Annual change in population in South Korea
South Korea: Annual change in population was -33,771 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
-33,771 people
Change on year
up 48.7%
World rank
226th
of 236 countries
All-time high
824,307 people
in 1959
All-time low
-65,886 people
in 2022
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual change in population in South Korea, 1951–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, annual change in population in South Korea stood at -33,771 people.
That represents a change of up 48.7% on the previous year and down 107.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in population in South Korea peaked at 824,307 people in 1959 and was at its lowest, -65,886 people, 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 change in population in South Korea, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 111,671 people | — |
| 1952 | 360,890 people | +223.2% |
| 1953 | 545,445 people | +51.1% |
| 1954 | 640,253 people | +17.4% |
| 1955 | 709,526 people | +10.8% |
| 1956 | 749,337 people | +5.6% |
| 1957 | 786,350 people | +4.9% |
| 1958 | 813,136 people | +3.4% |
| 1959 | 824,307 people | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 817,154 people | -0.9% |
| 1961 | 737,574 people | -9.7% |
| 1962 | 656,273 people | -11.0% |
| 1963 | 636,312 people | -3.0% |
| 1964 | 599,433 people | -5.8% |
| 1965 | 539,363 people | -10.0% |
| 1966 | 561,598 people | +4.1% |
| 1967 | 649,784 people | +15.7% |
| 1968 | 679,570 people | +4.6% |
| 1969 | 677,474 people | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 689,434 people | +1.8% |
| 1971 | 697,656 people | +1.2% |
| 1972 | 696,611 people | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 689,378 people | -1.0% |
| 1974 | 661,986 people | -4.0% |
| 1975 | 587,907 people | -11.2% |
| 1976 | 504,187 people | -14.2% |
| 1977 | 463,710 people | -8.0% |
| 1978 | 438,297 people | -5.5% |
| 1979 | 428,963 people | -2.1% |
| 1980 | 430,211 people | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 548,083 people | +27.4% |
| 1982 | 666,967 people | +21.7% |
| 1983 | 644,786 people | -3.3% |
| 1984 | 597,357 people | -7.4% |
| 1985 | 550,654 people | -7.8% |
| 1986 | 569,552 people | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 603,584 people | +6.0% |
| 1988 | 600,888 people | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 601,785 people | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 556,660 people | -7.5% |
| 1991 | 357,721 people | -35.7% |
| 1992 | 214,553 people | -40.0% |
| 1993 | 234,022 people | +9.1% |
| 1994 | 243,121 people | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 237,583 people | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 270,276 people | +13.8% |
| 1997 | 302,840 people | +12.0% |
| 1998 | 289,344 people | -4.5% |
| 1999 | 269,497 people | -6.9% |
| 2000 | 266,278 people | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 276,807 people | +4.0% |
| 2002 | 255,651 people | -7.6% |
| 2003 | 215,040 people | -15.9% |
| 2004 | 182,918 people | -14.9% |
| 2005 | 154,570 people | -15.5% |
| 2006 | 154,872 people | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 171,604 people | +10.8% |
| 2008 | 178,363 people | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 190,205 people | +6.6% |
| 2010 | 222,639 people | +17.1% |
| 2011 | 358,311 people | +60.9% |
| 2012 | 471,940 people | +31.7% |
| 2013 | 471,588 people | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 467,887 people | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 444,854 people | -4.9% |
| 2016 | 313,927 people | -29.4% |
| 2017 | 188,432 people | -40.0% |
| 2018 | 154,626 people | -17.9% |
| 2019 | 126,950 people | -17.9% |
| 2020 | 90,637 people | -28.6% |
| 2021 | -10,080 people | -111.1% |
| 2022 | -65,886 people | +553.6% |
| 2023 | -33,771 people | -48.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's -33,771 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 3,163 people. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's -33,771 people is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3,585 people. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual change in population 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 people | -65,886 people |
| 1952 | +223.2% | 111,671 people | 360,890 people |
| 2021 | -111.1% | 90,637 people | -10,080 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 615,657 people | 111,671 people | 824,307 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 655,454 people | 539,363 people | 817,154 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 585,813 people | 428,963 people | 697,656 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 581,387 people | 430,211 people | 666,967 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 297,562 people | 214,553 people | 556,660 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 204,631 people | 154,570 people | 276,807 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 322,115 people | 126,950 people | 471,940 people | 10 |
| 2020s | -4,775 people | -65,886 people | 90,637 people | 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)
- 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)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate -0.0908 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in population in South Korea?
- Annual change in population in South Korea was -33,771 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in population recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 824,307 people in 1959.
- What is the lowest annual change in population recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -65,886 people in 2022.
- How does South Korea rank for annual change in population?
- South Korea ranks 226th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual change in population 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 UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in population. 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).
About this data
Annual change in population, calculated as the difference between population on 1 July of consecutive years.