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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,751,065 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,649,918 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 2.28 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • South Korea is ranked the 31st most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.9% of the world: 0.62% for South Korea vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, South Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.24% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.63% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

South Korea vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Korea Zambia
2100 22,012,503 65,217,429
2099 22,335,528 64,871,545
2098 22,668,719 64,515,891
2097 23,009,661 64,148,736
2096 23,360,151 63,777,313
2095 23,722,747 63,393,169
2094 24,093,391 62,992,652
2093 24,473,038 62,590,327
2092 24,860,975 62,175,930
2091 25,255,379 61,750,591
2090 25,655,577 61,321,399
2089 26,060,945 60,880,148
2088 26,470,073 60,434,676
2087 26,884,813 59,970,107
2086 27,301,913 59,499,234
2085 27,723,736 59,023,040
2084 28,147,480 58,535,857
2083 28,578,182 58,040,512
2082 29,012,953 57,538,672
2081 29,456,022 57,027,491
2080 29,901,880 56,506,421
2079 30,352,062 55,983,242
2078 30,809,176 55,449,777
2077 31,273,700 54,906,771
2076 31,744,480 54,361,075
2075 32,221,226 53,806,856
2074 32,706,020 53,246,777
2073 33,196,556 52,677,348
2072 33,696,490 52,101,139
2071 34,203,935 51,519,691
2070 34,719,324 50,931,614
2069 35,241,850 50,334,700
2068 35,762,799 49,737,479
2067 36,292,307 49,135,488
2066 36,826,655 48,530,443
2065 37,368,086 47,918,592
2064 37,916,439 47,299,740
2063 38,469,051 46,677,439
2062 39,028,473 46,048,819
2061 39,584,621 45,416,657
2060 40,149,830 44,777,347
2059 40,712,514 44,137,306
2058 41,277,134 43,494,451
2057 41,833,887 42,851,923
2056 42,377,427 42,206,898
2055 42,909,302 41,558,284
2054 43,427,254 40,906,492
2053 43,938,741 40,255,629
2052 44,441,106 39,603,888
2051 44,923,604 38,949,958
2050 45,385,311 38,294,607
2049 45,832,153 37,634,194
2048 46,258,529 36,971,309
2047 46,668,898 36,309,749
2046 47,056,404 35,645,868
2045 47,433,205 34,981,812
2044 47,797,411 34,316,981
2043 48,144,730 33,652,420
2042 48,478,991 32,990,657
2041 48,806,273 32,329,447
2040 49,115,658 31,664,262
2039 49,412,830 31,001,305
2038 49,694,340 30,335,662
2037 49,957,504 29,668,561
2036 50,200,702 29,000,264
2035 50,426,000 28,333,498
2034 50,632,962 27,671,195
2033 50,821,090 27,011,974
2032 50,987,020 26,356,580
2031 51,134,940 25,702,812
2030 51,267,908 25,055,216
2029 51,385,868 24,414,405
2028 51,486,791 23,780,809
2027 51,576,746 23,151,479
2026 51,649,918 22,529,742
2025 51,710,062 21,918,187
2024 51,751,065 21,314,956
2023 51,712,619 20,723,965
2022 51,672,569 20,152,938
2021 51,769,539 19,603,607
2020 51,836,239 19,059,395
2019 51,764,822 18,513,839
2018 51,585,058 17,973,569
2017 51,361,911 17,441,320
2016 51,217,803 16,914,423
2015 51,014,947 16,399,089
2014 50,746,659 15,895,315
2013 50,428,893 15,398,997
2012 50,199,853 14,913,629
2011 49,936,638 14,437,796
2010 49,554,112 13,965,594
2009 49,307,835 13,490,389
2008 49,054,708 13,021,324
2007 48,683,638 12,565,085
2006 48,438,292 12,129,553
2005 48,184,561 11,718,819
2004 48,082,519 11,338,198
2003 47,892,330 10,983,595
2002 47,644,736 10,647,949
2001 47,370,164 10,325,185
2000 47,008,111 10,017,631
1999 46,616,677 9,740,005
1998 46,286,503 9,482,408
1997 45,953,580 9,237,063
1996 45,524,681 9,004,053
1995 45,092,991 8,785,763
1994 44,641,540 8,576,269
1993 44,194,628 8,373,921
1992 43,747,962 8,176,680
1991 43,295,704 7,981,650
1990 42,869,283 7,786,169
1989 42,449,038 7,589,216
1988 42,031,247 7,391,440
1987 41,621,690 7,191,282
1986 41,213,674 6,986,471
1985 40,805,744 6,780,953
1984 40,405,956 6,580,490
1983 39,910,403 6,381,038
1982 39,326,352 6,178,637
1981 38,723,248 5,983,289
1980 38,123,775 5,802,833
1979 37,534,236 5,631,728
1978 36,969,185 5,465,374
1977 36,411,795 5,302,480
1976 35,848,523 5,143,842
1975 35,280,725 4,990,086
1974 34,692,266 4,842,746
1973 34,103,149 4,702,693
1972 33,505,406 4,569,309
1971 32,882,704 4,442,525
1970 32,240,827 4,321,718
1969 31,544,266 4,197,116
1968 30,838,302 4,065,593
1967 30,130,983 3,936,343
1966 29,435,571 3,812,003
1965 28,704,674 3,692,086
1964 27,984,155 3,577,017
1963 27,261,747 3,465,907
1962 26,513,030 3,358,099
1961 25,765,673 3,254,086
1960 25,012,374 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Korea increased by 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Korea gained 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

South Korea was ranked 25th most populous country in 2006 and is 31st in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Zambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 65.2M 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
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Korea Zambia
2100 -1.45% 0.53%
2099 -1.47% 0.55%
2098 -1.48% 0.57%
2097 -1.5% 0.58%
2096 -1.53% 0.61%
2095 -1.54% 0.64%
2094 -1.55% 0.64%
2093 -1.56% 0.67%
2092 -1.56% 0.69%
2091 -1.56% 0.7%
2090 -1.56% 0.72%
2089 -1.55% 0.74%
2088 -1.54% 0.77%
2087 -1.53% 0.79%
2086 -1.52% 0.81%
2085 -1.51% 0.83%
2084 -1.51% 0.85%
2083 -1.5% 0.87%
2082 -1.5% 0.9%
2081 -1.49% 0.92%
2080 -1.48% 0.93%
2079 -1.48% 0.96%
2078 -1.49% 0.99%
2077 -1.48% 1%
2076 -1.48% 1.03%
2075 -1.48% 1.05%
2074 -1.48% 1.08%
2073 -1.48% 1.11%
2072 -1.48% 1.13%
2071 -1.48% 1.15%
2070 -1.48% 1.19%
2069 -1.46% 1.2%
2068 -1.46% 1.23%
2067 -1.45% 1.25%
2066 -1.45% 1.28%
2065 -1.45% 1.31%
2064 -1.44% 1.33%
2063 -1.43% 1.37%
2062 -1.4% 1.39%
2061 -1.41% 1.43%
2060 -1.38% 1.45%
2059 -1.37% 1.48%
2058 -1.33% 1.5%
2057 -1.28% 1.53%
2056 -1.24% 1.56%
2055 -1.19% 1.59%
2054 -1.16% 1.62%
2053 -1.13% 1.65%
2052 -1.07% 1.68%
2051 -1.02% 1.71%
2050 -0.97% 1.75%
2049 -0.92% 1.79%
2048 -0.88% 1.82%
2047 -0.82% 1.86%
2046 -0.79% 1.9%
2045 -0.76% 1.94%
2044 -0.72% 1.97%
2043 -0.69% 2.01%
2042 -0.67% 2.05%
2041 -0.63% 2.1%
2040 -0.6% 2.14%
2039 -0.57% 2.19%
2038 -0.53% 2.25%
2037 -0.48% 2.3%
2036 -0.45% 2.35%
2035 -0.41% 2.39%
2034 -0.37% 2.44%
2033 -0.33% 2.49%
2032 -0.29% 2.54%
2031 -0.26% 2.58%
2030 -0.23% 2.62%
2029 -0.2% 2.66%
2028 -0.17% 2.72%
2027 -0.14% 2.76%
2026 -0.12% 2.79%
2025 -0.08% 2.83%
2024 0.07% 2.85%
2023 0.08% 2.83%
2022 -0.19% 2.8%
2021 -0.13% 2.86%
2020 0.14% 2.95%
2019 0.35% 3.01%
2018 0.43% 3.05%
2017 0.28% 3.12%
2016 0.4% 3.14%
2015 0.53% 3.17%
2014 0.63% 3.22%
2013 0.46% 3.25%
2012 0.53% 3.3%
2011 0.77% 3.38%
2010 0.5% 3.52%
2009 0.52% 3.6%
2008 0.76% 3.63%
2007 0.51% 3.59%
2006 0.53% 3.5%
2005 0.21% 3.36%
2004 0.4% 3.23%
2003 0.52% 3.15%
2002 0.58% 3.13%
2001 0.77% 3.07%
2000 0.84% 2.85%
1999 0.71% 2.72%
1998 0.72% 2.66%
1997 0.94% 2.59%
1996 0.96% 2.48%
1995 1.01% 2.44%
1994 1.01% 2.42%
1993 1.02% 2.41%
1992 1.04% 2.44%
1991 0.99% 2.51%
1990 0.99% 2.6%
1989 0.99% 2.68%
1988 0.98% 2.78%
1987 0.99% 2.93%
1986 1% 3.03%
1985 0.99% 3.05%
1984 1.24% 3.13%
1983 1.49% 3.28%
1982 1.56% 3.26%
1981 1.57% 3.11%
1980 1.57% 3.04%
1979 1.53% 3.04%
1978 1.53% 3.07%
1977 1.57% 3.08%
1976 1.61% 3.08%
1975 1.7% 3.04%
1974 1.73% 2.98%
1973 1.78% 2.92%
1972 1.89% 2.85%
1971 1.99% 2.8%
1970 2.21% 2.97%
1969 2.29% 3.24%
1968 2.35% 3.28%
1967 2.36% 3.26%
1966 2.55% 3.25%
1965 2.57% 3.22%
1964 2.65% 3.21%
1963 2.82% 3.21%
1962 2.9% 3.2%
1961 3.01% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Korea grew by 0.07%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

South Korea Zambia
Current population
51649918
22697916
Population rank 31/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.62% 0.27%
One net population change
13.7 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
2.26 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
1.69 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +105 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +38,446 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +0.07% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 160/197 21/197
One migration net change every
8.02 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change +65,731 +6,562
Net migration rank 20/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 1,811,507 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 40/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.5% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 111/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Korea
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Korea Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 65,731 - 6,562
2024 - 75,963 - 7,381
2023 -77,569 87,800 577,660 9,521
2022 -124,014 87,800 563,456 -8,566
2021 -56,947 -16,778 535,629 8,143
2020 -31,101 112,631 536,484 8,156
2019 10,353 128,622 528,089 18,385
2018 30,951 118,220 515,644 18,431
2017 71,907 104,029 504,630 25,789
2016 122,923 91,568 497,521 25,860
2015 163,248 276,427 491,021 16,261
2014 167,464 308,037 483,663 16,574
2013 166,415 301,926 476,846 15,542
2012 215,859 281,866 469,406 8,958
2011 214,728 269,958 459,743 13,569
2010 213,083 52,042 448,337 22,761
2009 197,231 5,308 434,458 44,867
2008 215,841 -19,630 419,560 39,249
2007 248,286 -42,293 403,729 49,945
2006 203,441 -28,434 387,891 29,517
2005 187,920 -47,821 368,756 35,316
2004 225,988 -42,549 349,352 7,819
2003 244,251 -31,994 331,189 20,845
2002 247,752 -18,105 316,041 3,206
2001 312,643 -28,006 302,682 23,582
2000 390,167 -84,960 293,186 -4,338
1999 368,272 -107,448 283,297 -16,888
1998 393,436 -98,044 275,568 -26,796
1997 422,773 -109,130 268,198 -26,276
1996 446,142 -115,705 262,468 -38,358
1995 468,967 -208,491 257,897 -45,423
1994 473,200 -208,309 252,023 -45,504
1993 477,302 -222,802 245,917 -47,739
1992 494,352 -265,849 239,953 -43,656
1991 467,594 -270,754 237,957 -44,203
1990 411,546 79,294 235,835 -38,619
1989 403,266 186,120 233,429 -36,736
1988 399,297 192,534 230,118 -31,270
1987 378,758 198,057 227,813 -26,338
1986 395,651 189,782 224,768 -16,610
1985 416,219 97,949 221,351 -18,474
1984 436,384 101,394 216,695 -18,652
1983 514,844 102,167 212,712 -11,849
1982 605,626 48,638 207,621 -3,676
1981 631,189 18,442 202,822 -16,072
1980 583,294 -148,341 198,817 -24,664
1979 623,068 -139,566 197,578 -29,515
1978 499,084 -85,721 194,933 -30,284
1977 578,947 -90,737 191,557 -30,423
1976 530,558 -92,314 186,762 -30,612
1975 603,300 -52,332 182,258 -30,886
1974 673,030 27,005 174,484 -31,178
1973 699,115 35,779 168,258 -31,472
1972 740,469 25,382 161,648 -31,672
1971 789,185 -6,326 155,249 -31,651
1970 747,987 -27,999 149,380 -31,370
1969 694,227 -21,175 142,660 -11,469
1968 684,487 -16,868 137,315 -5,447
1967 692,169 -16,484 131,938 -5,298
1966 623,534 -16,688 127,164 -5,129
1965 641,090 -146,386 122,814 -5,023
1964 655,501 -102,284 117,197 -4,851
1963 685,824 -80,226 114,555 -4,676
1962 712,590 -94,606 110,173 -4,428
1961 730,173 -93,179 106,318 -4,043
1960 728,010 47,245 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 1,811,507 residents or 3.5% of the population were not native-born in South Korea, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | CC BY

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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)

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