The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,751,065 in 2024 vs 327,777 people in Vanuatu in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,649,918 people compared to 344,750 in Vanuatu.
Population statistics:
- South Korea's population is 149.8 times bigger than Vanuatu's.
- South Korea is ranked the 31st most populous country in the world, while Vanuatu is the 174th.
- The countries together account for 0.63% of the world: 0.62% for South Korea vs 0.004% for Vanuatu.
- For the last 10 years, South Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.24% per year vs +2.33% in Vanuatu.
- Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.63% growth), while Vanuatu has grown from 216K to 345K (59.7% growth).
South Korea vs Vanuatu: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
South Korea
|
Vanuatu
|
|
| 2100 | 22,012,503 | 883,219 |
| 2099 | 22,335,528 | 878,572 |
| 2098 | 22,668,719 | 873,798 |
| 2097 | 23,009,661 | 868,872 |
| 2096 | 23,360,151 | 863,899 |
| 2095 | 23,722,747 | 858,713 |
| 2094 | 24,093,391 | 853,379 |
| 2093 | 24,473,038 | 847,908 |
| 2092 | 24,860,975 | 842,392 |
| 2091 | 25,255,379 | 836,807 |
| 2090 | 25,655,577 | 831,106 |
| 2089 | 26,060,945 | 825,333 |
| 2088 | 26,470,073 | 819,413 |
| 2087 | 26,884,813 | 813,386 |
| 2086 | 27,301,913 | 807,304 |
| 2085 | 27,723,736 | 801,030 |
| 2084 | 28,147,480 | 794,642 |
| 2083 | 28,578,182 | 788,195 |
| 2082 | 29,012,953 | 781,693 |
| 2081 | 29,456,022 | 775,091 |
| 2080 | 29,901,880 | 768,410 |
| 2079 | 30,352,062 | 761,593 |
| 2078 | 30,809,176 | 754,638 |
| 2077 | 31,273,700 | 747,679 |
| 2076 | 31,744,480 | 740,583 |
| 2075 | 32,221,226 | 733,404 |
| 2074 | 32,706,020 | 726,144 |
| 2073 | 33,196,556 | 718,748 |
| 2072 | 33,696,490 | 711,260 |
| 2071 | 34,203,935 | 703,705 |
| 2070 | 34,719,324 | 696,123 |
| 2069 | 35,241,850 | 688,506 |
| 2068 | 35,762,799 | 680,826 |
| 2067 | 36,292,307 | 673,074 |
| 2066 | 36,826,655 | 665,248 |
| 2065 | 37,368,086 | 657,389 |
| 2064 | 37,916,439 | 649,466 |
| 2063 | 38,469,051 | 641,532 |
| 2062 | 39,028,473 | 633,599 |
| 2061 | 39,584,621 | 625,729 |
| 2060 | 40,149,830 | 617,794 |
| 2059 | 40,712,514 | 609,801 |
| 2058 | 41,277,134 | 601,770 |
| 2057 | 41,833,887 | 593,715 |
| 2056 | 42,377,427 | 585,658 |
| 2055 | 42,909,302 | 577,507 |
| 2054 | 43,427,254 | 569,335 |
| 2053 | 43,938,741 | 561,113 |
| 2052 | 44,441,106 | 552,889 |
| 2051 | 44,923,604 | 544,646 |
| 2050 | 45,385,311 | 536,304 |
| 2049 | 45,832,153 | 527,975 |
| 2048 | 46,258,529 | 519,610 |
| 2047 | 46,668,898 | 511,256 |
| 2046 | 47,056,404 | 502,817 |
| 2045 | 47,433,205 | 494,393 |
| 2044 | 47,797,411 | 485,933 |
| 2043 | 48,144,730 | 477,540 |
| 2042 | 48,478,991 | 469,142 |
| 2041 | 48,806,273 | 460,812 |
| 2040 | 49,115,658 | 452,499 |
| 2039 | 49,412,830 | 444,231 |
| 2038 | 49,694,340 | 435,987 |
| 2037 | 49,957,504 | 427,825 |
| 2036 | 50,200,702 | 419,744 |
| 2035 | 50,426,000 | 411,746 |
| 2034 | 50,632,962 | 403,811 |
| 2033 | 50,821,090 | 395,944 |
| 2032 | 50,987,020 | 388,203 |
| 2031 | 51,134,940 | 380,500 |
| 2030 | 51,267,908 | 372,841 |
| 2029 | 51,385,868 | 365,246 |
| 2028 | 51,486,791 | 357,704 |
| 2027 | 51,576,746 | 350,204 |
| 2026 | 51,649,918 | 342,728 |
| 2025 | 51,710,062 | 335,246 |
| 2024 | 51,751,065 | 327,777 |
| 2023 | 51,712,619 | 320,409 |
| 2022 | 51,672,569 | 313,046 |
| 2021 | 51,769,539 | 305,868 |
| 2020 | 51,836,239 | 298,858 |
| 2019 | 51,764,822 | 291,985 |
| 2018 | 51,585,058 | 285,259 |
| 2017 | 51,361,911 | 278,507 |
| 2016 | 51,217,803 | 272,087 |
| 2015 | 51,014,947 | 266,101 |
| 2014 | 50,746,659 | 260,240 |
| 2013 | 50,428,893 | 254,482 |
| 2012 | 50,199,853 | 248,883 |
| 2011 | 49,936,638 | 243,474 |
| 2010 | 49,554,112 | 238,248 |
| 2009 | 49,307,835 | 232,731 |
| 2008 | 49,054,708 | 226,896 |
| 2007 | 48,683,638 | 221,276 |
| 2006 | 48,438,292 | 215,923 |
| 2005 | 48,184,561 | 210,760 |
| 2004 | 48,082,519 | 205,711 |
| 2003 | 47,892,330 | 200,746 |
| 2002 | 47,644,736 | 195,863 |
| 2001 | 47,370,164 | 191,031 |
| 2000 | 47,008,111 | 186,281 |
| 1999 | 46,616,677 | 182,048 |
| 1998 | 46,286,503 | 178,313 |
| 1997 | 45,953,580 | 174,626 |
| 1996 | 45,524,681 | 170,911 |
| 1995 | 45,092,991 | 167,137 |
| 1994 | 44,641,540 | 163,314 |
| 1993 | 44,194,628 | 159,463 |
| 1992 | 43,747,962 | 155,608 |
| 1991 | 43,295,704 | 151,793 |
| 1990 | 42,869,283 | 148,063 |
| 1989 | 42,449,038 | 144,393 |
| 1988 | 42,031,247 | 140,756 |
| 1987 | 41,621,690 | 137,187 |
| 1986 | 41,213,674 | 133,720 |
| 1985 | 40,805,744 | 130,356 |
| 1984 | 40,405,956 | 127,109 |
| 1983 | 39,910,403 | 123,998 |
| 1982 | 39,326,352 | 121,035 |
| 1981 | 38,723,248 | 118,249 |
| 1980 | 38,123,775 | 115,660 |
| 1979 | 37,534,236 | 113,040 |
| 1978 | 36,969,185 | 109,963 |
| 1977 | 36,411,795 | 106,618 |
| 1976 | 35,848,523 | 103,388 |
| 1975 | 35,280,725 | 100,269 |
| 1974 | 34,692,266 | 97,260 |
| 1973 | 34,103,149 | 94,362 |
| 1972 | 33,505,406 | 91,562 |
| 1971 | 32,882,704 | 88,862 |
| 1970 | 32,240,827 | 86,266 |
| 1969 | 31,544,266 | 83,755 |
| 1968 | 30,838,302 | 81,314 |
| 1967 | 30,130,983 | 78,921 |
| 1966 | 29,435,571 | 76,590 |
| 1965 | 28,704,674 | 74,358 |
| 1964 | 27,984,155 | 72,219 |
| 1963 | 27,261,747 | 70,159 |
| 1962 | 26,513,030 | 68,174 |
| 1961 | 25,765,673 | 66,264 |
| 1960 | 25,012,374 | 64,431 |
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/vanuatu | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Korea increased by 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth), while Vanuatu gained 56,164 people (a 26% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Korea gained 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth), while Vanuatu's population increased by 72,663 people (a 26.7% growth).
South Korea was ranked 25th most populous country in 2006 and is 31st in 2026. Vanuatu was ranked 175th in 2006 and ranked 174th 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 Vanuatu will increase by 55.6% to 536,304 people and rank change from 174th to 169th.
Vanuatu is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 883K 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
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Korea
|
Vanuatu
|
|
| 2100 | -1.45% | 0.53% |
| 2099 | -1.47% | 0.55% |
| 2098 | -1.48% | 0.57% |
| 2097 | -1.5% | 0.58% |
| 2096 | -1.53% | 0.6% |
| 2095 | -1.54% | 0.63% |
| 2094 | -1.55% | 0.65% |
| 2093 | -1.56% | 0.65% |
| 2092 | -1.56% | 0.67% |
| 2091 | -1.56% | 0.69% |
| 2090 | -1.56% | 0.7% |
| 2089 | -1.55% | 0.72% |
| 2088 | -1.54% | 0.74% |
| 2087 | -1.53% | 0.75% |
| 2086 | -1.52% | 0.78% |
| 2085 | -1.51% | 0.8% |
| 2084 | -1.51% | 0.82% |
| 2083 | -1.5% | 0.83% |
| 2082 | -1.5% | 0.85% |
| 2081 | -1.49% | 0.87% |
| 2080 | -1.48% | 0.9% |
| 2079 | -1.48% | 0.92% |
| 2078 | -1.49% | 0.93% |
| 2077 | -1.48% | 0.96% |
| 2076 | -1.48% | 0.98% |
| 2075 | -1.48% | 1% |
| 2074 | -1.48% | 1.03% |
| 2073 | -1.48% | 1.05% |
| 2072 | -1.48% | 1.07% |
| 2071 | -1.48% | 1.09% |
| 2070 | -1.48% | 1.11% |
| 2069 | -1.46% | 1.13% |
| 2068 | -1.46% | 1.15% |
| 2067 | -1.45% | 1.18% |
| 2066 | -1.45% | 1.2% |
| 2065 | -1.45% | 1.22% |
| 2064 | -1.44% | 1.24% |
| 2063 | -1.43% | 1.25% |
| 2062 | -1.4% | 1.26% |
| 2061 | -1.41% | 1.28% |
| 2060 | -1.38% | 1.31% |
| 2059 | -1.37% | 1.33% |
| 2058 | -1.33% | 1.36% |
| 2057 | -1.28% | 1.38% |
| 2056 | -1.24% | 1.41% |
| 2055 | -1.19% | 1.44% |
| 2054 | -1.16% | 1.47% |
| 2053 | -1.13% | 1.49% |
| 2052 | -1.07% | 1.51% |
| 2051 | -1.02% | 1.56% |
| 2050 | -0.97% | 1.58% |
| 2049 | -0.92% | 1.61% |
| 2048 | -0.88% | 1.63% |
| 2047 | -0.82% | 1.68% |
| 2046 | -0.79% | 1.7% |
| 2045 | -0.76% | 1.74% |
| 2044 | -0.72% | 1.76% |
| 2043 | -0.69% | 1.79% |
| 2042 | -0.67% | 1.81% |
| 2041 | -0.63% | 1.84% |
| 2040 | -0.6% | 1.86% |
| 2039 | -0.57% | 1.89% |
| 2038 | -0.53% | 1.91% |
| 2037 | -0.48% | 1.93% |
| 2036 | -0.45% | 1.94% |
| 2035 | -0.41% | 1.97% |
| 2034 | -0.37% | 1.99% |
| 2033 | -0.33% | 1.99% |
| 2032 | -0.29% | 2.02% |
| 2031 | -0.26% | 2.05% |
| 2030 | -0.23% | 2.08% |
| 2029 | -0.2% | 2.11% |
| 2028 | -0.17% | 2.14% |
| 2027 | -0.14% | 2.18% |
| 2026 | -0.12% | 2.23% |
| 2025 | -0.08% | 2.28% |
| 2024 | 0.07% | 2.3% |
| 2023 | 0.08% | 2.35% |
| 2022 | -0.19% | 2.35% |
| 2021 | -0.13% | 2.35% |
| 2020 | 0.14% | 2.35% |
| 2019 | 0.35% | 2.36% |
| 2018 | 0.43% | 2.42% |
| 2017 | 0.28% | 2.36% |
| 2016 | 0.4% | 2.25% |
| 2015 | 0.53% | 2.25% |
| 2014 | 0.63% | 2.26% |
| 2013 | 0.46% | 2.25% |
| 2012 | 0.53% | 2.22% |
| 2011 | 0.77% | 2.19% |
| 2010 | 0.5% | 2.37% |
| 2009 | 0.52% | 2.57% |
| 2008 | 0.76% | 2.54% |
| 2007 | 0.51% | 2.48% |
| 2006 | 0.53% | 2.45% |
| 2005 | 0.21% | 2.45% |
| 2004 | 0.4% | 2.47% |
| 2003 | 0.52% | 2.49% |
| 2002 | 0.58% | 2.53% |
| 2001 | 0.77% | 2.55% |
| 2000 | 0.84% | 2.33% |
| 1999 | 0.71% | 2.09% |
| 1998 | 0.72% | 2.11% |
| 1997 | 0.94% | 2.17% |
| 1996 | 0.96% | 2.26% |
| 1995 | 1.01% | 2.34% |
| 1994 | 1.01% | 2.41% |
| 1993 | 1.02% | 2.48% |
| 1992 | 1.04% | 2.51% |
| 1991 | 0.99% | 2.52% |
| 1990 | 0.99% | 2.54% |
| 1989 | 0.99% | 2.58% |
| 1988 | 0.98% | 2.6% |
| 1987 | 0.99% | 2.59% |
| 1986 | 1% | 2.58% |
| 1985 | 0.99% | 2.55% |
| 1984 | 1.24% | 2.51% |
| 1983 | 1.49% | 2.45% |
| 1982 | 1.56% | 2.36% |
| 1981 | 1.57% | 2.24% |
| 1980 | 1.57% | 2.32% |
| 1979 | 1.53% | 2.8% |
| 1978 | 1.53% | 3.14% |
| 1977 | 1.57% | 3.12% |
| 1976 | 1.61% | 3.11% |
| 1975 | 1.7% | 3.09% |
| 1974 | 1.73% | 3.07% |
| 1973 | 1.78% | 3.06% |
| 1972 | 1.89% | 3.04% |
| 1971 | 1.99% | 3.01% |
| 1970 | 2.21% | 3% |
| 1969 | 2.29% | 3% |
| 1968 | 2.35% | 3.03% |
| 1967 | 2.36% | 3.04% |
| 1966 | 2.55% | 3% |
| 1965 | 2.57% | 2.96% |
| 1964 | 2.65% | 2.94% |
| 1963 | 2.82% | 2.91% |
| 1962 | 2.9% | 2.88% |
| 1961 | 3.01% | 2.84% |
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/vanuatu | CC BY
In 2024, the population of South Korea grew by 0.07%, while Vanuatu's population grew by 2.3%.
Live population counters
|
South Korea
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
51649918
|
344750
|
| Population rank | 31/197 | 174/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.62% | 0.004% |
| One net population change |
13.7 minutes
|
1.19 hours
|
| One birth every |
2.26 minutes
|
58.5 minutes
|
| One death every |
1.69 minutes
|
5.38 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +105 | +20 |
| Annual growth/decline | +38,446 | +7,368 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.07% | +2.3% |
| Population growth rate rank | 160/197 | 38/197 |
| One migration net change every |
8.02 minutes
|
1.01 weeks
|
| Annual migration change | +65,731 | -52 |
| Net migration rank | 20/196 | 80/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 1,811,507 | 3,315 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 40/195 | 188/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 3.5% | 1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 111/195 | 155/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
South Korea
|
Vanuatu
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 65,731 | - | -52 |
| 2024 | - | 75,963 | - | -43 |
| 2023 | -77,569 | 87,800 | 7,359 | 0 |
| 2022 | -124,014 | 87,800 | 7,358 | 0 |
| 2021 | -56,947 | -16,778 | 7,199 | -201 |
| 2020 | -31,101 | 112,631 | 7,233 | -201 |
| 2019 | 10,353 | 128,622 | 7,364 | -652 |
| 2018 | 30,951 | 118,220 | 7,379 | -638 |
| 2017 | 71,907 | 104,029 | 7,371 | -610 |
| 2016 | 122,923 | 91,568 | 7,315 | -1,235 |
| 2015 | 163,248 | 276,427 | 7,220 | -1,324 |
| 2014 | 167,464 | 308,037 | 7,143 | -1,320 |
| 2013 | 166,415 | 301,926 | 7,036 | -1,343 |
| 2012 | 215,859 | 281,866 | 6,877 | -1,369 |
| 2011 | 214,728 | 269,958 | 6,715 | -1,395 |
| 2010 | 213,083 | 52,042 | 6,548 | -1,413 |
| 2009 | 197,231 | 5,308 | 6,362 | -467 |
| 2008 | 215,841 | -19,630 | 6,138 | -372 |
| 2007 | 248,286 | -42,293 | 5,842 | -374 |
| 2006 | 203,441 | -28,434 | 5,606 | -364 |
| 2005 | 187,920 | -47,821 | 5,454 | -364 |
| 2004 | 225,988 | -42,549 | 5,353 | -349 |
| 2003 | 244,251 | -31,994 | 5,258 | -342 |
| 2002 | 247,752 | -18,105 | 5,181 | -329 |
| 2001 | 312,643 | -28,006 | 5,144 | -328 |
| 2000 | 390,167 | -84,960 | 5,026 | -339 |
| 1999 | 368,272 | -107,448 | 4,871 | -1,090 |
| 1998 | 393,436 | -98,044 | 4,866 | -1,178 |
| 1997 | 422,773 | -109,130 | 4,854 | -1,166 |
| 1996 | 446,142 | -115,705 | 4,897 | -1,154 |
| 1995 | 468,967 | -208,491 | 4,945 | -1,140 |
| 1994 | 473,200 | -208,309 | 4,973 | -1,132 |
| 1993 | 477,302 | -222,802 | 4,973 | -1,115 |
| 1992 | 494,352 | -265,849 | 4,941 | -1,095 |
| 1991 | 467,594 | -270,754 | 4,859 | -1,078 |
| 1990 | 411,546 | 79,294 | 4,762 | -1,072 |
| 1989 | 403,266 | 186,120 | 4,656 | -1,006 |
| 1988 | 399,297 | 192,534 | 4,577 | -959 |
| 1987 | 378,758 | 198,057 | 4,427 | -907 |
| 1986 | 395,651 | 189,782 | 4,360 | -938 |
| 1985 | 416,219 | 97,949 | 4,219 | -916 |
| 1984 | 436,384 | 101,394 | 4,088 | -907 |
| 1983 | 514,844 | 102,167 | 3,944 | -899 |
| 1982 | 605,626 | 48,638 | 3,778 | -897 |
| 1981 | 631,189 | 18,442 | 3,592 | -896 |
| 1980 | 583,294 | -148,341 | 3,383 | -896 |
| 1979 | 623,068 | -139,566 | 3,590 | -845 |
| 1978 | 499,084 | -85,721 | 3,428 | -15 |
| 1977 | 578,947 | -90,737 | 3,285 | -3 |
| 1976 | 530,558 | -92,314 | 3,174 | 3 |
| 1975 | 603,300 | -52,332 | 3,074 | -15 |
| 1974 | 673,030 | 27,005 | 2,968 | -17 |
| 1973 | 699,115 | 35,779 | 2,876 | -22 |
| 1972 | 740,469 | 25,382 | 2,775 | -28 |
| 1971 | 789,185 | -6,326 | 2,685 | -40 |
| 1970 | 747,987 | -27,999 | 2,597 | -46 |
| 1969 | 694,227 | -21,175 | 2,529 | -53 |
| 1968 | 684,487 | -16,868 | 2,470 | -68 |
| 1967 | 692,169 | -16,484 | 2,384 | 0 |
| 1966 | 623,534 | -16,688 | 2,278 | 0 |
| 1965 | 641,090 | -146,386 | 2,180 | 0 |
| 1964 | 655,501 | -102,284 | 2,098 | 0 |
| 1963 | 685,824 | -80,226 | 2,025 | 0 |
| 1962 | 712,590 | -94,606 | 1,947 | 0 |
| 1961 | 730,173 | -93,179 | 1,872 | 0 |
| 1960 | 728,010 | 47,245 | 1,796 | 0 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/vanuatu | 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 Vanuatu 92.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 72,941 people) and 7.81% is from migration (a loss of 6,181 people).
As of 2024, 1,811,507 residents or 3.5% of the population were not native-born in South Korea, compared to 3,315 people or 1% in Vanuatu.
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 |
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Port Vila | 49K |
| Luganville | 17.7K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between South Korea and Vanuatu
|
South Korea
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 84.6 years | 72 years |
| Average age | 44.8 years | 25.6 years |
| Median age | 46.1 years | 21.3 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.9:50.1 | 50.5:49.5 |
| Fertility rate | 0.72 births per woman | 3.6 births per woman |
| Population density | 1,371 ppl/mi² | 72.8 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/vanuatu | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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