Historical population data in Korea
Korea: Historical population data was 51.68 million Persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
51.68 million Persons
Change on year
down 0.1%
Rank
2nd
of 4 groups
All-time high
51.84 million Persons
in 2020
All-time low
19.76 million Persons
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Historical population data in Korea, 1950–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
In 2025, historical population data in Korea stood at 51.68 million Persons.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, historical population data in Korea peaked at 51.84 million Persons in 2020 and was at its lowest, 19.76 million Persons, in 1950.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Historical population data in Korea, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 19.76 million Persons | — |
| 1951 | 19.87 million Persons | +0.6% |
| 1952 | 20.23 million Persons | +1.8% |
| 1953 | 20.78 million Persons | +2.7% |
| 1954 | 21.42 million Persons | +3.1% |
| 1955 | 22.13 million Persons | +3.3% |
| 1956 | 22.87 million Persons | +3.4% |
| 1957 | 23.66 million Persons | +3.4% |
| 1958 | 24.47 million Persons | +3.4% |
| 1959 | 25.30 million Persons | +3.4% |
| 1960 | 25.01 million Persons | -1.1% |
| 1961 | 25.77 million Persons | +3.0% |
| 1962 | 26.51 million Persons | +2.9% |
| 1963 | 27.26 million Persons | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 27.98 million Persons | +2.7% |
| 1965 | 28.70 million Persons | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 29.44 million Persons | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 30.13 million Persons | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 30.84 million Persons | +2.3% |
| 1969 | 31.54 million Persons | +2.3% |
| 1970 | 32.24 million Persons | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 32.88 million Persons | +2.0% |
| 1972 | 33.51 million Persons | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 34.10 million Persons | +1.8% |
| 1974 | 34.69 million Persons | +1.7% |
| 1975 | 35.28 million Persons | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 35.85 million Persons | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 36.41 million Persons | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 36.97 million Persons | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 37.53 million Persons | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 38.12 million Persons | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 38.72 million Persons | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 39.33 million Persons | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 39.91 million Persons | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 40.41 million Persons | +1.2% |
| 1985 | 40.81 million Persons | +1.0% |
| 1986 | 41.21 million Persons | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 41.62 million Persons | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 42.03 million Persons | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 42.45 million Persons | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 42.87 million Persons | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 43.30 million Persons | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 43.75 million Persons | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 44.19 million Persons | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 44.64 million Persons | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 45.09 million Persons | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 45.52 million Persons | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 45.95 million Persons | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 46.29 million Persons | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 46.62 million Persons | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 47.01 million Persons | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 47.37 million Persons | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 47.64 million Persons | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 47.89 million Persons | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 48.08 million Persons | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 48.18 million Persons | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 48.44 million Persons | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 48.68 million Persons | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 49.05 million Persons | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 49.31 million Persons | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 49.55 million Persons | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 49.94 million Persons | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 50.20 million Persons | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 50.43 million Persons | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 50.75 million Persons | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 51.01 million Persons | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 51.22 million Persons | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 51.36 million Persons | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 51.59 million Persons | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 51.76 million Persons | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 51.84 million Persons | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 51.77 million Persons | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 51.67 million Persons | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 51.71 million Persons | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 51.75 million Persons | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 51.68 million Persons | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 22.05 million Persons | 19.76 million Persons | 25.30 million Persons | 10 |
| 1960s | 28.32 million Persons | 25.01 million Persons | 31.54 million Persons | 10 |
| 1970s | 34.95 million Persons | 32.24 million Persons | 37.53 million Persons | 10 |
| 1980s | 40.46 million Persons | 38.12 million Persons | 42.45 million Persons | 10 |
| 1990s | 44.82 million Persons | 42.87 million Persons | 46.62 million Persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.17 million Persons | 47.01 million Persons | 49.31 million Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.78 million Persons | 49.55 million Persons | 51.76 million Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.74 million Persons | 51.67 million Persons | 51.84 million Persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Korea
- 1 India 1.46 billion Persons compare
- 2 China 1.42 billion Persons compare
- 3 Türkiye 85.88 million Persons compare
- 3 OECD 1.41 billion Persons compare
- 4 Poland 37.40 million Persons compare
- 4 United States 341.79 million Persons compare
- 4 Croatia 3.88 million Persons compare
- 5 Netherlands 18.09 million Persons compare
- 5 Indonesia 284.44 million Persons compare
More population data for Korea
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.199 Percent per annum (2030)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 45,771 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates -0.1991 % change on previous year (2030)
- Annual Purchasing Power Parities and exchange rates — Purchasing 880.12 National currency per US dollar (2025)
- Population projections 37.18 million Persons (2070)
- Population by 5-year age groups - Regions 51.22 million Persons (2024)
- Population density - Regions 51.22 million Persons (2024)
- Population by broad age groups - Regions 51.22 million Persons (2024)
- NAAG Chapter 6: Government — Social benefits and social transfers in 12.51 Percentage of GDP (2024)
- Annual government non-financial accounts and key indicators (Revenue) 123.67 million National currency (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is historical population data in Korea?
- Historical population data in Korea was 51.68 million Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest historical population data recorded in Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 51.84 million Persons in 2020.
- What is the lowest historical population data recorded in Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.76 million Persons in 1950.
- How does Korea rank for historical population data?
- Korea ranks 2nd out of 4 groups with data for 2025.
- Is historical population data rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Historical population data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
This dataset presents annual population data from 1961 by sex and five year age groups as well as the share of children, youth, the elderly, old-age and total dependency ratios. The data is available for all member countries as well as for the EU27 and G20 countries, Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa and the World total. The data refer to mid-year estimates of the population. See country details in Historical population metadata.