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Population in South Korea compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,684,564 in 2025 vs 11,513,149 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,624,449 people compared to 11,885,001 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 4.34 times bigger than the United Arab Emirates'.
  • South Korea is ranked the 31st most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.76% of the world: 0.62% for South Korea vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, South Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.17% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.58% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.9M (137.3% growth).

South Korea vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

South Korea
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Korea UAE
2100 22,001,649 26,706,595
2099 22,324,514 26,465,166
2098 22,657,541 26,225,773
2097 22,998,315 25,988,828
2096 23,348,632 25,753,753
2095 23,711,049 25,520,511
2094 24,081,510 25,288,801
2093 24,460,970 25,058,430
2092 24,848,715 24,829,182
2091 25,242,926 24,600,702
2090 25,642,926 24,372,725
2089 26,048,094 24,144,467
2088 26,457,020 23,916,513
2087 26,871,556 23,688,452
2086 27,288,450 23,460,422
2085 27,710,065 23,232,061
2084 28,133,600 23,002,795
2083 28,564,090 22,772,229
2082 28,998,646 22,540,771
2081 29,441,497 22,308,390
2080 29,887,135 22,075,331
2079 30,337,095 21,841,417
2078 30,793,984 21,606,907
2077 31,258,278 21,371,631
2076 31,728,826 21,136,110
2075 32,205,338 20,900,601
2074 32,689,892 20,665,468
2073 33,180,187 20,430,105
2072 33,679,874 20,196,342
2071 34,187,068 19,963,477
2070 34,702,204 19,732,649
2069 35,224,472 19,503,294
2068 35,745,164 19,276,535
2067 36,274,411 19,052,348
2066 36,808,495 18,831,237
2065 37,349,660 18,612,821
2064 37,897,742 18,397,315
2063 38,450,082 18,185,402
2062 39,009,227 17,977,010
2061 39,565,102 17,772,656
2060 40,130,032 17,571,910
2059 40,692,438 17,373,047
2058 41,256,780 17,176,551
2057 41,813,259 16,982,730
2056 42,356,530 16,791,613
2055 42,888,143 16,602,585
2054 43,405,840 16,414,963
2053 43,917,075 16,230,105
2052 44,419,192 16,047,360
2051 44,901,452 15,866,073
2050 45,362,931 15,685,433
2049 45,809,553 15,505,176
2048 46,235,718 15,326,671
2047 46,645,885 15,149,859
2046 47,033,200 14,977,516
2045 47,409,815 14,808,230
2044 47,773,842 14,639,661
2043 48,120,989 14,472,097
2042 48,455,085 14,305,483
2041 48,782,206 14,139,883
2040 49,091,438 13,975,444
2039 49,388,464 13,812,227
2038 49,669,835 13,650,128
2037 49,932,869 13,489,998
2036 50,175,947 13,331,723
2035 50,401,135 13,175,838
2034 50,607,994 13,022,467
2033 50,796,030 12,872,359
2032 50,961,878 12,725,892
2031 51,109,725 12,583,470
2030 51,242,628 12,445,626
2029 51,360,529 12,304,314
2028 51,461,403 12,153,292
2027 51,551,313 11,982,666
2026 51,624,449 11,781,850
2025 51,684,564 11,513,149
2024 51,751,065 10,986,400
2023 51,712,619 10,483,751
2022 51,672,569 10,074,977
2021 51,769,539 9,575,152
2020 51,836,239 9,401,038
2019 51,764,822 9,445,785
2018 51,585,058 9,346,701
2017 51,361,911 9,223,225
2016 51,217,803 8,935,095
2015 51,014,947 8,505,237
2014 50,746,659 8,059,440
2013 50,428,893 7,693,031
2012 50,199,853 7,391,448
2011 49,936,638 7,104,538
2010 49,554,112 6,869,838
2009 49,307,835 6,707,058
2008 49,054,708 6,302,664
2007 48,683,638 5,624,635
2006 48,438,292 5,009,100
2005 48,184,561 4,664,790
2004 48,082,519 4,428,967
2003 47,892,330 4,192,457
2002 47,644,736 3,956,826
2001 47,370,164 3,723,590
2000 47,008,111 3,493,575
1999 46,616,677 3,266,009
1998 46,286,503 3,040,421
1997 45,953,580 2,817,410
1996 45,524,681 2,597,564
1995 45,092,991 2,434,662
1994 44,641,540 2,328,188
1993 44,194,628 2,222,093
1992 43,747,962 2,114,730
1991 43,295,704 2,006,626
1990 42,869,283 1,898,220
1989 42,449,038 1,789,851
1988 42,031,247 1,681,788
1987 41,621,690 1,574,244
1986 41,213,674 1,467,383
1985 40,805,744 1,377,911
1984 40,405,956 1,305,996
1983 39,910,403 1,235,305
1982 39,326,352 1,166,370
1981 38,723,248 1,099,855
1980 38,123,775 1,015,700
1979 37,534,236 912,010
1978 36,969,185 809,274
1977 36,411,795 710,209
1976 35,848,523 615,866
1975 35,280,725 542,856
1974 34,692,266 489,087
1973 34,103,149 436,399
1972 33,505,406 385,014
1971 32,882,704 335,027
1970 32,240,827 286,536
1969 31,544,266 239,660
1968 30,838,302 199,416
1967 30,130,983 179,700
1966 29,435,571 173,976
1965 28,704,674 167,103
1964 27,984,155 159,692
1963 27,261,747 152,211
1962 26,513,030 144,946
1961 25,765,673 137,989
1960 25,012,374 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Korea increased by 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Korea gained 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,949,906 people (a 33% growth).

South Korea was ranked 25th most populous country in 2006 and is 31st in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32% to 15,685,433 people and rank change from 84th to 82nd.

The United Arab Emirates is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 26.7M 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
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Korea UAE
2100 -1.45% 0.91%
2099 -1.47% 0.91%
2098 -1.48% 0.91%
2097 -1.5% 0.91%
2096 -1.53% 0.91%
2095 -1.54% 0.92%
2094 -1.55% 0.92%
2093 -1.56% 0.92%
2092 -1.56% 0.93%
2091 -1.56% 0.94%
2090 -1.56% 0.95%
2089 -1.55% 0.95%
2088 -1.54% 0.96%
2087 -1.53% 0.97%
2086 -1.52% 0.98%
2085 -1.51% 1%
2084 -1.51% 1.01%
2083 -1.5% 1.03%
2082 -1.5% 1.04%
2081 -1.49% 1.06%
2080 -1.48% 1.07%
2079 -1.48% 1.09%
2078 -1.49% 1.1%
2077 -1.48% 1.11%
2076 -1.48% 1.13%
2075 -1.48% 1.14%
2074 -1.48% 1.15%
2073 -1.48% 1.16%
2072 -1.48% 1.17%
2071 -1.48% 1.17%
2070 -1.48% 1.18%
2069 -1.46% 1.18%
2068 -1.46% 1.18%
2067 -1.45% 1.17%
2066 -1.45% 1.17%
2065 -1.45% 1.17%
2064 -1.44% 1.17%
2063 -1.43% 1.16%
2062 -1.4% 1.15%
2061 -1.41% 1.14%
2060 -1.38% 1.14%
2059 -1.37% 1.14%
2058 -1.33% 1.14%
2057 -1.28% 1.14%
2056 -1.24% 1.14%
2055 -1.19% 1.14%
2054 -1.16% 1.14%
2053 -1.13% 1.14%
2052 -1.07% 1.14%
2051 -1.02% 1.15%
2050 -0.97% 1.16%
2049 -0.92% 1.16%
2048 -0.88% 1.17%
2047 -0.82% 1.15%
2046 -0.79% 1.14%
2045 -0.76% 1.15%
2044 -0.72% 1.16%
2043 -0.69% 1.16%
2042 -0.67% 1.17%
2041 -0.63% 1.18%
2040 -0.6% 1.18%
2039 -0.57% 1.19%
2038 -0.53% 1.19%
2037 -0.48% 1.19%
2036 -0.45% 1.18%
2035 -0.41% 1.18%
2034 -0.37% 1.17%
2033 -0.33% 1.15%
2032 -0.29% 1.13%
2031 -0.26% 1.11%
2030 -0.23% 1.15%
2029 -0.2% 1.24%
2028 -0.17% 1.42%
2027 -0.14% 1.7%
2026 -0.12% 2.33%
2025 -0.13% 4.79%
2024 0.07% 4.79%
2023 0.08% 4.06%
2022 -0.19% 5.22%
2021 -0.13% 1.85%
2020 0.14% -0.47%
2019 0.35% 1.06%
2018 0.43% 1.34%
2017 0.28% 3.22%
2016 0.4% 5.05%
2015 0.53% 5.53%
2014 0.63% 4.76%
2013 0.46% 4.08%
2012 0.53% 4.04%
2011 0.77% 3.42%
2010 0.5% 2.43%
2009 0.52% 6.42%
2008 0.76% 12.1%
2007 0.51% 12.3%
2006 0.53% 7.38%
2005 0.21% 5.32%
2004 0.4% 5.64%
2003 0.52% 5.96%
2002 0.58% 6.26%
2001 0.77% 6.58%
2000 0.84% 6.97%
1999 0.71% 7.42%
1998 0.72% 7.92%
1997 0.94% 8.46%
1996 0.96% 6.69%
1995 1.01% 4.57%
1994 1.01% 4.77%
1993 1.02% 5.08%
1992 1.04% 5.39%
1991 0.99% 5.71%
1990 0.99% 6.05%
1989 0.99% 6.43%
1988 0.98% 6.83%
1987 0.99% 7.28%
1986 1% 6.49%
1985 0.99% 5.51%
1984 1.24% 5.72%
1983 1.49% 5.91%
1982 1.56% 6.05%
1981 1.57% 8.29%
1980 1.57% 11.4%
1979 1.53% 12.7%
1978 1.53% 13.9%
1977 1.57% 15.3%
1976 1.61% 13.4%
1975 1.7% 11%
1974 1.73% 12.1%
1973 1.78% 13.3%
1972 1.89% 14.9%
1971 1.99% 16.9%
1970 2.21% 19.6%
1969 2.29% 20.2%
1968 2.35% 11%
1967 2.36% 3.29%
1966 2.55% 4.11%
1965 2.57% 4.64%
1964 2.65% 4.91%
1963 2.82% 5.01%
1962 2.9% 5.04%
1961 3.01% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2025, the population of South Korea declined by 0.13%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

South Korea UAE
Current population
51624449
11885001
Population rank 31/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.62% 0.14%
One net population change
7.93 minutes
1 minute
One birth every
2.16 minutes
4.87 minutes
One death every
1.45 minutes
49.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline -182 +1,443
Annual growth/decline -66,501 +526,749
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 169/197 1/197
One migration net change every
8.02 minutes
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change +65,731 +158,634
Net migration rank 20/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 1,811,507 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 40/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.5% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 111/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Korea
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Korea UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 65,731 - 158,634
2024 -119,027 75,963 97,197 278,439
2023 -124,111 87,800 92,698 300,004
2022 -124,014 87,800 81,758 322,773
2021 -56,947 -16,778 76,802 421,663
2020 -31,101 112,631 87,871 92,541
2019 10,353 128,622 86,296 -125,186
2018 30,951 118,220 86,840 14,611
2017 71,907 104,029 89,382 34,155
2016 122,923 91,568 87,028 195,317
2015 163,248 276,427 85,044 342,468
2014 167,464 308,037 84,277 360,174
2013 166,415 301,926 82,977 279,269
2012 215,859 281,866 78,682 225,921
2011 214,728 269,958 73,496 215,183
2010 213,083 52,042 69,907 161,842
2009 197,231 5,308 66,521 163,643
2008 215,841 -19,630 55,426 523,207
2007 248,286 -42,293 55,048 722,380
2006 203,441 -28,434 54,338 399,306
2005 187,920 -47,821 60,046 174,926
2004 225,988 -42,549 60,344 176,319
2003 244,251 -31,994 59,118 177,237
2002 247,752 -18,105 55,922 178,988
2001 312,643 -28,006 52,789 178,779
2000 390,167 -84,960 49,993 178,469
1999 368,272 -107,448 46,198 180,469
1998 393,436 -98,044 41,176 183,329
1997 422,773 -109,130 38,207 183,310
1996 446,142 -115,705 37,886 180,296
1995 468,967 -208,491 38,685 68,938
1994 473,200 -208,309 42,976 62,352
1993 477,302 -222,802 41,324 65,545
1992 494,352 -265,849 42,119 65,739
1991 467,594 -270,754 41,409 66,943
1990 411,546 79,294 41,339 67,118
1989 403,266 186,120 40,148 68,132
1988 399,297 192,534 38,861 68,991
1987 378,758 198,057 37,741 69,493
1986 395,651 189,782 36,829 69,655
1985 416,219 97,949 34,855 37,605
1984 436,384 101,394 33,250 38,124
1983 514,844 102,167 31,480 38,536
1982 605,626 48,638 29,585 38,276
1981 631,189 18,442 27,560 37,600
1980 583,294 -148,341 25,005 78,148
1979 623,068 -139,566 21,987 82,238
1978 499,084 -85,721 18,879 82,359
1977 578,947 -90,737 15,787 81,111
1976 530,558 -92,314 12,876 78,903
1975 603,300 -52,332 11,859 42,380
1974 673,030 27,005 10,835 42,474
1973 699,115 35,779 9,822 42,243
1972 740,469 25,382 8,818 41,888
1971 789,185 -6,326 7,839 41,425
1970 747,987 -27,999 6,922 40,792
1969 694,227 -21,175 6,138 39,902
1968 684,487 -16,868 5,588 28,866
1967 692,169 -16,484 5,264 -283
1966 623,534 -16,688 4,955 1,516
1965 641,090 -146,386 4,675 2,598
1964 655,501 -102,284 4,410 3,126
1963 685,824 -80,226 4,157 3,264
1962 712,590 -94,606 3,901 3,212
1961 730,173 -93,179 3,657 3,141
1960 728,010 47,245 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 31.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 870,916 people) and 68.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,876,785 people).

As of 2024, 1,811,507 residents or 3.5% of the population were not native-born in South Korea, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

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
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Fujairah 119K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | 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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