Share of population living in urbanized areas in South Korea
South Korea: Share of population living in urbanized areas was 86.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in urbanized areas in South Korea, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of population living in urbanized areas in South Korea stood at 86.8%. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urbanized areas in South Korea peaked at 86.8% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
South Korea ranks 37th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1 |
| 1740s | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 1 |
| 1760s | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 1 |
| 1770s | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 1 |
| 1780s | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 1 |
| 1790s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
| 1800s | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 1 |
| 1810s | 6.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 1 |
| 1820s | 6.5% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 1 |
| 1830s | 7.2% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 1 |
| 1840s | 7.9% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 1 |
| 1850s | 8.6% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 1 |
| 1860s | 9.4% | 9.4% | 9.4% | 1 |
| 1870s | 10.3% | 10.3% | 10.3% | 1 |
| 1880s | 11.3% | 11.3% | 11.3% | 1 |
| 1890s | 12.4% | 12.4% | 12.4% | 1 |
| 1900s | 13.5% | 13.5% | 13.5% | 1 |
| 1910s | 14.8% | 14.8% | 14.8% | 1 |
| 1920s | 16.3% | 16.3% | 16.3% | 1 |
| 1930s | 17.8% | 17.8% | 17.8% | 1 |
| 1940s | 19.5% | 19.5% | 19.5% | 1 |
| 1950s | 23.8% | 21.4% | 26.7% | 10 |
| 1960s | 31.8% | 27.4% | 37.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 47.3% | 39.7% | 55.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 64.3% | 56.7% | 72.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 77.5% | 73.8% | 80.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 81.5% | 80.4% | 82.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 84.2% | 83.0% | 85.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 86.2% | 85.6% | 86.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 34 United Arab Emirates 87.6% compare
- 35 Greenland 87.5% compare
- 36 Bahamas 87.0% compare
- 38 Netherlands 86.7% compare
- 39 Falkland Islands 86.3% compare
- 40 United States 86.3% compare
More population data for South Korea
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 599,530 people (2100)
- Population density 223.86 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -1.4% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 0.748 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 4,241 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 0.748 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 0.748 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate -0.2% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 0.72 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urbanized areas in South Korea?
- Share of population living in urbanized areas in South Korea was 86.8% in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 86.8% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does South Korea rank for share of population living in urbanized areas?
- South Korea ranks 37th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urbanized areas rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urbanized areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of population living in urban areas in a country over time.