Share of urban population who live in the largest city in South Korea
South Korea: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 47.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in South Korea, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of urban population who live in the largest city in South Korea is 47.6%, 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, share of urban population who live in the largest city in South Korea peaked at 47.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 18.8%, 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 20.0% | 18.8% | 21.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 24.5% | 23.0% | 26.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 32.1% | 30.8% | 33.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 39.4% | 37.8% | 41.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 44.5% | 44.3% | 44.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 46.1% | 45.8% | 46.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 46.7% | 46.6% | 46.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 47.6% | 47.6% | 47.6% | 1 |
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 share of urban population who live in the largest city in South Korea?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in South Korea was 47.6% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 47.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.8% in 1950.
- How does South Korea rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- South Korea ranks 32nd out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live 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 European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.