Population in the largest city in South Korea
South Korea: Population in the largest city was 47.58 in 2020. ▲ Rising
Population in the largest city in South Korea, 1950–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in the largest city in South Korea is 47.58, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in the largest city in South Korea peaked at 47.58 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 18.79, in 1950.
That places South Korea 32nd out of 179 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Population in the largest city in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 18.79 | — |
| 1955 | 21.2 | +12.8% |
| 1960 | 23 | +8.5% |
| 1965 | 25.97 | +12.9% |
| 1970 | 30.75 | +18.4% |
| 1975 | 33.53 | +9.0% |
| 1980 | 37.78 | +12.7% |
| 1985 | 41.01 | +8.5% |
| 1990 | 44.28 | +8.0% |
| 1995 | 44.82 | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 45.77 | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 46.45 | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 46.84 | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 46.64 | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 47.58 | +2.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 47.58 is above the median for high income countries, which is 29.23, 1.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 47.58 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 28.2, 1.7× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 19.99 | 18.79 | 21.2 | 2 |
| 1960s | 24.48 | 23 | 25.97 | 2 |
| 1970s | 32.14 | 30.75 | 33.53 | 2 |
| 1980s | 39.39 | 37.78 | 41.01 | 2 |
| 1990s | 44.55 | 44.28 | 44.82 | 2 |
| 2000s | 46.11 | 45.77 | 46.45 | 2 |
| 2010s | 46.74 | 46.64 | 46.84 | 2 |
| 2020s | 47.58 | 47.58 | 47.58 | 1 |
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 in the largest city in South Korea?
- Population in the largest city in South Korea was 47.58 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 47.58 in 2020.
- What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.79 in 1950.
- How does South Korea rank for population in the largest city?
- South Korea ranks 32nd out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is population in the largest city rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).