Share of population living in the capital city in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Share of population living in the capital city was 42.9% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in the capital city in Republic of Korea, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Republic of Korea recorded 42.9% for share of population living in the capital city in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in the capital city in Republic of Korea peaked at 42.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 13.4%, in 1950.
That places Republic of Korea 17th out of 170 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in the capital city in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 13.4% | — |
| 1955 | 15.6% | +16.8% |
| 1960 | 17.8% | +14.0% |
| 1965 | 20.7% | +16.7% |
| 1970 | 25.2% | +21.5% |
| 1975 | 28.1% | +11.5% |
| 1980 | 31.9% | +13.6% |
| 1985 | 35.0% | +9.6% |
| 1990 | 38.4% | +9.6% |
| 1995 | 39.3% | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 40.5% | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 41.5% | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 42.1% | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 42.1% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 42.9% | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 14.5% | 13.4% | 15.6% | 2 |
| 1960s | 19.3% | 17.8% | 20.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 26.6% | 25.2% | 28.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 33.5% | 31.9% | 35.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 38.8% | 38.4% | 39.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 41.0% | 40.5% | 41.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 42.1% | 42.1% | 42.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 42.9% | 42.9% | 42.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
More population data for Republic of Korea
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.17 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3601 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.1882 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in the capital city in Republic of Korea?
- Share of population living in the capital city in Republic of Korea was 42.9% 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 population living in the capital city recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 42.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in the capital city recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.4% in 1950.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for share of population living in the capital city?
- Republic of Korea ranks 17th out of 170 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in the capital city rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Republic of 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 population living in the capital city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in the country's capital city. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.