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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,684,564 in 2025 vs 16,950,795 people in Zimbabwe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,624,449 people compared to 17,443,108 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 2.96 times bigger than Zimbabwe's.
  • South Korea is ranked the 31st most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.83% of the world: 0.62% for South Korea vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, South Korea has had an average growth rate of +0.17% per year vs +1.62% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.58% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (38% growth).

South Korea vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Korea Zimbabwe
2100 22,001,649 37,486,352
2099 22,324,514 37,415,690
2098 22,657,541 37,331,540
2097 22,998,315 37,238,819
2096 23,348,632 37,146,184
2095 23,711,049 37,035,388
2094 24,081,510 36,915,996
2093 24,460,970 36,814,133
2092 24,848,715 36,691,740
2091 25,242,926 36,570,481
2090 25,642,926 36,428,812
2089 26,048,094 36,284,166
2088 26,457,020 36,144,627
2087 26,871,556 35,980,805
2086 27,288,450 35,811,286
2085 27,710,065 35,640,228
2084 28,133,600 35,459,328
2083 28,564,090 35,271,139
2082 28,998,646 35,081,992
2081 29,441,497 34,876,198
2080 29,887,135 34,662,013
2079 30,337,095 34,442,751
2078 30,793,984 34,220,306
2077 31,258,278 33,985,899
2076 31,728,826 33,742,198
2075 32,205,338 33,498,815
2074 32,689,892 33,247,764
2073 33,180,187 32,981,390
2072 33,679,874 32,708,937
2071 34,187,068 32,448,602
2070 34,702,204 32,183,952
2069 35,224,472 31,909,601
2068 35,745,164 31,633,783
2067 36,274,411 31,348,096
2066 36,808,495 31,065,618
2065 37,349,660 30,769,538
2064 37,897,742 30,482,622
2063 38,450,082 30,178,760
2062 39,009,227 29,870,308
2061 39,565,102 29,559,670
2060 40,130,032 29,254,998
2059 40,692,438 28,947,636
2058 41,256,780 28,634,199
2057 41,813,259 28,309,796
2056 42,356,530 27,993,176
2055 42,888,143 27,661,321
2054 43,405,840 27,334,325
2053 43,917,075 26,989,310
2052 44,419,192 26,645,898
2051 44,901,452 26,289,905
2050 45,362,931 25,937,176
2049 45,809,553 25,587,491
2048 46,235,718 25,230,302
2047 46,645,885 24,876,838
2046 47,033,200 24,515,600
2045 47,409,815 24,149,762
2044 47,773,842 23,785,181
2043 48,120,989 23,404,024
2042 48,455,085 23,037,316
2041 48,782,206 22,649,943
2040 49,091,438 22,275,480
2039 49,388,464 21,904,908
2038 49,669,835 21,532,024
2037 49,932,869 21,161,527
2036 50,175,947 20,792,863
2035 50,401,135 20,415,452
2034 50,607,994 20,049,783
2033 50,796,030 19,678,070
2032 50,961,878 19,313,685
2031 51,109,725 18,960,968
2030 51,242,628 18,615,376
2029 51,360,529 18,271,657
2028 51,461,403 17,935,044
2027 51,551,313 17,602,533
2026 51,624,449 17,274,728
2025 51,684,564 16,950,795
2024 51,751,065 16,634,373
2023 51,712,619 16,340,822
2022 51,672,569 16,069,056
2021 51,769,539 15,797,210
2020 51,836,239 15,526,888
2019 51,764,822 15,271,368
2018 51,585,058 15,034,452
2017 51,361,911 14,812,482
2016 51,217,803 14,600,294
2015 51,014,947 14,399,013
2014 50,746,659 14,207,359
2013 50,428,893 14,013,808
2012 50,199,853 13,817,887
2011 49,936,638 13,595,424
2010 49,554,112 13,356,548
2009 49,307,835 13,142,790
2008 49,054,708 12,959,149
2007 48,683,638 12,804,058
2006 48,438,292 12,636,445
2005 48,184,561 12,483,432
2004 48,082,519 12,365,896
2003 47,892,330 12,232,323
2002 47,644,736 12,087,653
2001 47,370,164 11,971,901
2000 47,008,111 11,892,055
1999 46,616,677 11,783,458
1998 46,286,503 11,594,297
1997 45,953,580 11,369,827
1996 45,524,681 11,158,360
1995 45,092,991 10,974,599
1994 44,641,540 10,873,148
1993 44,194,628 10,860,288
1992 43,747,962 10,702,700
1991 43,295,704 10,404,816
1990 42,869,283 10,137,281
1989 42,449,038 9,864,798
1988 42,031,247 9,583,094
1987 41,621,690 9,284,644
1986 41,213,674 8,982,578
1985 40,805,744 8,686,813
1984 40,405,956 8,391,488
1983 39,910,403 8,098,404
1982 39,326,352 7,796,496
1981 38,723,248 7,498,635
1980 38,123,775 7,041,303
1979 37,534,236 6,647,556
1978 36,969,185 6,543,575
1977 36,411,795 6,449,512
1976 35,848,523 6,287,105
1975 35,280,725 6,098,658
1974 34,692,266 5,908,328
1973 34,103,149 5,720,404
1972 33,505,406 5,542,445
1971 32,882,704 5,374,712
1970 32,240,827 5,215,918
1969 31,544,266 5,058,181
1968 30,838,302 4,900,440
1967 30,130,983 4,748,307
1966 29,435,571 4,601,217
1965 28,704,674 4,458,462
1964 27,984,155 4,320,006
1963 27,261,747 4,185,877
1962 26,513,030 4,055,959
1961 25,765,673 3,930,401
1960 25,012,374 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Korea increased by 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Korea gained 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,842,814 people (a 19.5% growth).

South Korea was ranked 25th most populous country in 2006 and is 31st in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 48.7% to 25,937,176 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Zimbabwe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 37.5M 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
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Korea Zimbabwe
2100 -1.45% 0.19%
2099 -1.47% 0.23%
2098 -1.48% 0.25%
2097 -1.5% 0.25%
2096 -1.53% 0.3%
2095 -1.54% 0.32%
2094 -1.55% 0.28%
2093 -1.56% 0.33%
2092 -1.56% 0.33%
2091 -1.56% 0.39%
2090 -1.56% 0.4%
2089 -1.55% 0.39%
2088 -1.54% 0.46%
2087 -1.53% 0.47%
2086 -1.52% 0.48%
2085 -1.51% 0.51%
2084 -1.51% 0.53%
2083 -1.5% 0.54%
2082 -1.5% 0.59%
2081 -1.49% 0.62%
2080 -1.48% 0.64%
2079 -1.48% 0.65%
2078 -1.49% 0.69%
2077 -1.48% 0.72%
2076 -1.48% 0.73%
2075 -1.48% 0.76%
2074 -1.48% 0.81%
2073 -1.48% 0.83%
2072 -1.48% 0.8%
2071 -1.48% 0.82%
2070 -1.48% 0.86%
2069 -1.46% 0.87%
2068 -1.46% 0.91%
2067 -1.45% 0.91%
2066 -1.45% 0.96%
2065 -1.45% 0.94%
2064 -1.44% 1.01%
2063 -1.43% 1.03%
2062 -1.4% 1.05%
2061 -1.41% 1.04%
2060 -1.38% 1.06%
2059 -1.37% 1.09%
2058 -1.33% 1.15%
2057 -1.28% 1.13%
2056 -1.24% 1.2%
2055 -1.19% 1.2%
2054 -1.16% 1.28%
2053 -1.13% 1.29%
2052 -1.07% 1.35%
2051 -1.02% 1.36%
2050 -0.97% 1.37%
2049 -0.92% 1.42%
2048 -0.88% 1.42%
2047 -0.82% 1.47%
2046 -0.79% 1.51%
2045 -0.76% 1.53%
2044 -0.72% 1.63%
2043 -0.69% 1.59%
2042 -0.67% 1.71%
2041 -0.63% 1.68%
2040 -0.6% 1.69%
2039 -0.57% 1.73%
2038 -0.53% 1.75%
2037 -0.48% 1.77%
2036 -0.45% 1.85%
2035 -0.41% 1.82%
2034 -0.37% 1.89%
2033 -0.33% 1.89%
2032 -0.29% 1.86%
2031 -0.26% 1.86%
2030 -0.23% 1.88%
2029 -0.2% 1.88%
2028 -0.17% 1.89%
2027 -0.14% 1.9%
2026 -0.12% 1.91%
2025 -0.13% 1.9%
2024 0.07% 1.8%
2023 0.08% 1.69%
2022 -0.19% 1.72%
2021 -0.13% 1.74%
2020 0.14% 1.67%
2019 0.35% 1.58%
2018 0.43% 1.5%
2017 0.28% 1.45%
2016 0.4% 1.4%
2015 0.53% 1.35%
2014 0.63% 1.38%
2013 0.46% 1.42%
2012 0.53% 1.64%
2011 0.77% 1.79%
2010 0.5% 1.63%
2009 0.52% 1.42%
2008 0.76% 1.21%
2007 0.51% 1.33%
2006 0.53% 1.23%
2005 0.21% 0.95%
2004 0.4% 1.09%
2003 0.52% 1.2%
2002 0.58% 0.97%
2001 0.77% 0.67%
2000 0.84% 0.92%
1999 0.71% 1.63%
1998 0.72% 1.97%
1997 0.94% 1.9%
1996 0.96% 1.67%
1995 1.01% 0.93%
1994 1.01% 0.12%
1993 1.02% 1.47%
1992 1.04% 2.86%
1991 0.99% 2.64%
1990 0.99% 2.76%
1989 0.99% 2.94%
1988 0.98% 3.21%
1987 0.99% 3.36%
1986 1% 3.4%
1985 0.99% 3.52%
1984 1.24% 3.62%
1983 1.49% 3.87%
1982 1.56% 3.97%
1981 1.57% 6.49%
1980 1.57% 5.92%
1979 1.53% 1.59%
1978 1.53% 1.46%
1977 1.57% 2.58%
1976 1.61% 3.09%
1975 1.7% 3.22%
1974 1.73% 3.29%
1973 1.78% 3.21%
1972 1.89% 3.12%
1971 1.99% 3.04%
1970 2.21% 3.12%
1969 2.29% 3.22%
1968 2.35% 3.2%
1967 2.36% 3.2%
1966 2.55% 3.2%
1965 2.57% 3.2%
1964 2.65% 3.2%
1963 2.82% 3.2%
1962 2.9% 3.19%
1961 3.01% 3.18%

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2025, the population of South Korea declined by 0.13%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.9%.

Live population counters

South Korea Zimbabwe
Current population
51624449
17443108
Population rank 31/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.62% 0.21%
One net population change
7.93 minutes
1.67 minutes
One birth every
2.16 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
1.45 minutes
4.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline -182 +867
Annual growth/decline -66,501 +316,422
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +1.9%
Population growth rate rank 169/197 53/197
One migration net change every
8.02 minutes
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change +65,731 -54,555
Net migration rank 20/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 1,811,507 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 40/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.5% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 111/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Korea
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Korea Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 65,731 - -54,555
2024 -119,027 75,963 372,494 -60,528
2023 -124,111 87,800 372,505 -97,380
2022 -124,014 87,800 371,243 -102,828
2021 -56,947 -16,778 349,908 -74,623
2020 -31,101 112,631 354,790 -89,440
2019 10,353 128,622 348,798 -103,107
2018 30,951 118,220 345,883 -117,758
2017 71,907 104,029 344,035 -128,241
2016 122,923 91,568 348,772 -140,181
2015 163,248 276,427 356,203 -162,220
2014 167,464 308,037 366,350 -177,029
2013 166,415 301,926 374,757 -176,972
2012 215,859 281,866 371,135 -177,061
2011 214,728 269,958 359,572 -108,714
2010 213,083 52,042 335,570 -108,671
2009 197,231 5,308 309,316 -108,689
2008 215,841 -19,630 280,527 -113,858
2007 248,286 -42,293 261,805 -118,299
2006 203,441 -28,434 248,963 -57,257
2005 187,920 -47,821 248,545 -134,212
2004 225,988 -42,549 248,307 -127,550
2003 244,251 -31,994 243,057 -96,667
2002 247,752 -18,105 244,170 -101,212
2001 312,643 -28,006 227,909 -139,361
2000 390,167 -84,960 236,343 -165,181
1999 368,272 -107,448 232,393 -86,343
1998 393,436 -98,044 225,614 6,645
1997 422,773 -109,130 216,288 395
1996 446,142 -115,705 205,269 978
1995 468,967 -208,491 206,695 -45,428
1994 473,200 -208,309 216,343 -174,723
1993 477,302 -222,802 228,045 -243,947
1992 494,352 -265,849 255,291 75,788
1991 467,594 -270,754 260,943 3,749
1990 411,546 79,294 265,444 4,948
1989 403,266 186,120 270,838 3,736
1988 399,297 192,534 277,498 11,327
1987 378,758 198,057 286,766 21,308
1986 395,651 189,782 289,894 6,154
1985 416,219 97,949 290,756 4,718
1984 436,384 101,394 290,052 5,124
1983 514,844 102,167 286,545 4,456
1982 605,626 48,638 279,934 32,899
1981 631,189 18,442 271,361 11,523
1980 583,294 -148,341 241,179 390,593
1979 623,068 -139,566 223,657 -67,937
1978 499,084 -85,721 222,979 -170,727
1977 578,947 -90,737 225,139 -89,270
1976 530,558 -92,314 221,419 -32,495
1975 603,300 -52,332 216,947 -28,988
1974 673,030 27,005 208,806 -16,105
1973 699,115 35,779 201,885 -18,733
1972 740,469 25,382 193,725 -20,959
1971 789,185 -6,326 185,427 -22,719
1970 747,987 -27,999 178,979 -24,102
1969 694,227 -21,175 172,626 -12,028
1968 684,487 -16,868 166,865 -11,997
1967 692,169 -16,484 161,205 -11,814
1966 623,534 -16,688 156,014 -11,211
1965 641,090 -146,386 151,164 -10,465
1964 655,501 -102,284 145,848 -9,631
1963 685,824 -80,226 140,984 -8,936
1962 712,590 -94,606 136,317 -8,529
1961 730,173 -93,179 131,531 -8,204
1960 728,010 47,245 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 76.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,564,631 people) and 23.2% is from migration (a loss of 1,076,306 people).

As of 2024, 1,811,507 residents or 3.5% of the population were not native-born in South Korea, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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