Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in South Korea
South Korea: Urban and rural population projected to 2050 was 7.55 million people in 2050. ▲ Rising
Latest (2050)
7.55 million people
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
62nd
of 238 countries
All-time high
19.97 million people
in 1966
All-time low
1.60 million people
in 1000
Years of data
133
1000–2050
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in South Korea, 1000–2050
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2050, urban and rural population projected to 2050 in South Korea stood at 7.55 million people.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 15.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population projected to 2050 in South Korea peaked at 19.97 million people in 1966 and was at its lowest, 1.60 million people, in 1000.
South Korea ranks 62nd of 238 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 133 years of available data.
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in South Korea, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 1.60 million people | — |
| 1100 | 1.92 million people | +20.0% |
| 1200 | 2.56 million people | +33.3% |
| 1300 | 1.92 million people | -25.0% |
| 1400 | 2.24 million people | +16.6% |
| 1500 | 2.55 million people | +14.1% |
| 1600 | 3.18 million people | +24.4% |
| 1700 | 3.91 million people | +23.2% |
| 1710 | 4.29 million people | +9.7% |
| 1720 | 4.59 million people | +6.9% |
| 1730 | 4.90 million people | +6.9% |
| 1740 | 5.24 million people | +6.8% |
| 1750 | 5.60 million people | +6.8% |
| 1760 | 5.97 million people | +6.8% |
| 1770 | 6.38 million people | +6.7% |
| 1780 | 6.80 million people | +6.7% |
| 1790 | 7.26 million people | +6.7% |
| 1800 | 7.74 million people | +6.6% |
| 1810 | 8.24 million people | +6.6% |
| 1820 | 8.78 million people | +6.5% |
| 1830 | 8.83 million people | +0.5% |
| 1840 | 8.78 million people | -0.5% |
| 1850 | 8.72 million people | -0.6% |
| 1860 | 8.74 million people | +0.2% |
| 1870 | 8.75 million people | +0.1% |
| 1880 | 8.69 million people | -0.6% |
| 1890 | 8.63 million people | -0.7% |
| 1900 | 8.56 million people | -0.9% |
| 1910 | 8.60 million people | +0.5% |
| 1920 | 9.89 million people | +15.0% |
| 1930 | 11.43 million people | +15.6% |
| 1940 | 12.58 million people | +10.1% |
| 1950 | 15.70 million people | +24.8% |
| 1951 | 15.63 million people | -0.4% |
| 1952 | 15.75 million people | +0.8% |
| 1953 | 16.02 million people | +1.7% |
| 1954 | 16.36 million people | +2.1% |
| 1955 | 16.74 million people | +2.3% |
| 1956 | 17.15 million people | +2.4% |
| 1957 | 17.58 million people | +2.5% |
| 1958 | 18.03 million people | +2.6% |
| 1959 | 18.47 million people | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 18.89 million people | +2.2% |
| 1961 | 19.21 million people | +1.7% |
| 1962 | 19.47 million people | +1.3% |
| 1963 | 19.69 million people | +1.1% |
| 1964 | 19.85 million people | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 19.92 million people | +0.4% |
| 1966 | 19.97 million people | +0.2% |
| 1967 | 19.96 million people | -0.0% |
| 1968 | 19.79 million people | -0.9% |
| 1969 | 19.52 million people | -1.3% |
| 1970 | 19.29 million people | -1.2% |
| 1971 | 19.16 million people | -0.7% |
| 1972 | 19.08 million people | -0.5% |
| 1973 | 18.99 million people | -0.4% |
| 1974 | 18.88 million people | -0.6% |
| 1975 | 18.67 million people | -1.1% |
| 1976 | 18.35 million people | -1.7% |
| 1977 | 17.94 million people | -2.2% |
| 1978 | 17.49 million people | -2.5% |
| 1979 | 17.01 million people | -2.7% |
| 1980 | 16.53 million people | -2.8% |
| 1981 | 16.12 million people | -2.5% |
| 1982 | 15.76 million people | -2.2% |
| 1983 | 15.38 million people | -2.4% |
| 1984 | 14.96 million people | -2.7% |
| 1985 | 14.49 million people | -3.2% |
| 1986 | 13.94 million people | -3.7% |
| 1987 | 13.30 million people | -4.6% |
| 1988 | 12.62 million people | -5.1% |
| 1989 | 11.98 million people | -5.1% |
| 1990 | 11.47 million people | -4.3% |
| 1991 | 11.04 million people | -3.7% |
| 1992 | 10.63 million people | -3.7% |
| 1993 | 10.28 million people | -3.3% |
| 1994 | 9.99 million people | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 9.80 million people | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 9.70 million people | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 9.65 million people | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 9.62 million people | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 9.60 million people | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 9.55 million people | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 9.47 million people | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 9.33 million people | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 9.17 million people | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 9.01 million people | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 8.91 million people | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 8.85 million people | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 8.81 million people | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 8.78 million people | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 8.78 million people | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 8.79 million people | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 8.86 million people | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 8.97 million people | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 9.10 million people | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 9.23 million people | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 9.36 million people | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 9.46 million people | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 9.54 million people | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 9.61 million people | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 9.69 million people | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 9.76 million people | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 9.77 million people | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 9.75 million people | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 9.75 million people | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 9.74 million people | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 9.73 million people | -0.1% |
| 2026 | 9.71 million people | -0.2% |
| 2027 | 9.69 million people | -0.2% |
| 2028 | 9.66 million people | -0.3% |
| 2029 | 9.63 million people | -0.3% |
| 2030 | 9.60 million people | -0.4% |
| 2031 | 9.56 million people | -0.4% |
| 2032 | 9.51 million people | -0.5% |
| 2033 | 9.46 million people | -0.6% |
| 2034 | 9.40 million people | -0.6% |
| 2035 | 9.33 million people | -0.7% |
| 2036 | 9.26 million people | -0.8% |
| 2037 | 9.18 million people | -0.9% |
| 2038 | 9.10 million people | -0.9% |
| 2039 | 9.00 million people | -1.0% |
| 2040 | 8.90 million people | -1.1% |
| 2041 | 8.80 million people | -1.2% |
| 2042 | 8.69 million people | -1.3% |
| 2043 | 8.57 million people | -1.4% |
| 2044 | 8.44 million people | -1.5% |
| 2045 | 8.31 million people | -1.6% |
| 2046 | 8.17 million people | -1.7% |
| 2047 | 8.03 million people | -1.8% |
| 2048 | 7.88 million people | -1.9% |
| 2049 | 7.72 million people | -2.0% |
| 2050 | 7.55 million people | -2.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 7.55 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 306,014 people, 24.7× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 7.55 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 306,014 people, 24.7× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban and rural population projected to 2050 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200 | +33.3% | 1.92 million people | 2.56 million people |
| 1300 | -25.0% | 2.56 million people | 1.92 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 1.60 million people | 1.60 million people | 1.60 million people | 1 |
| 1100s | 1.92 million people | 1.92 million people | 1.92 million people | 1 |
| 1200s | 2.56 million people | 2.56 million people | 2.56 million people | 1 |
| 1300s | 1.92 million people | 1.92 million people | 1.92 million people | 1 |
| 1400s | 2.24 million people | 2.24 million people | 2.24 million people | 1 |
| 1500s | 2.55 million people | 2.55 million people | 2.55 million people | 1 |
| 1600s | 3.18 million people | 3.18 million people | 3.18 million people | 1 |
| 1700s | 3.91 million people | 3.91 million people | 3.91 million people | 1 |
| 1710s | 4.29 million people | 4.29 million people | 4.29 million people | 1 |
| 1720s | 4.59 million people | 4.59 million people | 4.59 million people | 1 |
| 1730s | 4.90 million people | 4.90 million people | 4.90 million people | 1 |
| 1740s | 5.24 million people | 5.24 million people | 5.24 million people | 1 |
| 1750s | 5.60 million people | 5.60 million people | 5.60 million people | 1 |
| 1760s | 5.97 million people | 5.97 million people | 5.97 million people | 1 |
| 1770s | 6.38 million people | 6.38 million people | 6.38 million people | 1 |
| 1780s | 6.80 million people | 6.80 million people | 6.80 million people | 1 |
| 1790s | 7.26 million people | 7.26 million people | 7.26 million people | 1 |
| 1800s | 7.74 million people | 7.74 million people | 7.74 million people | 1 |
| 1810s | 8.24 million people | 8.24 million people | 8.24 million people | 1 |
| 1820s | 8.78 million people | 8.78 million people | 8.78 million people | 1 |
| 1830s | 8.83 million people | 8.83 million people | 8.83 million people | 1 |
| 1840s | 8.78 million people | 8.78 million people | 8.78 million people | 1 |
| 1850s | 8.72 million people | 8.72 million people | 8.72 million people | 1 |
| 1860s | 8.74 million people | 8.74 million people | 8.74 million people | 1 |
| 1870s | 8.75 million people | 8.75 million people | 8.75 million people | 1 |
| 1880s | 8.69 million people | 8.69 million people | 8.69 million people | 1 |
| 1890s | 8.63 million people | 8.63 million people | 8.63 million people | 1 |
| 1900s | 8.56 million people | 8.56 million people | 8.56 million people | 1 |
| 1910s | 8.60 million people | 8.60 million people | 8.60 million people | 1 |
| 1920s | 9.89 million people | 9.89 million people | 9.89 million people | 1 |
| 1930s | 11.43 million people | 11.43 million people | 11.43 million people | 1 |
| 1940s | 12.58 million people | 12.58 million people | 12.58 million people | 1 |
| 1950s | 16.74 million people | 15.63 million people | 18.47 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 19.63 million people | 18.89 million people | 19.97 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 18.49 million people | 17.01 million people | 19.29 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.51 million people | 11.98 million people | 16.53 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.18 million people | 9.60 million people | 11.47 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.06 million people | 8.78 million people | 9.55 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.26 million people | 8.79 million people | 9.69 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.72 million people | 9.63 million people | 9.77 million people | 10 |
| 2030s | 9.34 million people | 9.00 million people | 9.60 million people | 10 |
| 2040s | 8.35 million people | 7.72 million people | 8.90 million people | 10 |
| 2050s | 7.55 million people | 7.55 million people | 7.55 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More population data for South 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 urban and rural population projected to 2050 in South Korea?
- Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in South Korea was 7.55 million people in 2050, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 19.97 million people in 1966.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.60 million people in 1000.
- How does South Korea rank for urban and rural population projected to 2050?
- South Korea ranks 62nd out of 238 countries with data for 2050.
- Is urban and rural population projected to 2050 rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 133 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in rural areas, combining UN estimates and projections with modeled historical data.