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
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.
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 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 0.748 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 4,241 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 0.748 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 0.748 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate -0.2% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 0.72 live births per woman (2023)
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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, combining UN estimates with modelled historical data.