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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Korea was 51,751,065 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Korea's population is 51,649,918 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 2.97 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 +0.24% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Korea has increased from 48.4M people to 51.6M (6.63% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

South Korea vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

South Korea
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Korea Zimbabwe
2100 22,012,503 37,483,053
2099 22,335,528 37,412,398
2098 22,668,719 37,328,255
2097 23,009,661 37,235,542
2096 23,360,151 37,142,915
2095 23,722,747 37,032,129
2094 24,093,391 36,912,747
2093 24,473,038 36,810,893
2092 24,860,975 36,688,511
2091 25,255,379 36,567,262
2090 25,655,577 36,425,606
2089 26,060,945 36,280,973
2088 26,470,073 36,141,446
2087 26,884,813 35,977,638
2086 27,301,913 35,808,135
2085 27,723,736 35,637,092
2084 28,147,480 35,456,207
2083 28,578,182 35,268,035
2082 29,012,953 35,078,904
2081 29,456,022 34,873,129
2080 29,901,880 34,658,962
2079 30,352,062 34,439,720
2078 30,809,176 34,217,295
2077 31,273,700 33,982,909
2076 31,744,480 33,739,228
2075 32,221,226 33,495,867
2074 32,706,020 33,244,838
2073 33,196,556 32,978,488
2072 33,696,490 32,706,059
2071 34,203,935 32,445,747
2070 34,719,324 32,181,119
2069 35,241,850 31,906,793
2068 35,762,799 31,631,000
2067 36,292,307 31,345,338
2066 36,826,655 31,062,884
2065 37,368,086 30,766,830
2064 37,916,439 30,479,939
2063 38,469,051 30,176,104
2062 39,028,473 29,867,679
2061 39,584,621 29,557,068
2060 40,149,830 29,252,423
2059 40,712,514 28,945,088
2058 41,277,134 28,631,679
2057 41,833,887 28,307,305
2056 42,377,427 27,990,713
2055 42,909,302 27,658,887
2054 43,427,254 27,331,920
2053 43,938,741 26,986,935
2052 44,441,106 26,643,553
2051 44,923,604 26,287,592
2050 45,385,311 25,934,893
2049 45,832,153 25,585,239
2048 46,258,529 25,228,082
2047 46,668,898 24,874,649
2046 47,056,404 24,513,443
2045 47,433,205 24,147,637
2044 47,797,411 23,783,088
2043 48,144,730 23,401,965
2042 48,478,991 23,035,288
2041 48,806,273 22,647,950
2040 49,115,658 22,273,520
2039 49,412,830 21,902,980
2038 49,694,340 21,530,130
2037 49,957,504 21,159,664
2036 50,200,702 20,791,034
2035 50,426,000 20,413,656
2034 50,632,962 20,048,019
2033 50,821,090 19,676,339
2032 50,987,020 19,311,985
2031 51,134,940 18,959,300
2030 51,267,908 18,613,738
2029 51,385,868 18,270,049
2028 51,486,791 17,933,466
2027 51,576,746 17,600,984
2026 51,649,918 17,273,208
2025 51,710,062 16,949,303
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% 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 45,385,311 people with a rank change from 31st to 48th. The population of Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 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 -0.08% 1.89%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Korea grew by 0.07%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

South Korea Zimbabwe
Current population
51649918
17361868
Population rank 31/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.62% 0.21%
One net population change
13.7 minutes
1.79 minutes
One birth every
2.26 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
1.69 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +105 +804
Annual growth/decline +38,446 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +0.07% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 160/197 60/197
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 - 75,963 - -60,528
2023 -77,569 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/south-korea/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 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 (1960–2024, 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/zimbabwe | 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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