Annual population growth in South Korea
South Korea: Annual population growth was -33,771 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
-33,771
Change on year
up 48.7%
World rank
226th
of 236 countries
All-time high
824,307
in 1959
All-time low
-65,886
in 2022
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual population growth in South Korea, 1951–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, annual population growth in South Korea stood at -33,771.
That represents a change of up 48.7% on the previous year and down 107.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual population growth in South Korea peaked at 824,307 in 1959 and was at its lowest, -65,886, in 2022.
That places South Korea 226th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual population growth in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 111,671 | — |
| 1952 | 360,890 | +223.2% |
| 1953 | 545,445 | +51.1% |
| 1954 | 640,253 | +17.4% |
| 1955 | 709,526 | +10.8% |
| 1956 | 749,337 | +5.6% |
| 1957 | 786,350 | +4.9% |
| 1958 | 813,136 | +3.4% |
| 1959 | 824,307 | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 817,154 | -0.9% |
| 1961 | 737,574 | -9.7% |
| 1962 | 656,273 | -11.0% |
| 1963 | 636,312 | -3.0% |
| 1964 | 599,433 | -5.8% |
| 1965 | 539,363 | -10.0% |
| 1966 | 561,598 | +4.1% |
| 1967 | 649,784 | +15.7% |
| 1968 | 679,570 | +4.6% |
| 1969 | 677,474 | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 689,434 | +1.8% |
| 1971 | 697,656 | +1.2% |
| 1972 | 696,611 | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 689,378 | -1.0% |
| 1974 | 661,986 | -4.0% |
| 1975 | 587,907 | -11.2% |
| 1976 | 504,187 | -14.2% |
| 1977 | 463,710 | -8.0% |
| 1978 | 438,297 | -5.5% |
| 1979 | 428,963 | -2.1% |
| 1980 | 430,211 | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 548,083 | +27.4% |
| 1982 | 666,967 | +21.7% |
| 1983 | 644,786 | -3.3% |
| 1984 | 597,357 | -7.4% |
| 1985 | 550,654 | -7.8% |
| 1986 | 569,552 | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 603,584 | +6.0% |
| 1988 | 600,888 | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 601,785 | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 556,660 | -7.5% |
| 1991 | 357,721 | -35.7% |
| 1992 | 214,553 | -40.0% |
| 1993 | 234,022 | +9.1% |
| 1994 | 243,121 | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 237,583 | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 270,276 | +13.8% |
| 1997 | 302,840 | +12.0% |
| 1998 | 289,344 | -4.5% |
| 1999 | 269,497 | -6.9% |
| 2000 | 266,278 | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 276,807 | +4.0% |
| 2002 | 255,651 | -7.6% |
| 2003 | 215,040 | -15.9% |
| 2004 | 182,918 | -14.9% |
| 2005 | 154,570 | -15.5% |
| 2006 | 154,872 | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 171,604 | +10.8% |
| 2008 | 178,363 | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 190,205 | +6.6% |
| 2010 | 222,639 | +17.1% |
| 2011 | 358,311 | +60.9% |
| 2012 | 471,940 | +31.7% |
| 2013 | 471,588 | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 467,887 | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 444,854 | -4.9% |
| 2016 | 313,927 | -29.4% |
| 2017 | 188,432 | -40.0% |
| 2018 | 154,626 | -17.9% |
| 2019 | 126,950 | -17.9% |
| 2020 | 90,637 | -28.6% |
| 2021 | -10,080 | -111.1% |
| 2022 | -65,886 | +553.6% |
| 2023 | -33,771 | -48.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's -33,771 is below the median for high income countries, which is 3,163. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's -33,771 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3,585. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual population growth in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -553.6% | -10,080 | -65,886 |
| 1952 | +223.2% | 111,671 | 360,890 |
| 2021 | -111.1% | 90,637 | -10,080 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 615,657 | 111,671 | 824,307 | 9 |
| 1960s | 655,454 | 539,363 | 817,154 | 10 |
| 1970s | 585,813 | 428,963 | 697,656 | 10 |
| 1980s | 581,387 | 430,211 | 666,967 | 10 |
| 1990s | 297,562 | 214,553 | 556,660 | 10 |
| 2000s | 204,631 | 154,570 | 276,807 | 10 |
| 2010s | 322,115 | 126,950 | 471,940 | 10 |
| 2020s | -4,775 | -65,886 | 90,637 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
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)
- Population growth rate -1.45 (2100)
- Population density 223.86 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 599,530 (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -1.45 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 0.007 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual population growth in South Korea?
- Annual population growth in South Korea was -33,771 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual population growth recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 824,307 in 1959.
- What is the lowest annual population growth recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -65,886 in 2022.
- How does South Korea rank for annual population growth?
- South Korea ranks 226th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual population growth rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 107.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Annual population growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 73 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).