Population by income level in South Korea
South Korea: Population by income level was 51.68 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population by income level in South Korea, 1960–2025
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population by income level in South Korea is 51.68 million, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by income level in South Korea peaked at 51.84 million in 2020 and was at its lowest, 25.01 million, in 1960.
South Korea ranks 29th of 215 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 28.32 million | 25.01 million | 31.54 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 34.95 million | 32.24 million | 37.53 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 40.46 million | 38.12 million | 42.45 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 44.82 million | 42.87 million | 46.62 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.17 million | 47.01 million | 49.31 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.78 million | 49.55 million | 51.76 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.74 million | 51.67 million | 51.84 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
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 population by income level in South Korea?
- Population by income level in South Korea was 51.68 million in 2025, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by income level recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 51.84 million in 2020.
- What is the lowest population by income level recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.01 million in 1960.
- How does South Korea rank for population by income level?
- South Korea ranks 29th out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population by income level rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by income level. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, differentiated by World Bank income level.