The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,751,065 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,649,918 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.
Population statistics:
- South Korea's population is 55,182 times bigger than the Vatican's.
- South Korea is ranked the 31st most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
- The countries together account for 0.62% of the world: 0.62% for South Korea vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
- For the last 10 years, South Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.24% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
- Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.63% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).
South Korea vs Vatican: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
South Korea
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2100 | 22,012,503 | 2,521 |
| 2099 | 22,335,528 | 2,506 |
| 2098 | 22,668,719 | 2,497 |
| 2097 | 23,009,661 | 2,482 |
| 2096 | 23,360,151 | 2,469 |
| 2095 | 23,722,747 | 2,452 |
| 2094 | 24,093,391 | 2,435 |
| 2093 | 24,473,038 | 2,421 |
| 2092 | 24,860,975 | 2,400 |
| 2091 | 25,255,379 | 2,384 |
| 2090 | 25,655,577 | 2,359 |
| 2089 | 26,060,945 | 2,337 |
| 2088 | 26,470,073 | 2,319 |
| 2087 | 26,884,813 | 2,291 |
| 2086 | 27,301,913 | 2,269 |
| 2085 | 27,723,736 | 2,248 |
| 2084 | 28,147,480 | 2,217 |
| 2083 | 28,578,182 | 2,183 |
| 2082 | 29,012,953 | 2,159 |
| 2081 | 29,456,022 | 2,129 |
| 2080 | 29,901,880 | 2,105 |
| 2079 | 30,352,062 | 2,089 |
| 2078 | 30,809,176 | 2,068 |
| 2077 | 31,273,700 | 2,050 |
| 2076 | 31,744,480 | 2,025 |
| 2075 | 32,221,226 | 2,001 |
| 2074 | 32,706,020 | 1,970 |
| 2073 | 33,196,556 | 1,944 |
| 2072 | 33,696,490 | 1,912 |
| 2071 | 34,203,935 | 1,866 |
| 2070 | 34,719,324 | 1,829 |
| 2069 | 35,241,850 | 1,795 |
| 2068 | 35,762,799 | 1,777 |
| 2067 | 36,292,307 | 1,755 |
| 2066 | 36,826,655 | 1,729 |
| 2065 | 37,368,086 | 1,701 |
| 2064 | 37,916,439 | 1,679 |
| 2063 | 38,469,051 | 1,651 |
| 2062 | 39,028,473 | 1,623 |
| 2061 | 39,584,621 | 1,595 |
| 2060 | 40,149,830 | 1,556 |
| 2059 | 40,712,514 | 1,530 |
| 2058 | 41,277,134 | 1,512 |
| 2057 | 41,833,887 | 1,493 |
| 2056 | 42,377,427 | 1,469 |
| 2055 | 42,909,302 | 1,441 |
| 2054 | 43,427,254 | 1,419 |
| 2053 | 43,938,741 | 1,382 |
| 2052 | 44,441,106 | 1,358 |
| 2051 | 44,923,604 | 1,335 |
| 2050 | 45,385,311 | 1,311 |
| 2049 | 45,832,153 | 1,283 |
| 2048 | 46,258,529 | 1,256 |
| 2047 | 46,668,898 | 1,237 |
| 2046 | 47,056,404 | 1,215 |
| 2045 | 47,433,205 | 1,192 |
| 2044 | 47,797,411 | 1,174 |
| 2043 | 48,144,730 | 1,152 |
| 2042 | 48,478,991 | 1,135 |
| 2041 | 48,806,273 | 1,105 |
| 2040 | 49,115,658 | 1,070 |
| 2039 | 49,412,830 | 1,033 |
| 2038 | 49,694,340 | 1,001 |
| 2037 | 49,957,504 | 996 |
| 2036 | 50,200,702 | 1,001 |
| 2035 | 50,426,000 | 988 |
| 2034 | 50,632,962 | 988 |
| 2033 | 50,821,090 | 974 |
| 2032 | 50,987,020 | 964 |
| 2031 | 51,134,940 | 977 |
| 2030 | 51,267,908 | 979 |
| 2029 | 51,385,868 | 985 |
| 2028 | 51,486,791 | 983 |
| 2027 | 51,576,746 | 946 |
| 2026 | 51,649,918 | 933 |
| 2025 | 51,710,062 | 927 |
| 2024 | 51,751,065 | 910 |
| 2023 | 51,712,619 | 927 |
| 2022 | 51,672,569 | 951 |
| 2021 | 51,769,539 | 972 |
| 2020 | 51,836,239 | 987 |
| 2019 | 51,764,822 | 1,000 |
| 2018 | 51,585,058 | - |
| 2017 | 51,361,911 | 1,000 |
| 2016 | 51,217,803 | - |
| 2015 | 51,014,947 | 1,000 |
| 2014 | 50,746,659 | 842 |
| 2013 | 50,428,893 | 839 |
| 2012 | 50,199,853 | 836 |
| 2011 | 49,936,638 | 832 |
| 2010 | 49,554,112 | 829 |
| 2009 | 49,307,835 | 826 |
| 2008 | 49,054,708 | 824 |
| 2007 | 48,683,638 | 821 |
| 2006 | 48,438,292 | 932 |
| 2005 | 48,184,561 | 921 |
| 2004 | 48,082,519 | 921 |
| 2003 | 47,892,330 | 911 |
| 2002 | 47,644,736 | 900 |
| 2001 | 47,370,164 | 890 |
| 2000 | 47,008,111 | 880 |
| 1999 | 46,616,677 | - |
| 1998 | 46,286,503 | - |
| 1997 | 45,953,580 | - |
| 1996 | 45,524,681 | - |
| 1995 | 45,092,991 | - |
| 1994 | 44,641,540 | - |
| 1993 | 44,194,628 | - |
| 1992 | 43,747,962 | - |
| 1991 | 43,295,704 | - |
| 1990 | 42,869,283 | - |
| 1989 | 42,449,038 | - |
| 1988 | 42,031,247 | - |
| 1987 | 41,621,690 | - |
| 1986 | 41,213,674 | - |
| 1985 | 40,805,744 | - |
| 1984 | 40,405,956 | - |
| 1983 | 39,910,403 | - |
| 1982 | 39,326,352 | - |
| 1981 | 38,723,248 | - |
| 1980 | 38,123,775 | - |
| 1979 | 37,534,236 | - |
| 1978 | 36,969,185 | - |
| 1977 | 36,411,795 | - |
| 1976 | 35,848,523 | - |
| 1975 | 35,280,725 | - |
| 1974 | 34,692,266 | - |
| 1973 | 34,103,149 | - |
| 1972 | 33,505,406 | - |
| 1971 | 32,882,704 | - |
| 1970 | 32,240,827 | - |
| 1969 | 31,544,266 | - |
| 1968 | 30,838,302 | - |
| 1967 | 30,130,983 | - |
| 1966 | 29,435,571 | - |
| 1965 | 28,704,674 | - |
| 1964 | 27,984,155 | - |
| 1963 | 27,261,747 | - |
| 1962 | 26,513,030 | - |
| 1961 | 25,765,673 | - |
| 1960 | 25,012,374 | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/vatican | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Korea increased by 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Korea gained 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).
South Korea was ranked 25th most populous country in 2006 and is 31st in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th 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 the Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.
The Vatican is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 2.52K 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
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2100 | -1.45% | 0.59% |
| 2099 | -1.47% | 0.37% |
| 2098 | -1.48% | 0.6% |
| 2097 | -1.5% | 0.53% |
| 2096 | -1.53% | 0.68% |
| 2095 | -1.54% | 0.69% |
| 2094 | -1.55% | 0.61% |
| 2093 | -1.56% | 0.85% |
| 2092 | -1.56% | 0.7% |
| 2091 | -1.56% | 1.02% |
| 2090 | -1.56% | 0.95% |
| 2089 | -1.55% | 0.8% |
| 2088 | -1.54% | 1.21% |
| 2087 | -1.53% | 0.98% |
| 2086 | -1.52% | 0.91% |
| 2085 | -1.51% | 1.42% |
| 2084 | -1.51% | 1.53% |
| 2083 | -1.5% | 1.12% |
| 2082 | -1.5% | 1.39% |
| 2081 | -1.49% | 1.15% |
| 2080 | -1.48% | 0.8% |
| 2079 | -1.48% | 0.99% |
| 2078 | -1.49% | 0.9% |
| 2077 | -1.48% | 1.19% |
| 2076 | -1.48% | 1.2% |
| 2075 | -1.48% | 1.6% |
| 2074 | -1.48% | 1.34% |
| 2073 | -1.48% | 1.65% |
| 2072 | -1.48% | 2.49% |
| 2071 | -1.48% | 2.03% |
| 2070 | -1.48% | 1.86% |
| 2069 | -1.46% | 1.04% |
| 2068 | -1.46% | 1.27% |
| 2067 | -1.45% | 1.5% |
| 2066 | -1.45% | 1.64% |
| 2065 | -1.45% | 1.33% |
| 2064 | -1.44% | 1.69% |
| 2063 | -1.43% | 1.71% |
| 2062 | -1.4% | 1.74% |
| 2061 | -1.41% | 2.5% |
| 2060 | -1.38% | 1.7% |
| 2059 | -1.37% | 1.23% |
| 2058 | -1.33% | 1.24% |
| 2057 | -1.28% | 1.64% |
| 2056 | -1.24% | 1.93% |
| 2055 | -1.19% | 1.57% |
| 2054 | -1.16% | 2.68% |
| 2053 | -1.13% | 1.78% |
| 2052 | -1.07% | 1.67% |
| 2051 | -1.02% | 1.84% |
| 2050 | -0.97% | 2.17% |
| 2049 | -0.92% | 2.22% |
| 2048 | -0.88% | 1.5% |
| 2047 | -0.82% | 1.83% |
| 2046 | -0.79% | 1.87% |
| 2045 | -0.76% | 1.58% |
| 2044 | -0.72% | 1.93% |
| 2043 | -0.69% | 1.47% |
| 2042 | -0.67% | 2.68% |
| 2041 | -0.63% | 3.29% |
| 2040 | -0.6% | 3.59% |
| 2039 | -0.57% | 3.15% |
| 2038 | -0.53% | 0.56% |
| 2037 | -0.48% | -0.56% |
| 2036 | -0.45% | 1.31% |
| 2035 | -0.41% | 0% |
| 2034 | -0.37% | 1.52% |
| 2033 | -0.33% | 0.96% |
| 2032 | -0.29% | -1.33% |
| 2031 | -0.26% | -0.19% |
| 2030 | -0.23% | -0.56% |
| 2029 | -0.2% | 0.19% |
| 2028 | -0.17% | 3.92% |
| 2027 | -0.14% | 1.39% |
| 2026 | -0.12% | 0.6% |
| 2025 | -0.08% | 1.83% |
| 2024 | 0.07% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 0.08% | -2.53% |
| 2022 | -0.19% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | -0.13% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 0.14% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 0.35% | 0% |
| 2018 | 0.43% | 0% |
| 2017 | 0.28% | 0% |
| 2016 | 0.4% | 0% |
| 2015 | 0.53% | 18.8% |
| 2014 | 0.63% | 0.36% |
| 2013 | 0.46% | 0.36% |
| 2012 | 0.53% | 0.48% |
| 2011 | 0.77% | 0.36% |
| 2010 | 0.5% | 0.36% |
| 2009 | 0.52% | 0.24% |
| 2008 | 0.76% | 0.37% |
| 2007 | 0.51% | -11.9% |
| 2006 | 0.53% | 1.19% |
| 2005 | 0.21% | 0% |
| 2004 | 0.4% | 1.1% |
| 2003 | 0.52% | 1.22% |
| 2002 | 0.58% | 1.12% |
| 2001 | 0.77% | 1.14% |
| 2000 | 0.84% | - |
| 1999 | 0.71% | - |
| 1998 | 0.72% | - |
| 1997 | 0.94% | - |
| 1996 | 0.96% | - |
| 1995 | 1.01% | - |
| 1994 | 1.01% | - |
| 1993 | 1.02% | - |
| 1992 | 1.04% | - |
| 1991 | 0.99% | - |
| 1990 | 0.99% | - |
| 1989 | 0.99% | - |
| 1988 | 0.98% | - |
| 1987 | 0.99% | - |
| 1986 | 1% | - |
| 1985 | 0.99% | - |
| 1984 | 1.24% | - |
| 1983 | 1.49% | - |
| 1982 | 1.56% | - |
| 1981 | 1.57% | - |
| 1980 | 1.57% | - |
| 1979 | 1.53% | - |
| 1978 | 1.53% | - |
| 1977 | 1.57% | - |
| 1976 | 1.61% | - |
| 1975 | 1.7% | - |
| 1974 | 1.73% | - |
| 1973 | 1.78% | - |
| 1972 | 1.89% | - |
| 1971 | 1.99% | - |
| 1970 | 2.21% | - |
| 1969 | 2.29% | - |
| 1968 | 2.35% | - |
| 1967 | 2.36% | - |
| 1966 | 2.55% | - |
| 1965 | 2.57% | - |
| 1964 | 2.65% | - |
| 1963 | 2.82% | - |
| 1962 | 2.9% | - |
| 1961 | 3.01% | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/vatican | CC BY
In 2024, the population of South Korea grew by 0.07%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.
Live population counters
|
South Korea
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
51649918
|
936
|
| Population rank | 31/197 | 197/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.62% | 0.00001% |
| One net population change |
13.7 minutes
|
1 month
|
| One birth every |
2.26 minutes
|
n/a |
| One death every |
1.69 minutes
|
n/a |
| Daily growth/decline | +105 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | +38,446 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.07% | +0% |
| Population growth rate rank | 160/197 | 163/197 |
| One migration net change every |
8.02 minutes
|
n/a |
| Annual migration change | +65,731 | n/a |
| Net migration rank | 20/196 | |
| Foreign-born residents | 1,811,507 | n/a |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 40/195 | |
| Foreign-born share of population | 3.5% | n/a |
| Foreign-born share rank | 111/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
South Korea
|
Vatican
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 65,731 | - | - |
| 2024 | - | 75,963 | - | - |
| 2023 | -77,569 | 87,800 | - | - |
| 2022 | -124,014 | 87,800 | - | - |
| 2021 | -56,947 | -16,778 | - | - |
| 2020 | -31,101 | 112,631 | - | - |
| 2019 | 10,353 | 128,622 | - | - |
| 2018 | 30,951 | 118,220 | - | - |
| 2017 | 71,907 | 104,029 | - | - |
| 2016 | 122,923 | 91,568 | - | - |
| 2015 | 163,248 | 276,427 | - | - |
| 2014 | 167,464 | 308,037 | - | - |
| 2013 | 166,415 | 301,926 | - | - |
| 2012 | 215,859 | 281,866 | - | - |
| 2011 | 214,728 | 269,958 | - | - |
| 2010 | 213,083 | 52,042 | - | - |
| 2009 | 197,231 | 5,308 | - | - |
| 2008 | 215,841 | -19,630 | - | - |
| 2007 | 248,286 | -42,293 | - | - |
| 2006 | 203,441 | -28,434 | - | - |
| 2005 | 187,920 | -47,821 | - | - |
| 2004 | 225,988 | -42,549 | - | - |
| 2003 | 244,251 | -31,994 | - | - |
| 2002 | 247,752 | -18,105 | - | - |
| 2001 | 312,643 | -28,006 | - | - |
| 2000 | 390,167 | -84,960 | - | - |
| 1999 | 368,272 | -107,448 | - | - |
| 1998 | 393,436 | -98,044 | - | - |
| 1997 | 422,773 | -109,130 | - | - |
| 1996 | 446,142 | -115,705 | - | - |
| 1995 | 468,967 | -208,491 | - | - |
| 1994 | 473,200 | -208,309 | - | - |
| 1993 | 477,302 | -222,802 | - | - |
| 1992 | 494,352 | -265,849 | - | - |
| 1991 | 467,594 | -270,754 | - | - |
| 1990 | 411,546 | 79,294 | - | - |
| 1989 | 403,266 | 186,120 | - | - |
| 1988 | 399,297 | 192,534 | - | - |
| 1987 | 378,758 | 198,057 | - | - |
| 1986 | 395,651 | 189,782 | - | - |
| 1985 | 416,219 | 97,949 | - | - |
| 1984 | 436,384 | 101,394 | - | - |
| 1983 | 514,844 | 102,167 | - | - |
| 1982 | 605,626 | 48,638 | - | - |
| 1981 | 631,189 | 18,442 | - | - |
| 1980 | 583,294 | -148,341 | - | - |
| 1979 | 623,068 | -139,566 | - | - |
| 1978 | 499,084 | -85,721 | - | - |
| 1977 | 578,947 | -90,737 | - | - |
| 1976 | 530,558 | -92,314 | - | - |
| 1975 | 603,300 | -52,332 | - | - |
| 1974 | 673,030 | 27,005 | - | - |
| 1973 | 699,115 | 35,779 | - | - |
| 1972 | 740,469 | 25,382 | - | - |
| 1971 | 789,185 | -6,326 | - | - |
| 1970 | 747,987 | -27,999 | - | - |
| 1969 | 694,227 | -21,175 | - | - |
| 1968 | 684,487 | -16,868 | - | - |
| 1967 | 692,169 | -16,484 | - | - |
| 1966 | 623,534 | -16,688 | - | - |
| 1965 | 641,090 | -146,386 | - | - |
| 1964 | 655,501 | -102,284 | - | - |
| 1963 | 685,824 | -80,226 | - | - |
| 1962 | 712,590 | -94,606 | - | - |
| 1961 | 730,173 | -93,179 | - | - |
| 1960 | 728,010 | 47,245 | - | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/vatican | CC BY
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 |
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Vatican City | 882 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between South Korea and the Vatican
|
South Korea
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 84.6 years | 83.4 years |
| Average age | 44.8 years | n/a |
| Median age | 46.1 years | n/a |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.9:50.1 | n/a |
| Fertility rate | 0.72 births per woman | n/a |
| Population density | 1,371 ppl/mi² | 5,493 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/vatican | 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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