Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,751,065 in 2024 vs 3,386,588 people in Uruguay in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,649,918 people compared to 3,382,789 in Uruguay.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 15.3 times bigger than Uruguay's.
  • South Korea is ranked the 31st most populous country in the world, while Uruguay is the 133rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.66% of the world: 0.62% for South Korea vs 0.04% for Uruguay.
  • For the last 10 years, South Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.24% per year vs +0.11% in Uruguay.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.63% growth), while Uruguay has grown from 3.29M to 3.38M (2.84% growth).

South Korea vs Uruguay: population by year and forecast

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Uruguay
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Korea Uruguay
2100 22,012,503 2,256,741
2099 22,335,528 2,279,899
2098 22,668,719 2,303,351
2097 23,009,661 2,326,987
2096 23,360,151 2,350,799
2095 23,722,747 2,374,835
2094 24,093,391 2,398,960
2093 24,473,038 2,423,269
2092 24,860,975 2,447,646
2091 25,255,379 2,472,126
2090 25,655,577 2,496,514
2089 26,060,945 2,520,852
2088 26,470,073 2,545,052
2087 26,884,813 2,569,100
2086 27,301,913 2,592,974
2085 27,723,736 2,616,629
2084 28,147,480 2,640,001
2083 28,578,182 2,663,150
2082 29,012,953 2,686,021
2081 29,456,022 2,708,594
2080 29,901,880 2,730,883
2079 30,352,062 2,752,831
2078 30,809,176 2,774,432
2077 31,273,700 2,795,709
2076 31,744,480 2,816,677
2075 32,221,226 2,837,308
2074 32,706,020 2,857,709
2073 33,196,556 2,877,721
2072 33,696,490 2,897,543
2071 34,203,935 2,917,097
2070 34,719,324 2,936,478
2069 35,241,850 2,955,616
2068 35,762,799 2,974,445
2067 36,292,307 2,992,987
2066 36,826,655 3,011,309
2065 37,368,086 3,029,441
2064 37,916,439 3,047,343
2063 38,469,051 3,065,064
2062 39,028,473 3,082,642
2061 39,584,621 3,100,006
2060 40,149,830 3,117,149
2059 40,712,514 3,133,952
2058 41,277,134 3,150,250
2057 41,833,887 3,166,055
2056 42,377,427 3,181,373
2055 42,909,302 3,196,072
2054 43,427,254 3,210,110
2053 43,938,741 3,223,395
2052 44,441,106 3,235,973
2051 44,923,604 3,247,888
2050 45,385,311 3,259,108
2049 45,832,153 3,269,675
2048 46,258,529 3,279,610
2047 46,668,898 3,288,969
2046 47,056,404 3,297,696
2045 47,433,205 3,305,917
2044 47,797,411 3,313,556
2043 48,144,730 3,320,565
2042 48,478,991 3,326,955
2041 48,806,273 3,332,884
2040 49,115,658 3,338,277
2039 49,412,830 3,343,295
2038 49,694,340 3,347,790
2037 49,957,504 3,351,911
2036 50,200,702 3,355,671
2035 50,426,000 3,359,126
2034 50,632,962 3,362,276
2033 50,821,090 3,365,250
2032 50,987,020 3,368,057
2031 51,134,940 3,370,727
2030 51,267,908 3,373,273
2029 51,385,868 3,375,805
2028 51,486,791 3,378,198
2027 51,576,746 3,380,504
2026 51,649,918 3,382,789
2025 51,710,062 3,384,805
2024 51,751,065 3,386,588
2023 51,712,619 3,388,081
2022 51,672,569 3,390,913
2021 51,769,539 3,396,695
2020 51,836,239 3,398,968
2019 51,764,822 3,397,206
2018 51,585,058 3,394,534
2017 51,361,911 3,388,438
2016 51,217,803 3,379,283
2015 51,014,947 3,368,017
2014 50,746,659 3,356,334
2013 50,428,893 3,345,337
2012 50,199,853 3,335,401
2011 49,936,638 3,326,825
2010 49,554,112 3,318,580
2009 49,307,835 3,310,091
2008 49,054,708 3,302,177
2007 48,683,638 3,295,153
2006 48,438,292 3,289,506
2005 48,184,561 3,285,771
2004 48,082,519 3,283,148
2003 47,892,330 3,281,186
2002 47,644,736 3,278,867
2001 47,370,164 3,274,251
2000 47,008,111 3,266,206
1999 46,616,677 3,254,015
1998 46,286,503 3,239,280
1997 45,953,580 3,223,345
1996 45,524,681 3,206,324
1995 45,092,991 3,189,440
1994 44,641,540 3,172,834
1993 44,194,628 3,156,345
1992 43,747,962 3,139,702
1991 43,295,704 3,122,354
1990 42,869,283 3,104,403
1989 42,449,038 3,086,255
1988 42,031,247 3,067,961
1987 41,621,690 3,049,896
1986 41,213,674 3,032,845
1985 40,805,744 3,017,037
1984 40,405,956 3,002,488
1983 39,910,403 2,988,778
1982 39,326,352 2,975,492
1981 38,723,248 2,963,246
1980 38,123,775 2,951,953
1979 37,534,236 2,939,903
1978 36,969,185 2,925,715
1977 36,411,795 2,909,461
1976 35,848,523 2,891,392
1975 35,280,725 2,872,320
1974 34,692,266 2,853,944
1973 34,103,149 2,837,133
1972 33,505,406 2,821,644
1971 32,882,704 2,806,462
1970 32,240,827 2,790,807
1969 31,544,266 2,773,974
1968 30,838,302 2,754,606
1967 30,130,983 2,732,277
1966 29,435,571 2,707,646
1965 28,704,674 2,681,169
1964 27,984,155 2,653,180
1963 27,261,747 2,623,766
1962 26,513,030 2,593,298
1961 25,765,673 2,562,044
1960 25,012,374 2,529,957

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/uruguay | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Korea increased by 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth), while Uruguay gained 89,777 people (a 2.73% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Korea gained 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth), while Uruguay's population increased by 3,506 people (a 0.1% growth).

South Korea was ranked 25th most populous country in 2006 and is 31st in 2026. Uruguay was ranked 129th in 2006 and ranked 133rd 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 Uruguay will decrease by 3.66% to 3,259,108 people and rank change from 133rd to 138th.

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 16.7% in Uruguay.

Population growth rate by year

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Uruguay
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Korea Uruguay
2100 -1.45% -1.02%
2099 -1.47% -1.02%
2098 -1.48% -1.02%
2097 -1.5% -1.01%
2096 -1.53% -1.01%
2095 -1.54% -1.01%
2094 -1.55% -1%
2093 -1.56% -1%
2092 -1.56% -0.99%
2091 -1.56% -0.98%
2090 -1.56% -0.97%
2089 -1.55% -0.95%
2088 -1.54% -0.94%
2087 -1.53% -0.92%
2086 -1.52% -0.9%
2085 -1.51% -0.89%
2084 -1.51% -0.87%
2083 -1.5% -0.85%
2082 -1.5% -0.83%
2081 -1.49% -0.82%
2080 -1.48% -0.8%
2079 -1.48% -0.78%
2078 -1.49% -0.76%
2077 -1.48% -0.74%
2076 -1.48% -0.73%
2075 -1.48% -0.71%
2074 -1.48% -0.7%
2073 -1.48% -0.68%
2072 -1.48% -0.67%
2071 -1.48% -0.66%
2070 -1.48% -0.65%
2069 -1.46% -0.63%
2068 -1.46% -0.62%
2067 -1.45% -0.61%
2066 -1.45% -0.6%
2065 -1.45% -0.59%
2064 -1.44% -0.58%
2063 -1.43% -0.57%
2062 -1.4% -0.56%
2061 -1.41% -0.55%
2060 -1.38% -0.54%
2059 -1.37% -0.52%
2058 -1.33% -0.5%
2057 -1.28% -0.48%
2056 -1.24% -0.46%
2055 -1.19% -0.44%
2054 -1.16% -0.41%
2053 -1.13% -0.39%
2052 -1.07% -0.37%
2051 -1.02% -0.34%
2050 -0.97% -0.32%
2049 -0.92% -0.3%
2048 -0.88% -0.28%
2047 -0.82% -0.26%
2046 -0.79% -0.25%
2045 -0.76% -0.23%
2044 -0.72% -0.21%
2043 -0.69% -0.19%
2042 -0.67% -0.18%
2041 -0.63% -0.16%
2040 -0.6% -0.15%
2039 -0.57% -0.13%
2038 -0.53% -0.12%
2037 -0.48% -0.11%
2036 -0.45% -0.1%
2035 -0.41% -0.09%
2034 -0.37% -0.09%
2033 -0.33% -0.08%
2032 -0.29% -0.08%
2031 -0.26% -0.08%
2030 -0.23% -0.08%
2029 -0.2% -0.07%
2028 -0.17% -0.07%
2027 -0.14% -0.07%
2026 -0.12% -0.06%
2025 -0.08% -0.05%
2024 0.07% -0.04%
2023 0.08% -0.08%
2022 -0.19% -0.17%
2021 -0.13% -0.07%
2020 0.14% 0.05%
2019 0.35% 0.08%
2018 0.43% 0.18%
2017 0.28% 0.27%
2016 0.4% 0.33%
2015 0.53% 0.35%
2014 0.63% 0.33%
2013 0.46% 0.3%
2012 0.53% 0.26%
2011 0.77% 0.25%
2010 0.5% 0.26%
2009 0.52% 0.24%
2008 0.76% 0.21%
2007 0.51% 0.17%
2006 0.53% 0.11%
2005 0.21% 0.08%
2004 0.4% 0.06%
2003 0.52% 0.07%
2002 0.58% 0.14%
2001 0.77% 0.25%
2000 0.84% 0.37%
1999 0.71% 0.45%
1998 0.72% 0.49%
1997 0.94% 0.53%
1996 0.96% 0.53%
1995 1.01% 0.52%
1994 1.01% 0.52%
1993 1.02% 0.53%
1992 1.04% 0.56%
1991 0.99% 0.58%
1990 0.99% 0.59%
1989 0.99% 0.6%
1988 0.98% 0.59%
1987 0.99% 0.56%
1986 1% 0.52%
1985 0.99% 0.48%
1984 1.24% 0.46%
1983 1.49% 0.45%
1982 1.56% 0.41%
1981 1.57% 0.38%
1980 1.57% 0.41%
1979 1.53% 0.48%
1978 1.53% 0.56%
1977 1.57% 0.62%
1976 1.61% 0.66%
1975 1.7% 0.64%
1974 1.73% 0.59%
1973 1.78% 0.55%
1972 1.89% 0.54%
1971 1.99% 0.56%
1970 2.21% 0.61%
1969 2.29% 0.7%
1968 2.35% 0.82%
1967 2.36% 0.91%
1966 2.55% 0.99%
1965 2.57% 1.05%
1964 2.65% 1.12%
1963 2.82% 1.17%
1962 2.9% 1.22%
1961 3.01% 1.27%

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/uruguay | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Korea grew by 0.07%, while Uruguay's population declined by 0.04%.

Live population counters

South Korea Uruguay
Current population
51649918
3382789
Population rank 31/197 133/197
Percent of world population 0.62% 0.04%
One net population change
13.7 minutes
5.87 hours
One birth every
2.26 minutes
15.7 minutes
One death every
1.69 minutes
15.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +105 -4
Annual growth/decline +38,446 -1,493
Annual growth/decline rate +0.07% -0.04%
Population growth rate rank 160/197 167/197
One migration net change every
8.02 minutes
6.57 hours
Annual migration change +65,731 -1,338
Net migration rank 20/196 95/196
Foreign-born residents 1,811,507 160,064
Foreign-born residents rank 40/195 121/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.5% 4.7%
Foreign-born share rank 111/195 95/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Korea
Natural

Migration
Uruguay
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Korea Uruguay
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 65,731 - -1,338
2024 - 75,963 - -1,348
2023 -77,569 87,800 298 -1,501
2022 -124,014 87,800 -2,964 -1,501
2021 -56,947 -16,778 -5,621 -1,482
2020 -31,101 112,631 4,048 -1,482
2019 10,353 128,622 3,873 -2,899
2018 30,951 118,220 7,322 -2,963
2017 71,907 104,029 10,907 -3,091
2016 122,923 91,568 14,008 -3,506
2015 163,248 276,427 16,194 -4,157
2014 167,464 308,037 16,238 -4,919
2013 166,415 301,926 16,318 -5,647
2012 215,859 281,866 15,520 -6,317
2011 214,728 269,958 14,934 -6,982
2010 213,083 52,042 16,231 -7,696
2009 197,231 5,308 16,947 -8,510
2008 215,841 -19,630 16,838 -9,458
2007 248,286 -42,293 17,422 -10,750
2006 203,441 -28,434 17,783 -13,161
2005 187,920 -47,821 18,926 -16,086
2004 225,988 -42,549 18,067 -15,668
2003 244,251 -31,994 18,628 -17,105
2002 247,752 -18,105 20,073 -16,957
2001 312,643 -28,006 20,729 -14,620
2000 390,167 -84,960 21,060 -11,076
1999 368,272 -107,448 21,844 -7,441
1998 393,436 -98,044 22,114 -7,048
1997 422,773 -109,130 23,737 -6,938
1996 446,142 -115,705 24,635 -7,397
1995 468,967 -208,491 24,872 -8,339
1994 473,200 -208,309 24,637 -7,955
1993 477,302 -222,802 24,212 -7,922
1992 494,352 -265,849 24,847 -7,850
1991 467,594 -270,754 25,422 -7,714
1990 411,546 79,294 25,699 -7,499
1989 403,266 186,120 25,322 -7,229
1988 399,297 192,534 25,071 -6,582
1987 378,758 198,057 24,469 -6,833
1986 395,651 189,782 24,505 -8,046
1985 416,219 97,949 23,988 -8,832
1984 436,384 101,394 23,684 -9,730
1983 514,844 102,167 24,146 -10,671
1982 605,626 48,638 25,224 -12,131
1981 631,189 18,442 24,968 -13,577
1980 583,294 -148,341 25,451 -14,252
1979 623,068 -139,566 27,456 -14,552
1978 499,084 -85,721 30,076 -14,611
1977 578,947 -90,737 31,321 -14,280
1976 530,558 -92,314 33,199 -14,096
1975 603,300 -52,332 33,393 -14,350
1974 673,030 27,005 32,221 -14,512
1973 699,115 35,779 30,213 -14,312
1972 740,469 25,382 28,896 -13,817
1971 789,185 -6,326 28,584 -13,288
1970 747,987 -27,999 28,737 -12,727
1969 694,227 -21,175 28,805 -11,149
1968 684,487 -16,868 29,103 -8,028
1967 692,169 -16,484 29,514 -5,938
1966 623,534 -16,688 30,293 -4,599
1965 641,090 -146,386 30,807 -3,542
1964 655,501 -102,284 31,340 -2,623
1963 685,824 -80,226 31,824 -1,707
1962 712,590 -94,606 31,441 -623
1961 730,173 -93,179 30,975 703
1960 728,010 47,245 30,438 2,057

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/uruguay | 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 Uruguay 70% is from natural causes (a gain of 64,303 people) and 30% is from migration (a loss of 27,501 people).

As of 2024, 1,811,507 residents or 3.5% of the population were not native-born in South Korea, compared to 160,064 people or 4.7% in Uruguay.

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
Uruguay
City Population
Montevideo 1.3M
Salto 125K
Ciudad de la Costa 112K
Maldonado 86.8K
Rivera 84.8K
Paysandu 76.4K
Tacuarembo 54.8K
Melo 51.8K
Mercedes 42K
Artigas 40.7K

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/uruguay | 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 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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.