Population by age group in South Korea
South Korea: Population by age group was 9.48 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
9.48 million
Change on year
up 4.8%
World rank
17th
of 236 countries
All-time high
9.48 million
in 2023
All-time low
539,268
in 1951
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population by age group in South Korea, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 9.48 million for population by age group in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 4.8% on the previous year and up 56.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by age group in South Korea peaked at 9.48 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 539,268, in 1951.
South Korea ranks 17th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population by age group in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 541,805 | — |
| 1951 | 539,268 | -0.5% |
| 1952 | 554,288 | +2.8% |
| 1953 | 581,052 | +4.8% |
| 1954 | 612,772 | +5.5% |
| 1955 | 647,010 | +5.6% |
| 1956 | 682,005 | +5.4% |
| 1957 | 716,959 | +5.1% |
| 1958 | 750,755 | +4.7% |
| 1959 | 783,877 | +4.4% |
| 1960 | 817,265 | +4.3% |
| 1961 | 850,729 | +4.1% |
| 1962 | 884,297 | +3.9% |
| 1963 | 914,484 | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 937,460 | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 957,797 | +2.2% |
| 1966 | 977,120 | +2.0% |
| 1967 | 1.00 million | +2.7% |
| 1968 | 1.03 million | +2.9% |
| 1969 | 1.06 million | +2.5% |
| 1970 | 1.09 million | +3.3% |
| 1971 | 1.14 million | +4.1% |
| 1972 | 1.18 million | +3.9% |
| 1973 | 1.22 million | +3.4% |
| 1974 | 1.26 million | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 1.29 million | +2.6% |
| 1976 | 1.33 million | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 1.36 million | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 1.39 million | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 1.42 million | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 1.46 million | +2.6% |
| 1981 | 1.51 million | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 1.58 million | +4.3% |
| 1983 | 1.63 million | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 1.68 million | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 1.75 million | +3.7% |
| 1986 | 1.82 million | +4.4% |
| 1987 | 1.90 million | +4.3% |
| 1988 | 1.98 million | +4.3% |
| 1989 | 2.07 million | +4.4% |
| 1990 | 2.15 million | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 2.23 million | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 2.32 million | +3.8% |
| 1993 | 2.41 million | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 2.51 million | +4.2% |
| 1995 | 2.61 million | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 2.72 million | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 2.85 million | +4.7% |
| 1998 | 2.99 million | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 3.14 million | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 3.32 million | +5.5% |
| 2001 | 3.50 million | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 3.70 million | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 3.90 million | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 4.10 million | +5.3% |
| 2005 | 4.31 million | +5.0% |
| 2006 | 4.52 million | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 4.75 million | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 4.95 million | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 5.15 million | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 5.36 million | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 5.57 million | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 5.80 million | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 6.05 million | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 6.33 million | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 6.60 million | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 6.85 million | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 7.14 million | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 7.46 million | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 7.79 million | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 8.20 million | +5.2% |
| 2021 | 8.63 million | +5.3% |
| 2022 | 9.05 million | +4.8% |
| 2023 | 9.48 million | +4.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 9.48 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 285,676, 33.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 9.48 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 96,191, 98.5× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 640,979 | 539,268 | 783,877 | 10 |
| 1960s | 943,348 | 817,265 | 1.06 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.27 million | 1.09 million | 1.42 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.74 million | 1.46 million | 2.07 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.59 million | 2.15 million | 3.14 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.22 million | 3.32 million | 5.15 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.50 million | 5.36 million | 7.79 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.84 million | 8.20 million | 9.48 million | 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 population by age group in South Korea?
- Population by age group in South Korea was 9.48 million in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by age group recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 9.48 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest population by age group recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 539,268 in 1951.
- How does South Korea rank for population by age group?
- South Korea ranks 17th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population by age group rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 56.6%. 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 Population by age group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).