Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in South Korea
South Korea: Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 was 81.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
81.2%
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
65th
of 238 countries
All-time high
82.0%
in 2010
All-time low
0.0%
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in South Korea, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in South Korea stood at 81.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in South Korea peaked at 82.0% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
South Korea ranks 65th of 238 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0% | — |
| 1100 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1400 | 0.1% | +200.0% |
| 1500 | 0.2% | +200.0% |
| 1600 | 0.7% | +200.0% |
| 1700 | 2.1% | +200.0% |
| 1710 | 2.4% | +12.7% |
| 1720 | 2.6% | +9.5% |
| 1730 | 2.9% | +9.5% |
| 1740 | 3.2% | +9.5% |
| 1750 | 3.5% | +9.5% |
| 1760 | 3.8% | +9.5% |
| 1770 | 4.2% | +9.5% |
| 1780 | 4.5% | +9.5% |
| 1790 | 5.0% | +9.5% |
| 1800 | 5.5% | +9.5% |
| 1810 | 6.0% | +9.5% |
| 1820 | 6.5% | +9.5% |
| 1830 | 7.2% | +9.5% |
| 1840 | 7.9% | +9.5% |
| 1850 | 8.6% | +9.5% |
| 1860 | 9.4% | +9.5% |
| 1870 | 10.3% | +9.5% |
| 1880 | 11.3% | +9.5% |
| 1890 | 12.4% | +9.5% |
| 1900 | 13.5% | +9.5% |
| 1910 | 14.8% | +9.5% |
| 1920 | 16.3% | +9.5% |
| 1930 | 17.8% | +9.5% |
| 1940 | 19.5% | +9.5% |
| 1950 | 20.5% | +5.4% |
| 1951 | 21.3% | +3.9% |
| 1952 | 22.1% | +3.6% |
| 1953 | 22.9% | +3.4% |
| 1954 | 23.6% | +3.3% |
| 1955 | 24.4% | +3.1% |
| 1956 | 25.0% | +2.8% |
| 1957 | 25.7% | +2.6% |
| 1958 | 26.3% | +2.5% |
| 1959 | 27.0% | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 27.7% | +2.6% |
| 1961 | 28.4% | +2.8% |
| 1962 | 29.2% | +2.8% |
| 1963 | 30.1% | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 31.0% | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 32.0% | +3.3% |
| 1966 | 33.1% | +3.6% |
| 1967 | 34.6% | +4.4% |
| 1968 | 36.5% | +5.7% |
| 1969 | 38.7% | +6.0% |
| 1970 | 40.7% | +5.2% |
| 1971 | 42.3% | +4.0% |
| 1972 | 43.8% | +3.4% |
| 1973 | 45.1% | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 46.5% | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 48.0% | +3.1% |
| 1976 | 49.6% | +3.3% |
| 1977 | 51.3% | +3.5% |
| 1978 | 53.1% | +3.5% |
| 1979 | 54.9% | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 56.7% | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 58.3% | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 60.0% | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 61.5% | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 63.1% | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 64.8% | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 66.6% | +2.7% |
| 1987 | 68.6% | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 70.6% | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 72.5% | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 74.0% | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 75.2% | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 76.2% | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 77.1% | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 77.9% | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 78.4% | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 78.8% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 79.0% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 79.2% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 79.4% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 79.6% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 79.9% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 80.3% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 80.7% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 81.1% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 81.4% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 81.6% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 81.7% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 81.8% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 81.9% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 82.0% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 82.0% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 81.9% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 81.8% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 81.7% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 81.6% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 81.6% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 81.5% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 81.4% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 81.3% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 81.2% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 81.2% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 81.2% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 81.2% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 81.2% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 81.2% | +0.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 81.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 81.3%, 100% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 81.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 65.4%, 1.2× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population living in urban areas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1200 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1300 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1400 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 1500 | +200.0% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 1600 | +200.0% | 0.2% | 0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1 |
| 1740s | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 1 |
| 1760s | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 1 |
| 1770s | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 1 |
| 1780s | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 1 |
| 1790s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
| 1800s | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 1 |
| 1810s | 6.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 1 |
| 1820s | 6.5% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 1 |
| 1830s | 7.2% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 1 |
| 1840s | 7.9% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 1 |
| 1850s | 8.6% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 1 |
| 1860s | 9.4% | 9.4% | 9.4% | 1 |
| 1870s | 10.3% | 10.3% | 10.3% | 1 |
| 1880s | 11.3% | 11.3% | 11.3% | 1 |
| 1890s | 12.4% | 12.4% | 12.4% | 1 |
| 1900s | 13.5% | 13.5% | 13.5% | 1 |
| 1910s | 14.8% | 14.8% | 14.8% | 1 |
| 1920s | 16.3% | 16.3% | 16.3% | 1 |
| 1930s | 17.8% | 17.8% | 17.8% | 1 |
| 1940s | 19.5% | 19.5% | 19.5% | 1 |
| 1950s | 23.9% | 20.5% | 27.0% | 10 |
| 1960s | 32.1% | 27.7% | 38.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 47.5% | 40.7% | 54.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 64.3% | 56.7% | 72.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 77.5% | 74.0% | 79.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 81.0% | 79.6% | 81.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.7% | 81.3% | 82.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 81.2% | 81.2% | 81.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 62 Germany 82.1% compare
- 63 Falkland Islands 81.5% compare
- 64 Bahamas 81.3% compare
- 66 Bonaire Sint Eustatius and Saba 81.1% compare
- 67 Spain 80.5% compare
- 68 American Samoa 80.5% compare
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)
- World population growth -1.4% (2100)
- Population density 223.86 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 599,530 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.4% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate -0.0908 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in South Korea?
- Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in South Korea was 81.2% in 2025, 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 share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 82.0% in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does South Korea rank for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050?
- South Korea ranks 65th out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, combining UN estimates with modeled historical data.