Long term urban population region in South Korea
South Korea: Long term urban population region was 86.81 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
86.81
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
37th
of 202 countries
All-time high
86.81
in 2025
All-time low
0.001
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Long term urban population region in South Korea, 1000–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, long term urban population region in South Korea stood at 86.81. 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, long term urban population region in South Korea peaked at 86.81 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.001, 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.
Long term urban population region in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.001 | — |
| 1100 | 0.0029 | +200.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0088 | +200.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0264 | +200.0% |
| 1400 | 0.0791 | +200.0% |
| 1500 | 0.2373 | +200.0% |
| 1600 | 0.7118 | +200.0% |
| 1700 | 2.14 | +200.0% |
| 1710 | 2.41 | +12.7% |
| 1720 | 2.64 | +9.5% |
| 1730 | 2.89 | +9.5% |
| 1740 | 3.16 | +9.5% |
| 1750 | 3.46 | +9.5% |
| 1760 | 3.79 | +9.5% |
| 1770 | 4.15 | +9.5% |
| 1780 | 4.55 | +9.5% |
| 1790 | 4.98 | +9.5% |
| 1800 | 5.46 | +9.5% |
| 1810 | 5.98 | +9.5% |
| 1820 | 6.54 | +9.5% |
| 1830 | 7.17 | +9.5% |
| 1840 | 7.85 | +9.5% |
| 1850 | 8.6 | +9.5% |
| 1860 | 9.42 | +9.5% |
| 1870 | 10.31 | +9.5% |
| 1880 | 11.3 | +9.5% |
| 1890 | 12.37 | +9.5% |
| 1900 | 13.55 | +9.5% |
| 1910 | 14.84 | +9.5% |
| 1920 | 16.25 | +9.5% |
| 1930 | 17.8 | +9.5% |
| 1940 | 19.5 | +9.5% |
| 1950 | 21.35 | +9.5% |
| 1951 | 21.77 | +1.9% |
| 1952 | 22.24 | +2.2% |
| 1953 | 22.77 | +2.4% |
| 1954 | 23.35 | +2.6% |
| 1955 | 23.98 | +2.7% |
| 1956 | 24.64 | +2.8% |
| 1957 | 25.33 | +2.8% |
| 1958 | 26.02 | +2.8% |
| 1959 | 26.72 | +2.7% |
| 1960 | 27.41 | +2.6% |
| 1961 | 28.21 | +2.9% |
| 1962 | 29.1 | +3.1% |
| 1963 | 29.98 | +3.0% |
| 1964 | 30.87 | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 31.77 | +2.9% |
| 1966 | 32.69 | +2.9% |
| 1967 | 34.23 | +4.7% |
| 1968 | 36.01 | +5.2% |
| 1969 | 37.84 | +5.1% |
| 1970 | 39.73 | +5.0% |
| 1971 | 41.46 | +4.4% |
| 1972 | 43.1 | +4.0% |
| 1973 | 44.76 | +3.9% |
| 1974 | 46.42 | +3.7% |
| 1975 | 48.03 | +3.5% |
| 1976 | 49.76 | +3.6% |
| 1977 | 51.51 | +3.5% |
| 1978 | 53.23 | +3.3% |
| 1979 | 54.96 | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 56.72 | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 58.38 | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 60.05 | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 61.71 | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 63.33 | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 64.87 | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 66.78 | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 68.73 | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 70.56 | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 72.27 | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 73.85 | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 75.05 | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 75.9 | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 76.68 | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 77.44 | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 78.22 | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 78.8 | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 79.23 | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 79.66 | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 80.06 | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 80.39 | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 80.64 | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 80.9 | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 81.16 | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 81.41 | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 81.67 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 81.93 | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 82.19 | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 82.44 | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 82.7 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 82.96 | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 83.22 | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 83.49 | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 83.76 | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 84.02 | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 84.29 | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 84.55 | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 84.82 | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 85.09 | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 85.35 | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 85.62 | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 85.86 | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 86.1 | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 86.34 | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 86.57 | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 86.81 | +0.3% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 86.81 is above the median for high income countries, which is 78.88, 1.1× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 86.81 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 59.03, 1.5× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Long term urban population region 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +200.0% | 0.001 | 0.0029 |
| 1200 | +200.0% | 0.0029 | 0.0088 |
| 1300 | +200.0% | 0.0088 | 0.0264 |
| 1400 | +200.0% | 0.0264 | 0.0791 |
| 1500 | +200.0% | 0.0791 | 0.2373 |
| 1600 | +200.0% | 0.2373 | 0.7118 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.001 | 0.001 | 0.001 | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0029 | 0.0029 | 0.0029 | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0088 | 0.0088 | 0.0088 | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0264 | 0.0264 | 0.0264 | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0791 | 0.0791 | 0.0791 | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.2373 | 0.2373 | 0.2373 | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.7118 | 0.7118 | 0.7118 | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.14 | 2.14 | 2.14 | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.41 | 2.41 | 2.41 | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.64 | 2.64 | 2.64 | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.89 | 2.89 | 2.89 | 1 |
| 1740s | 3.16 | 3.16 | 3.16 | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.46 | 3.46 | 3.46 | 1 |
| 1760s | 3.79 | 3.79 | 3.79 | 1 |
| 1770s | 4.15 | 4.15 | 4.15 | 1 |
| 1780s | 4.55 | 4.55 | 4.55 | 1 |
| 1790s | 4.98 | 4.98 | 4.98 | 1 |
| 1800s | 5.46 | 5.46 | 5.46 | 1 |
| 1810s | 5.98 | 5.98 | 5.98 | 1 |
| 1820s | 6.54 | 6.54 | 6.54 | 1 |
| 1830s | 7.17 | 7.17 | 7.17 | 1 |
| 1840s | 7.85 | 7.85 | 7.85 | 1 |
| 1850s | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 1 |
| 1860s | 9.42 | 9.42 | 9.42 | 1 |
| 1870s | 10.31 | 10.31 | 10.31 | 1 |
| 1880s | 11.3 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 1 |
| 1890s | 12.37 | 12.37 | 12.37 | 1 |
| 1900s | 13.55 | 13.55 | 13.55 | 1 |
| 1910s | 14.84 | 14.84 | 14.84 | 1 |
| 1920s | 16.25 | 16.25 | 16.25 | 1 |
| 1930s | 17.8 | 17.8 | 17.8 | 1 |
| 1940s | 19.5 | 19.5 | 19.5 | 1 |
| 1950s | 23.82 | 21.35 | 26.72 | 10 |
| 1960s | 31.81 | 27.41 | 37.84 | 10 |
| 1970s | 47.3 | 39.73 | 54.96 | 10 |
| 1980s | 64.34 | 56.72 | 72.27 | 10 |
| 1990s | 77.49 | 73.85 | 80.06 | 10 |
| 2000s | 81.54 | 80.39 | 82.7 | 10 |
| 2010s | 84.15 | 82.96 | 85.35 | 10 |
| 2020s | 86.22 | 85.62 | 86.81 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 34 United Arab Emirates 87.64 compare
- 35 Greenland 87.48 compare
- 36 Bahamas 86.98 compare
- 38 Netherlands 86.72 compare
- 39 Falkland Islands 86.29 compare
- 40 United States 86.27 compare
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 long term urban population region in South Korea?
- Long term urban population region in South Korea was 86.81 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest long term urban population region recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 86.81 in 2025.
- What is the lowest long term urban population region recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.001 in 1000.
- How does South Korea rank for long term urban population region?
- South Korea ranks 37th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is long term urban population region 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Long term urban population region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).