Urban and rural population in South Korea
South Korea: Urban and rural population was 41.94 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
41.94 million
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
23rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
42.10 million
in 2020
All-time low
4.06 million
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in South Korea, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban and rural population in South Korea is 41.94 million, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in South Korea peaked at 42.10 million in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4.06 million, in 1950.
South Korea ranks 23rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 4.06 million | — |
| 1951 | 4.24 million | +4.5% |
| 1952 | 4.48 million | +5.5% |
| 1953 | 4.75 million | +6.2% |
| 1954 | 5.06 million | +6.4% |
| 1955 | 5.39 million | +6.5% |
| 1956 | 5.73 million | +6.3% |
| 1957 | 6.08 million | +6.1% |
| 1958 | 6.44 million | +6.0% |
| 1959 | 6.82 million | +5.9% |
| 1960 | 7.23 million | +5.9% |
| 1961 | 7.64 million | +5.7% |
| 1962 | 8.04 million | +5.3% |
| 1963 | 8.46 million | +5.2% |
| 1964 | 8.90 million | +5.2% |
| 1965 | 9.36 million | +5.2% |
| 1966 | 9.88 million | +5.6% |
| 1967 | 10.54 million | +6.7% |
| 1968 | 11.39 million | +8.1% |
| 1969 | 12.33 million | +8.3% |
| 1970 | 13.25 million | +7.4% |
| 1971 | 14.08 million | +6.3% |
| 1972 | 14.86 million | +5.6% |
| 1973 | 15.63 million | +5.2% |
| 1974 | 16.41 million | +5.0% |
| 1975 | 17.21 million | +4.9% |
| 1976 | 18.03 million | +4.8% |
| 1977 | 18.90 million | +4.8% |
| 1978 | 19.80 million | +4.7% |
| 1979 | 20.70 million | +4.6% |
| 1980 | 21.61 million | +4.4% |
| 1981 | 22.57 million | +4.4% |
| 1982 | 23.59 million | +4.5% |
| 1983 | 24.62 million | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 25.64 million | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 26.66 million | +4.0% |
| 1986 | 27.77 million | +4.2% |
| 1987 | 29.02 million | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 30.30 million | +4.4% |
| 1989 | 31.54 million | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 32.61 million | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 33.40 million | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 34.02 million | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 34.61 million | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 35.14 million | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 35.57 million | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 35.94 million | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 36.29 million | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 36.61 million | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 36.90 million | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 37.22 million | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 37.58 million | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 37.97 million | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 38.35 million | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 38.68 million | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 38.95 million | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 39.16 million | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 39.37 million | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 39.57 million | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 39.77 million | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 39.98 million | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 40.27 million | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 40.63 million | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 40.97 million | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 41.31 million | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 41.62 million | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 41.84 million | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 41.95 million | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 42.03 million | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 42.08 million | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 42.10 million | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 42.08 million | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 42.03 million | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 42.00 million | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 41.98 million | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 41.94 million | -0.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 41.94 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.22 million, 18.9× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 41.94 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 722,007, 58.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 5.31 million | 4.06 million | 6.82 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 9.38 million | 7.23 million | 12.33 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 16.89 million | 13.25 million | 20.70 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 26.33 million | 21.61 million | 31.54 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 35.11 million | 32.61 million | 36.90 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 38.66 million | 37.22 million | 39.77 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.27 million | 39.98 million | 42.08 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.02 million | 41.94 million | 42.10 million | 6 |
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 urban and rural population in South Korea?
- Urban and rural population in South Korea was 41.94 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 42.10 million in 2020.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.06 million in 1950.
- How does South Korea rank for urban and rural population?
- South Korea ranks 23rd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 76 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).