Population density in South Korea

South Korea: Population density was 223.86 people per km² in 2100. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2100)
223.86 people per km²
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
69th
of 235 countries
All-time high
531.34 people per km²
in 2020
All-time low
16.39 people per km²
in 1000
Years of data
318
1000–2100

Population density in South Korea, 1000–2100

0200400600100015502100

Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people per km².

Analysis

South Korea recorded 223.86 people per km² for population density in 2100.

The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 14.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population density in South Korea peaked at 531.34 people per km² in 2020 and was at its lowest, 16.39 people per km², in 1000.

That places South Korea 69th out of 235 countries with data for 2100, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Population density in South Korea, year by year

Annual values for Population density in South Korea, 1000 to 2100.
Year people per km² Change
1000 16.39 people per km²
1100 19.67 people per km² +20.0%
1200 26.23 people per km² +33.3%
1300 19.67 people per km² -25.0%
1400 22.95 people per km² +16.7%
1500 26.23 people per km² +14.3%
1600 32.79 people per km² +25.0%
1700 40.98 people per km² +25.0%
1710 45.07 people per km² +10.0%
1720 48.29 people per km² +7.1%
1730 51.73 people per km² +7.1%
1740 55.43 people per km² +7.1%
1750 59.39 people per km² +7.1%
1760 63.63 people per km² +7.1%
1770 68.18 people per km² +7.1%
1780 73.05 people per km² +7.1%
1790 78.26 people per km² +7.1%
1800 96.26 people per km² +23.0%
1801 96.26 people per km² +0.0%
1802 96.26 people per km² +0.0%
1803 96.26 people per km² +0.0%
1804 96.26 people per km² +0.0%
1805 96.26 people per km² +0.0%
1806 96.26 people per km² +0.0%
1807 96.26 people per km² +0.0%
1808 96.26 people per km² +0.0%
1809 96.26 people per km² +0.0%
1810 96.26 people per km² +0.0%
1811 96.26 people per km² +0.0%
1812 96.26 people per km² +0.0%
1813 96.26 people per km² +0.0%
1814 96.26 people per km² +0.0%
1815 96.26 people per km² +0.0%
1816 96.26 people per km² +0.0%
1817 96.26 people per km² +0.0%
1818 96.26 people per km² +0.0%
1819 96.27 people per km² +0.0%
1820 96.29 people per km² +0.0%
1821 96.32 people per km² +0.0%
1822 96.36 people per km² +0.0%
1823 96.41 people per km² +0.1%
1824 96.46 people per km² +0.1%
1825 96.51 people per km² +0.1%
1826 96.57 people per km² +0.1%
1827 96.62 people per km² +0.1%
1828 96.67 people per km² +0.1%
1829 96.72 people per km² +0.1%
1830 96.77 people per km² +0.1%
1831 96.82 people per km² +0.1%
1832 96.87 people per km² +0.1%
1833 96.92 people per km² +0.1%
1834 96.97 people per km² +0.1%
1835 97.03 people per km² +0.1%
1836 97.08 people per km² +0.1%
1837 97.13 people per km² +0.1%
1838 97.18 people per km² +0.1%
1839 97.23 people per km² +0.1%
1840 97.28 people per km² +0.1%
1841 97.33 people per km² +0.1%
1842 97.38 people per km² +0.1%
1843 97.44 people per km² +0.1%
1844 97.49 people per km² +0.1%
1845 97.54 people per km² +0.1%
1846 97.59 people per km² +0.1%
1847 97.64 people per km² +0.1%
1848 97.69 people per km² +0.1%
1849 97.76 people per km² +0.1%
1850 97.83 people per km² +0.1%
1851 97.87 people per km² +0.0%
1852 97.92 people per km² +0.1%
1853 97.98 people per km² +0.1%
1854 98.05 people per km² +0.1%
1855 98.11 people per km² +0.1%
1856 98.17 people per km² +0.1%
1857 98.23 people per km² +0.1%
1858 98.3 people per km² +0.1%
1859 98.36 people per km² +0.1%
1860 98.42 people per km² +0.1%
1861 98.49 people per km² +0.1%
1862 98.55 people per km² +0.1%
1863 98.61 people per km² +0.1%
1864 98.67 people per km² +0.1%
1865 98.74 people per km² +0.1%
1866 98.8 people per km² +0.1%
1867 98.86 people per km² +0.1%
1868 98.92 people per km² +0.1%
1869 98.98 people per km² +0.1%
1870 99.02 people per km² +0.0%
1871 99.04 people per km² +0.0%
1872 99.06 people per km² +0.0%
1873 99.06 people per km² +0.0%
1874 99.07 people per km² +0.0%
1875 99.07 people per km² +0.0%
1876 99.08 people per km² +0.0%
1877 99.08 people per km² +0.0%
1878 99.08 people per km² +0.0%
1879 99.09 people per km² +0.0%
1880 99.09 people per km² +0.0%
1881 99.09 people per km² +0.0%
1882 99.1 people per km² +0.0%
1883 99.1 people per km² +0.0%
1884 99.11 people per km² +0.0%
1885 99.11 people per km² +0.0%
1886 99.11 people per km² +0.0%
1887 99.12 people per km² +0.0%
1888 99.12 people per km² +0.0%
1889 99.13 people per km² +0.0%
1890 99.13 people per km² +0.0%
1891 99.13 people per km² +0.0%
1892 99.14 people per km² +0.0%
1893 99.14 people per km² +0.0%
1894 99.14 people per km² +0.0%
1895 99.15 people per km² +0.0%
1896 99.15 people per km² +0.0%
1897 99.16 people per km² +0.0%
1898 99.16 people per km² +0.0%
1899 99.19 people per km² +0.0%
1900 99.26 people per km² +0.1%
1901 99.35 people per km² +0.1%
1902 99.48 people per km² +0.1%
1903 99.63 people per km² +0.2%
1904 99.78 people per km² +0.2%
1905 99.94 people per km² +0.2%
1906 100.09 people per km² +0.2%
1907 100.25 people per km² +0.2%
1908 100.41 people per km² +0.2%
1909 100.84 people per km² +0.4%
1910 101.55 people per km² +0.7%
1911 102.55 people per km² +1.0%
1912 103.85 people per km² +1.3%
1913 105.44 people per km² +1.5%
1914 107.05 people per km² +1.5%
1915 108.69 people per km² +1.5%
1916 110.35 people per km² +1.5%
1917 112.03 people per km² +1.5%
1918 113.8 people per km² +1.6%
1919 115.61 people per km² +1.6%
1920 117.46 people per km² +1.6%
1921 119.37 people per km² +1.6%
1922 121.32 people per km² +1.6%
1923 123.32 people per km² +1.6%
1924 125.35 people per km² +1.6%
1925 127.41 people per km² +1.6%
1926 129.51 people per km² +1.6%
1927 131.65 people per km² +1.6%
1928 133.82 people per km² +1.6%
1929 135.89 people per km² +1.6%
1930 137.87 people per km² +1.5%
1931 139.75 people per km² +1.4%
1932 141.52 people per km² +1.3%
1933 143.19 people per km² +1.2%
1934 144.88 people per km² +1.2%
1935 146.58 people per km² +1.2%
1936 148.31 people per km² +1.2%
1937 150.06 people per km² +1.2%
1938 151.82 people per km² +1.2%
1939 154.16 people per km² +1.5%
1940 157.07 people per km² +1.9%
1941 160.6 people per km² +2.2%
1942 164.76 people per km² +2.6%
1943 169.57 people per km² +2.9%
1944 174.53 people per km² +2.9%
1945 179.63 people per km² +2.9%
1946 184.88 people per km² +2.9%
1947 190.29 people per km² +2.9%
1948 195.85 people per km² +2.9%
1949 201.09 people per km² +2.7%
1950 202.43 people per km² +0.7%
1951 203.58 people per km² +0.6%
1952 207.27 people per km² +1.8%
1953 212.86 people per km² +2.7%
1954 219.42 people per km² +3.1%
1955 226.69 people per km² +3.3%
1956 234.37 people per km² +3.4%
1957 242.43 people per km² +3.4%
1958 250.76 people per km² +3.4%
1959 259.2 people per km² +3.4%
1960 267.58 people per km² +3.2%
1961 275.13 people per km² +2.8%
1962 281.86 people per km² +2.4%
1963 288.38 people per km² +2.3%
1964 294.52 people per km² +2.1%
1965 300.04 people per km² +1.9%
1966 305.8 people per km² +1.9%
1967 312.46 people per km² +2.2%
1968 319.42 people per km² +2.2%
1969 326.36 people per km² +2.2%
1970 333.42 people per km² +2.2%
1971 340.57 people per km² +2.1%
1972 347.71 people per km² +2.1%
1973 354.77 people per km² +2.0%
1974 361.56 people per km² +1.9%
1975 367.58 people per km² +1.7%
1976 372.75 people per km² +1.4%
1977 377.5 people per km² +1.3%
1978 381.99 people per km² +1.2%
1979 386.38 people per km² +1.2%
1980 390.79 people per km² +1.1%
1981 396.41 people per km² +1.4%
1982 403.24 people per km² +1.7%
1983 409.85 people per km² +1.6%
1984 415.97 people per km² +1.5%
1985 421.61 people per km² +1.4%
1986 427.44 people per km² +1.4%
1987 433.63 people per km² +1.4%
1988 439.79 people per km² +1.4%
1989 445.95 people per km² +1.4%
1990 451.65 people per km² +1.3%
1991 455.32 people per km² +0.8%
1992 457.52 people per km² +0.5%
1993 459.92 people per km² +0.5%
1994 462.41 people per km² +0.5%
1995 464.84 people per km² +0.5%
1996 467.61 people per km² +0.6%
1997 470.71 people per km² +0.7%
1998 473.68 people per km² +0.6%
1999 476.44 people per km² +0.6%
2000 479.17 people per km² +0.6%
2001 482 people per km² +0.6%
2002 484.62 people per km² +0.5%
2003 486.82 people per km² +0.5%
2004 488.7 people per km² +0.4%
2005 490.28 people per km² +0.3%
2006 491.87 people per km² +0.3%
2007 493.63 people per km² +0.4%
2008 495.46 people per km² +0.4%
2009 497.4 people per km² +0.4%
2010 499.69 people per km² +0.5%
2011 503.36 people per km² +0.7%
2012 508.19 people per km² +1.0%
2013 513.02 people per km² +1.0%
2014 517.82 people per km² +0.9%
2015 522.38 people per km² +0.9%
2016 525.59 people per km² +0.6%
2017 527.52 people per km² +0.4%
2018 529.11 people per km² +0.3%
2019 530.41 people per km² +0.2%
2020 531.34 people per km² +0.2%
2021 531.23 people per km² -0.0%
2022 530.56 people per km² -0.1%
2023 530.21 people per km² -0.1%
2024 529.89 people per km² -0.1%
2025 529.38 people per km² -0.1%
2026 528.69 people per km² -0.1%
2027 527.86 people per km² -0.2%
2028 526.88 people per km² -0.2%
2029 525.76 people per km² -0.2%
2030 524.47 people per km² -0.2%
2031 523.03 people per km² -0.3%
2032 521.43 people per km² -0.3%
2033 519.61 people per km² -0.3%
2034 517.59 people per km² -0.4%
2035 515.38 people per km² -0.4%
2036 512.98 people per km² -0.5%
2037 510.38 people per km² -0.5%
2038 507.59 people per km² -0.5%
2039 504.63 people per km² -0.6%
2040 501.52 people per km² -0.6%
2041 498.26 people per km² -0.7%
2042 494.87 people per km² -0.7%
2043 491.38 people per km² -0.7%
2044 487.74 people per km² -0.7%
2045 483.94 people per km² -0.8%
2046 480.03 people per km² -0.8%
2047 475.94 people per km² -0.9%
2048 471.66 people per km² -0.9%
2049 467.19 people per km² -0.9%
2050 462.53 people per km² -1.0%
2051 457.7 people per km² -1.0%
2052 452.65 people per km² -1.1%
2053 447.46 people per km² -1.1%
2054 442.19 people per km² -1.2%
2055 436.81 people per km² -1.2%
2056 431.3 people per km² -1.3%
2057 425.67 people per km² -1.3%
2058 419.92 people per km² -1.3%
2059 414.15 people per km² -1.4%
2060 408.37 people per km² -1.4%
2061 402.63 people per km² -1.4%
2062 396.92 people per km² -1.4%
2063 391.22 people per km² -1.4%
2064 385.58 people per km² -1.4%
2065 380 people per km² -1.4%
2066 374.49 people per km² -1.4%
2067 369.04 people per km² -1.5%
2068 363.66 people per km² -1.5%
2069 358.32 people per km² -1.5%
2070 353 people per km² -1.5%
2071 347.76 people per km² -1.5%
2072 342.6 people per km² -1.5%
2073 337.53 people per km² -1.5%
2074 332.54 people per km² -1.5%
2075 327.61 people per km² -1.5%
2076 322.76 people per km² -1.5%
2077 317.97 people per km² -1.5%
2078 313.25 people per km² -1.5%
2079 308.6 people per km² -1.5%
2080 304.01 people per km² -1.5%
2081 299.46 people per km² -1.5%
2082 294.96 people per km² -1.5%
2083 290.53 people per km² -1.5%
2084 286.15 people per km² -1.5%
2085 281.82 people per km² -1.5%
2086 277.53 people per km² -1.5%
2087 273.27 people per km² -1.5%
2088 269.05 people per km² -1.5%
2089 264.88 people per km² -1.6%
2090 260.75 people per km² -1.6%
2091 256.68 people per km² -1.6%
2092 252.67 people per km² -1.6%
2093 248.74 people per km² -1.6%
2094 244.9 people per km² -1.5%
2095 241.14 people per km² -1.5%
2096 237.49 people per km² -1.5%
2097 233.95 people per km² -1.5%
2098 230.5 people per km² -1.5%
2099 227.14 people per km² -1.5%
2100 223.86 people per km² -1.4%

South Korea compared with similar countries

  • South Korea's 223.86 people per km² is above the median for high income countries, which is 106.6 people per km², 2.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
  • South Korea's 223.86 people per km² is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 132.68 people per km², 1.7× the median. (37 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Population density 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.

YearChange FromTo
1200 +33.3% 19.67 people per km² 26.23 people per km²
1300 -25.0% 26.23 people per km² 19.67 people per km²
1600 +25.0% 26.23 people per km² 32.79 people per km²

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1000s 16.39 people per km² 16.39 people per km² 16.39 people per km² 1
1100s 19.67 people per km² 19.67 people per km² 19.67 people per km² 1
1200s 26.23 people per km² 26.23 people per km² 26.23 people per km² 1
1300s 19.67 people per km² 19.67 people per km² 19.67 people per km² 1
1400s 22.95 people per km² 22.95 people per km² 22.95 people per km² 1
1500s 26.23 people per km² 26.23 people per km² 26.23 people per km² 1
1600s 32.79 people per km² 32.79 people per km² 32.79 people per km² 1
1700s 40.98 people per km² 40.98 people per km² 40.98 people per km² 1
1710s 45.07 people per km² 45.07 people per km² 45.07 people per km² 1
1720s 48.29 people per km² 48.29 people per km² 48.29 people per km² 1
1730s 51.73 people per km² 51.73 people per km² 51.73 people per km² 1
1740s 55.43 people per km² 55.43 people per km² 55.43 people per km² 1
1750s 59.39 people per km² 59.39 people per km² 59.39 people per km² 1
1760s 63.63 people per km² 63.63 people per km² 63.63 people per km² 1
1770s 68.18 people per km² 68.18 people per km² 68.18 people per km² 1
1780s 73.05 people per km² 73.05 people per km² 73.05 people per km² 1
1790s 78.26 people per km² 78.26 people per km² 78.26 people per km² 1
1800s 96.26 people per km² 96.26 people per km² 96.26 people per km² 10
1810s 96.26 people per km² 96.26 people per km² 96.27 people per km² 10
1820s 96.49 people per km² 96.29 people per km² 96.72 people per km² 10
1830s 97 people per km² 96.77 people per km² 97.23 people per km² 10
1840s 97.51 people per km² 97.28 people per km² 97.76 people per km² 10
1850s 98.08 people per km² 97.83 people per km² 98.36 people per km² 10
1860s 98.7 people per km² 98.42 people per km² 98.98 people per km² 10
1870s 99.06 people per km² 99.02 people per km² 99.09 people per km² 10
1880s 99.11 people per km² 99.09 people per km² 99.13 people per km² 10
1890s 99.15 people per km² 99.13 people per km² 99.19 people per km² 10
1900s 99.9 people per km² 99.26 people per km² 100.84 people per km² 10
1910s 108.09 people per km² 101.55 people per km² 115.61 people per km² 10
1920s 126.51 people per km² 117.46 people per km² 135.89 people per km² 10
1930s 145.81 people per km² 137.87 people per km² 154.16 people per km² 10
1940s 177.83 people per km² 157.07 people per km² 201.09 people per km² 10
1950s 225.9 people per km² 202.43 people per km² 259.2 people per km² 10
1960s 297.15 people per km² 267.58 people per km² 326.36 people per km² 10
1970s 362.42 people per km² 333.42 people per km² 386.38 people per km² 10
1980s 418.47 people per km² 390.79 people per km² 445.95 people per km² 10
1990s 464.01 people per km² 451.65 people per km² 476.44 people per km² 10
2000s 489 people per km² 479.17 people per km² 497.4 people per km² 10
2010s 517.71 people per km² 499.69 people per km² 530.41 people per km² 10
2020s 529.18 people per km² 525.76 people per km² 531.34 people per km² 10
2030s 515.71 people per km² 504.63 people per km² 524.47 people per km² 10
2040s 485.25 people per km² 467.19 people per km² 501.52 people per km² 10
2050s 439.04 people per km² 414.15 people per km² 462.53 people per km² 10
2060s 383.02 people per km² 358.32 people per km² 408.37 people per km² 10
2070s 330.36 people per km² 308.6 people per km² 353 people per km² 10
2080s 284.17 people per km² 264.88 people per km² 304.01 people per km² 10
2090s 243.4 people per km² 227.14 people per km² 260.75 people per km² 10
2100s 223.86 people per km² 223.86 people per km² 223.86 people per km² 1

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 66 Syria 237.91 people per km² compare
  2. 67 Iraq 231.84 people per km² compare
  3. 68 Switzerland 230.99 people per km² compare
  4. 70 Nepal 222.05 people per km² compare
  5. 71 Sierra Leone 220.76 people per km² compare
  6. 72 Grenada 217.37 people per km² compare

See the full ranking of 235 places →

More population data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is population density in South Korea?
Population density in South Korea was 223.86 people per km² in 2100, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest population density recorded in South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 531.34 people per km² in 2020.
What is the lowest population density recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 16.39 people per km² in 1000.
How does South Korea rank for population density?
South Korea ranks 69th out of 235 countries with data for 2100.
Is population density rising or falling in South Korea?
Over the last ten years it is down 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Korea data come from?
The figures come from HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population density. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Population density in South Korea. Statizoid, drawing on HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/population-density/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Population density
Unit
people per km²
Source
HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
235 places, 68,610 data points, 1000–2100
Last refreshed

Population per square kilometer by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2100, based on data and estimates from different sources.