Annual growth rate of urban population share in South Korea
South Korea: Annual growth rate of urban population share was 0.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.0%
Change on year
up 48.3%
World rank
204th
of 236 countries
All-time high
5.8%
in 1968
All-time low
-0.1%
in 2019
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Annual growth rate of urban population share in South Korea, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual growth rate of urban population share in South Korea is 0.0%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 48.3% on the previous year and up 107.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual growth rate of urban population share in South Korea peaked at 5.8% in 1968 and was at its lowest, -0.1%, in 2019.
That places South Korea 204th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual growth rate of urban population share in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.9% | — |
| 1951 | 3.7% | -5.8% |
| 1952 | 3.5% | -5.6% |
| 1953 | 3.3% | -5.5% |
| 1954 | 3.1% | -5.2% |
| 1955 | 2.9% | -6.1% |
| 1956 | 2.7% | -9.0% |
| 1957 | 2.5% | -7.1% |
| 1958 | 2.4% | -2.2% |
| 1959 | 2.5% | +4.0% |
| 1960 | 2.7% | +5.4% |
| 1961 | 2.7% | +3.3% |
| 1962 | 2.7% | -0.1% |
| 1963 | 2.9% | +4.1% |
| 1964 | 3.1% | +7.3% |
| 1965 | 3.3% | +9.4% |
| 1966 | 3.8% | +13.1% |
| 1967 | 5.0% | +32.2% |
| 1968 | 5.8% | +15.9% |
| 1969 | 5.5% | -5.8% |
| 1970 | 4.5% | -17.1% |
| 1971 | 3.6% | -21.4% |
| 1972 | 3.2% | -10.8% |
| 1973 | 3.0% | -5.9% |
| 1974 | 3.0% | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 3.2% | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 3.4% | +6.8% |
| 1977 | 3.4% | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 3.4% | -1.2% |
| 1979 | 3.2% | -4.5% |
| 1980 | 3.0% | -6.3% |
| 1981 | 2.8% | -7.7% |
| 1982 | 2.7% | -4.9% |
| 1983 | 2.6% | -3.0% |
| 1984 | 2.6% | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 2.6% | +1.8% |
| 1986 | 2.8% | +8.8% |
| 1987 | 3.0% | +3.9% |
| 1988 | 2.8% | -5.0% |
| 1989 | 2.3% | -16.4% |
| 1990 | 1.8% | -21.7% |
| 1991 | 1.4% | -22.3% |
| 1992 | 1.3% | -9.9% |
| 1993 | 1.1% | -15.3% |
| 1994 | 0.8% | -24.5% |
| 1995 | 0.6% | -30.0% |
| 1996 | 0.4% | -38.4% |
| 1997 | 0.3% | -24.8% |
| 1998 | 0.2% | -14.8% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | +8.6% |
| 2000 | 0.3% | +26.0% |
| 2001 | 0.4% | +43.6% |
| 2002 | 0.5% | +17.8% |
| 2003 | 0.5% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 0.4% | -20.2% |
| 2005 | 0.3% | -31.7% |
| 2006 | 0.2% | -36.0% |
| 2007 | 0.2% | -9.6% |
| 2008 | 0.1% | -20.0% |
| 2009 | 0.1% | -41.4% |
| 2010 | 0.0% | -65.7% |
| 2011 | -0.0% | -245.3% |
| 2012 | -0.1% | +117.8% |
| 2013 | -0.1% | +31.6% |
| 2014 | -0.1% | +4.4% |
| 2015 | -0.1% | -6.5% |
| 2016 | -0.1% | -6.9% |
| 2017 | -0.1% | +5.3% |
| 2018 | -0.1% | +4.4% |
| 2019 | -0.1% | +16.7% |
| 2020 | -0.1% | -33.9% |
| 2021 | 0.0% | -100.6% |
| 2022 | 0.0% | +240.0% |
| 2023 | 0.0% | +105.9% |
| 2024 | 0.0% | +65.7% |
| 2025 | 0.0% | +48.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.0% | 2.4% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.7% | 2.7% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.4% | 3.0% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.7% | 2.3% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.8% | 0.2% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.1% | -0.1% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.0% | -0.1% | 0.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
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- 207 Saint Martin (French part) 0.0%
- 207 Singapore 0.0%
- 207 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 0.0%
- 207 Tokelau 0.0%
- 207 Vatican 0.0%
- 207 Wallis and Futuna 0.0%
More population data for South Korea
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.17 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.17 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3601 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -1.4% (2100)
- Population density 223.86 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 599,530 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.4% (2100)
- Total population (thousands), annual growth rate -0.0792 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual growth rate of urban population share in South Korea?
- Annual growth rate of urban population share in South Korea was 0.0% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual growth rate of urban population share recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 5.8% in 1968.
- What is the lowest annual growth rate of urban population share recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.1% in 2019.
- How does South Korea rank for annual growth rate of urban population share?
- South Korea ranks 204th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual growth rate of urban population share rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 107.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual growth rate of urban population share. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average annual rate of change of the share of the population living in urban areas.