City Population
Kyiv 2.95M
Kharkiv 1.42M
Odesa 1.01M
Dnipro 969K
Donetsk 902K
Lviv 717K
Zaporizhia 710K
Kryvyi Rih 604K
Mykolaiv 470K
Luhansk 418K

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/ukraine | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

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.