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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,684,564 in 2025 vs 3,384,688 people in Uruguay in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,624,449 people compared to 3,382,672 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 +0.17% per year vs +0.08% in Uruguay.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.58% growth), while Uruguay has grown from 3.29M to 3.38M (2.83% growth).

South Korea vs Uruguay: population by year and forecast

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Uruguay
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Korea Uruguay
2100 22,001,649 2,256,662
2099 22,324,514 2,279,820
2098 22,657,541 2,303,272
2097 22,998,315 2,326,907
2096 23,348,632 2,350,717
2095 23,711,049 2,374,752
2094 24,081,510 2,398,877
2093 24,460,970 2,423,185
2092 24,848,715 2,447,561
2091 25,242,926 2,472,040
2090 25,642,926 2,496,427
2089 26,048,094 2,520,765
2088 26,457,020 2,544,964
2087 26,871,556 2,569,010
2086 27,288,450 2,592,884
2085 27,710,065 2,616,538
2084 28,133,600 2,639,909
2083 28,564,090 2,663,057
2082 28,998,646 2,685,928
2081 29,441,497 2,708,500
2080 29,887,135 2,730,788
2079 30,337,095 2,752,736
2078 30,793,984 2,774,335
2077 31,258,278 2,795,612
2076 31,728,826 2,816,580
2075 32,205,338 2,837,210
2074 32,689,892 2,857,609
2073 33,180,187 2,877,622
2072 33,679,874 2,897,443
2071 34,187,068 2,916,996
2070 34,702,204 2,936,376
2069 35,224,472 2,955,513
2068 35,745,164 2,974,342
2067 36,274,411 2,992,883
2066 36,808,495 3,011,205
2065 37,349,660 3,029,336
2064 37,897,742 3,047,237
2063 38,450,082 3,064,958
2062 39,009,227 3,082,535
2061 39,565,102 3,099,898
2060 40,130,032 3,117,041
2059 40,692,438 3,133,843
2058 41,256,780 3,150,140
2057 41,813,259 3,165,945
2056 42,356,530 3,181,263
2055 42,888,143 3,195,961
2054 43,405,840 3,209,999
2053 43,917,075 3,223,284
2052 44,419,192 3,235,861
2051 44,901,452 3,247,775
2050 45,362,931 3,258,995
2049 45,809,553 3,269,562
2048 46,235,718 3,279,496
2047 46,645,885 3,288,855
2046 47,033,200 3,297,581
2045 47,409,815 3,305,802
2044 47,773,842 3,313,441
2043 48,120,989 3,320,450
2042 48,455,085 3,326,840
2041 48,782,206 3,332,768
2040 49,091,438 3,338,161
2039 49,388,464 3,343,179
2038 49,669,835 3,347,674
2037 49,932,869 3,351,794
2036 50,175,947 3,355,554
2035 50,401,135 3,359,009
2034 50,607,994 3,362,159
2033 50,796,030 3,365,133
2032 50,961,878 3,367,940
2031 51,109,725 3,370,610
2030 51,242,628 3,373,156
2029 51,360,529 3,375,688
2028 51,461,403 3,378,080
2027 51,551,313 3,380,387
2026 51,624,449 3,382,672
2025 51,684,564 3,384,688
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth), while Uruguay's population increased by 3,389 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 45,362,931 people with a rank change from 31st to 48th. The population of Uruguay will decrease by 3.66% to 3,258,995 people and rank change from 133rd to 139th.

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 -0.13% -0.06%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of South Korea declined by 0.13%, while Uruguay's population declined by 0.06%.

Live population counters

South Korea Uruguay
Current population
51624449
3382672
Population rank 31/197 133/197
Percent of world population 0.62% 0.04%
One net population change
7.93 minutes
4.62 hours
One birth every
2.16 minutes
15.8 minutes
One death every
1.45 minutes
15.6 minutes
Daily growth/decline -182 -5
Annual growth/decline -66,501 -1,900
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% -0.06%
Population growth rate rank 169/197 161/197
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 -119,027 75,963 -443 -1,348
2023 -124,111 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/uruguay | 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 Uruguay 66.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,622 people) and 33.4% is from migration (a loss of 23,930 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 114K
Ciudad de la Costa 112K
Maldonado 86.8K
Rivera 84.8K
Paysandu 81.5K
Tacuarembo 60.6K
Melo 56K
Artigas 43.8K
Mercedes 43.5K

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/uruguay | 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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