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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,684,564 in 2025 vs 101,598,527 people in Vietnam in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,624,449 people compared to 102,486,146 in Vietnam.

Population statistics:

  • Vietnam's population is 1.99 times bigger than South Korea's.
  • South Korea is ranked the 31st most populous country in the world, while Vietnam is the 16th.
  • The countries together account for 1.85% of the world: 0.62% for South Korea vs 1.23% for Vietnam.
  • For the last 10 years, South Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.17% per year vs +0.94% in Vietnam.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.58% growth), while Vietnam has grown from 82.2M to 102M (24.7% growth).

South Korea vs Vietnam: population by year and forecast

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Vietnam
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Korea Vietnam
2100 22,001,649 92,225,380
2099 22,324,514 92,721,469
2098 22,657,541 93,212,742
2097 22,998,315 93,688,693
2096 23,348,632 94,163,950
2095 23,711,049 94,626,063
2094 24,081,510 95,083,879
2093 24,460,970 95,543,293
2092 24,848,715 96,000,019
2091 25,242,926 96,459,165
2090 25,642,926 96,922,871
2089 26,048,094 97,384,434
2088 26,457,020 97,843,001
2087 26,871,556 98,308,755
2086 27,288,450 98,773,008
2085 27,710,065 99,233,927
2084 28,133,600 99,695,401
2083 28,564,090 100,162,677
2082 28,998,646 100,634,653
2081 29,441,497 101,104,469
2080 29,887,135 101,568,526
2079 30,337,095 102,030,723
2078 30,793,984 102,480,219
2077 31,258,278 102,928,253
2076 31,728,826 103,358,352
2075 32,205,338 103,783,177
2074 32,689,892 104,197,814
2073 33,180,187 104,606,950
2072 33,679,874 105,005,673
2071 34,187,068 105,384,777
2070 34,702,204 105,757,144
2069 35,224,472 106,110,195
2068 35,745,164 106,454,379
2067 36,274,411 106,794,625
2066 36,808,495 107,126,965
2065 37,349,660 107,442,675
2064 37,897,742 107,744,261
2063 38,450,082 108,038,461
2062 39,009,227 108,322,712
2061 39,565,102 108,590,617
2060 40,130,032 108,842,045
2059 40,692,438 109,087,333
2058 41,256,780 109,320,301
2057 41,813,259 109,529,799
2056 42,356,530 109,715,196
2055 42,888,143 109,886,647
2054 43,405,840 110,035,740
2053 43,917,075 110,156,643
2052 44,419,192 110,253,026
2051 44,901,452 110,321,289
2050 45,362,931 110,344,733
2049 45,809,553 110,339,565
2048 46,235,718 110,296,602
2047 46,645,885 110,211,618
2046 47,033,200 110,090,837
2045 47,409,815 109,926,260
2044 47,773,842 109,731,512
2043 48,120,989 109,497,595
2042 48,455,085 109,225,525
2041 48,782,206 108,919,674
2040 49,091,438 108,594,542
2039 49,388,464 108,237,715
2038 49,669,835 107,861,117
2037 49,932,869 107,463,482
2036 50,175,947 107,058,359
2035 50,401,135 106,630,705
2034 50,607,994 106,189,495
2033 50,796,030 105,745,684
2032 50,961,878 105,283,013
2031 51,109,725 104,809,957
2030 51,242,628 104,314,150
2029 51,360,529 103,819,556
2028 51,461,403 103,300,347
2027 51,551,313 102,759,746
2026 51,624,449 102,197,177
2025 51,684,564 101,598,527
2024 51,751,065 100,987,686
2023 51,712,619 100,352,192
2022 51,672,569 99,680,655
2021 51,769,539 98,935,098
2020 51,836,239 98,079,191
2019 51,764,822 97,173,776
2018 51,585,058 96,237,319
2017 51,361,911 95,176,977
2016 51,217,803 94,000,117
2015 51,014,947 92,823,254
2014 50,746,659 91,679,578
2013 50,428,893 90,573,104
2012 50,199,853 89,510,356
2011 49,936,638 88,468,314
2010 49,554,112 87,455,152
2009 49,307,835 86,460,018
2008 49,054,708 85,175,788
2007 48,683,638 83,633,375
2006 48,438,292 82,167,897
2005 48,184,561 81,088,313
2004 48,082,519 80,338,971
2003 47,892,330 79,563,777
2002 47,644,736 78,772,224
2001 47,370,164 77,969,361
2000 47,008,111 77,154,011
1999 46,616,677 76,287,452
1998 46,286,503 75,299,660
1997 45,953,580 74,226,889
1996 45,524,681 73,156,447
1995 45,092,991 72,049,940
1994 44,641,540 70,854,391
1993 44,194,628 69,586,384
1992 43,747,962 68,260,337
1991 43,295,704 66,891,775
1990 42,869,283 65,504,552
1989 42,449,038 64,147,348
1988 42,031,247 62,843,228
1987 41,621,690 61,584,651
1986 41,213,674 60,347,048
1985 40,805,744 59,060,622
1984 40,405,956 57,706,067
1983 39,910,403 56,337,921
1982 39,326,352 55,011,289
1981 38,723,248 53,738,141
1980 38,123,775 52,490,101
1979 37,534,236 51,378,211
1978 36,969,185 50,249,552
1977 36,411,795 48,954,872
1976 35,848,523 47,684,931
1975 35,280,725 46,482,903
1974 34,692,266 45,413,537
1973 34,103,149 44,409,861
1972 33,505,406 43,429,168
1971 32,882,704 42,449,276
1970 32,240,827 41,475,230
1969 31,544,266 40,582,096
1968 30,838,302 39,734,609
1967 30,130,983 38,895,080
1966 29,435,571 38,024,836
1965 28,704,674 37,129,656
1964 27,984,155 36,201,563
1963 27,261,747 35,249,101
1962 26,513,030 34,288,560
1961 25,765,673 33,409,059
1960 25,012,374 32,531,933

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/vietnam | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Korea increased by 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth), while Vietnam gained 11,832,220 people (a 14.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Korea gained 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth), while Vietnam's population increased by 8,486,029 people (a 9.03% growth).

South Korea was ranked 25th most populous country in 2006 and is 31st in 2026. Vietnam was ranked 15th in 2006 and ranked 16th 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 Vietnam will increase by 7.67% to 110,344,733 people and will still be ranked 16th.

Vietnam is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 110M 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
Vietnam
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Korea Vietnam
2100 -1.45% -0.54%
2099 -1.47% -0.53%
2098 -1.48% -0.51%
2097 -1.5% -0.5%
2096 -1.53% -0.49%
2095 -1.54% -0.48%
2094 -1.55% -0.48%
2093 -1.56% -0.48%
2092 -1.56% -0.48%
2091 -1.56% -0.48%
2090 -1.56% -0.47%
2089 -1.55% -0.47%
2088 -1.54% -0.47%
2087 -1.53% -0.47%
2086 -1.52% -0.46%
2085 -1.51% -0.46%
2084 -1.51% -0.47%
2083 -1.5% -0.47%
2082 -1.5% -0.46%
2081 -1.49% -0.46%
2080 -1.48% -0.45%
2079 -1.48% -0.44%
2078 -1.49% -0.44%
2077 -1.48% -0.42%
2076 -1.48% -0.41%
2075 -1.48% -0.4%
2074 -1.48% -0.39%
2073 -1.48% -0.38%
2072 -1.48% -0.36%
2071 -1.48% -0.35%
2070 -1.48% -0.33%
2069 -1.46% -0.32%
2068 -1.46% -0.32%
2067 -1.45% -0.31%
2066 -1.45% -0.29%
2065 -1.45% -0.28%
2064 -1.44% -0.27%
2063 -1.43% -0.26%
2062 -1.4% -0.25%
2061 -1.41% -0.23%
2060 -1.38% -0.22%
2059 -1.37% -0.21%
2058 -1.33% -0.19%
2057 -1.28% -0.17%
2056 -1.24% -0.16%
2055 -1.19% -0.14%
2054 -1.16% -0.11%
2053 -1.13% -0.09%
2052 -1.07% -0.06%
2051 -1.02% -0.02%
2050 -0.97% 0.005%
2049 -0.92% 0.04%
2048 -0.88% 0.08%
2047 -0.82% 0.11%
2046 -0.79% 0.15%
2045 -0.76% 0.18%
2044 -0.72% 0.21%
2043 -0.69% 0.25%
2042 -0.67% 0.28%
2041 -0.63% 0.3%
2040 -0.6% 0.33%
2039 -0.57% 0.35%
2038 -0.53% 0.37%
2037 -0.48% 0.38%
2036 -0.45% 0.4%
2035 -0.41% 0.42%
2034 -0.37% 0.42%
2033 -0.33% 0.44%
2032 -0.29% 0.45%
2031 -0.26% 0.48%
2030 -0.23% 0.48%
2029 -0.2% 0.5%
2028 -0.17% 0.53%
2027 -0.14% 0.55%
2026 -0.12% 0.59%
2025 -0.13% 0.6%
2024 0.07% 0.63%
2023 0.08% 0.67%
2022 -0.19% 0.75%
2021 -0.13% 0.87%
2020 0.14% 0.93%
2019 0.35% 0.97%
2018 0.43% 1.11%
2017 0.28% 1.25%
2016 0.4% 1.27%
2015 0.53% 1.25%
2014 0.63% 1.22%
2013 0.46% 1.19%
2012 0.53% 1.18%
2011 0.77% 1.16%
2010 0.5% 1.15%
2009 0.52% 1.51%
2008 0.76% 1.84%
2007 0.51% 1.78%
2006 0.53% 1.33%
2005 0.21% 0.93%
2004 0.4% 0.97%
2003 0.52% 1%
2002 0.58% 1.03%
2001 0.77% 1.06%
2000 0.84% 1.14%
1999 0.71% 1.31%
1998 0.72% 1.45%
1997 0.94% 1.46%
1996 0.96% 1.54%
1995 1.01% 1.69%
1994 1.01% 1.82%
1993 1.02% 1.94%
1992 1.04% 2.05%
1991 0.99% 2.12%
1990 0.99% 2.12%
1989 0.99% 2.08%
1988 0.98% 2.04%
1987 0.99% 2.05%
1986 1% 2.18%
1985 0.99% 2.35%
1984 1.24% 2.43%
1983 1.49% 2.41%
1982 1.56% 2.37%
1981 1.57% 2.38%
1980 1.57% 2.16%
1979 1.53% 2.25%
1978 1.53% 2.64%
1977 1.57% 2.66%
1976 1.61% 2.59%
1975 1.7% 2.35%
1974 1.73% 2.26%
1973 1.78% 2.26%
1972 1.89% 2.31%
1971 1.99% 2.35%
1970 2.21% 2.2%
1969 2.29% 2.13%
1968 2.35% 2.16%
1967 2.36% 2.29%
1966 2.55% 2.41%
1965 2.57% 2.56%
1964 2.65% 2.7%
1963 2.82% 2.8%
1962 2.9% 2.63%
1961 3.01% 2.7%

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/vietnam | CC BY

In 2025, the population of South Korea declined by 0.13%, while Vietnam's population grew by 0.6%.

Live population counters

South Korea Vietnam
Current population
51624449
102486146
Population rank 31/197 16/197
Percent of world population 0.62% 1.23%
One net population change
7.93 minutes
51.8 seconds
One birth every
2.16 minutes
23.3 seconds
One death every
1.45 minutes
47 seconds
Daily growth/decline -182 +1,674
Annual growth/decline -66,501 +610,841
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +0.6%
Population growth rate rank 169/197 122/197
One migration net change every
8.02 minutes
10.9 minutes
Annual migration change +65,731 -48,171
Net migration rank 20/196 174/196
Foreign-born residents 1,811,507 326,418
Foreign-born residents rank 40/195 95/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.5% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 111/195 185/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Korea
Natural

Migration
Vietnam
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Korea Vietnam
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 65,731 - -48,171
2024 -119,027 75,963 684,393 -59,645
2023 -124,111 87,800 727,955 -81,789
2022 -124,014 87,800 775,914 -78,977
2021 -56,947 -16,778 799,593 -5,418
2020 -31,101 112,631 924,004 -6,457
2019 10,353 128,622 895,262 -2,051
2018 30,951 118,220 882,977 96,650
2017 71,907 104,029 1,001,833 139,245
2016 122,923 91,568 1,045,094 167,652
2015 163,248 276,427 1,145,903 -4,888
2014 167,464 308,037 1,151,221 -4,894
2013 166,415 301,926 1,071,570 -4,979
2012 215,859 281,866 1,063,741 -4,851
2011 214,728 269,958 1,029,859 -4,602
2010 213,083 52,042 1,005,559 -4,443
2009 197,231 5,308 1,007,778 -18,560
2008 215,841 -19,630 1,008,141 571,113
2007 248,286 -42,293 981,689 523,784
2006 203,441 -28,434 943,041 482,399
2005 187,920 -47,821 942,084 -208,337
2004 225,988 -42,549 985,438 -220,458
2003 244,251 -31,994 1,001,470 -216,062
2002 247,752 -18,105 991,427 -193,766
2001 312,643 -28,006 985,610 -177,586
2000 390,167 -84,960 966,894 -144,298
1999 368,272 -107,448 925,519 -15,010
1998 393,436 -98,044 959,016 106,091
1997 422,773 -109,130 1,028,116 52,382
1996 446,142 -115,705 1,108,686 -48,235
1995 468,967 -208,491 1,203,666 -51,147
1994 473,200 -208,309 1,291,534 -53,012
1993 477,302 -222,802 1,370,365 -72,931
1992 494,352 -265,849 1,419,952 -65,285
1991 467,594 -270,754 1,459,311 -76,829
1990 411,546 79,294 1,449,157 -57,221
1989 403,266 186,120 1,423,622 -101,113
1988 399,297 192,534 1,370,108 -84,361
1987 378,758 198,057 1,359,481 -128,095
1986 395,651 189,782 1,407,957 -164,183
1985 416,219 97,949 1,453,954 -124,910
1984 436,384 101,394 1,477,448 -97,339
1983 514,844 102,167 1,453,913 -97,706
1982 605,626 48,638 1,407,959 -110,901
1981 631,189 18,442 1,358,500 -109,259
1980 583,294 -148,341 1,321,595 -74,791
1979 623,068 -139,566 1,314,563 -337,597
1978 499,084 -85,721 1,286,991 -6,592
1977 578,947 -90,737 1,259,315 49,655
1976 530,558 -92,314 1,232,608 -1,733
1975 603,300 -52,332 1,175,181 -2,010
1974 673,030 27,005 1,000,505 -34,940
1973 699,115 35,779 1,061,707 -19,937
1972 740,469 25,382 921,524 -1,920
1971 789,185 -6,326 963,259 76,961
1970 747,987 -27,999 905,902 1,997
1969 694,227 -21,175 878,359 0
1968 684,487 -16,868 815,116 1,489
1967 692,169 -16,484 862,071 394
1966 623,534 -16,688 876,283 1,769
1965 641,090 -146,386 913,761 -1,438
1964 655,501 -102,284 950,219 -6,328
1963 685,824 -80,226 961,067 0
1962 712,590 -94,606 960,046 0
1961 730,173 -93,179 798,978 0
1960 728,010 47,245 955,268 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/vietnam | 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 Vietnam 98.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,882,928 people) and 1.82% is from migration (a gain of 164,322 people).

As of 2024, 1,811,507 residents or 3.5% of the population were not native-born in South Korea, compared to 326,418 people or 0.3% in Vietnam.

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
Vietnam
City Population
Ho Chi Minh 14M
Hanoi 8.72M
Can Tho 3.21M
Da Nang 2.82M
Haiphong 2.12M
Bien Hoa 1.1M
Hue 653K
Bac Ninh 520K
Hai Duong 507K
Vinh 490K

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/vietnam | 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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