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