Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita in South Korea
South Korea: Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita was 81.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita 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 %.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 81.2% for share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita in South Korea peaked at 82.0% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 20.5%, in 1950.
That places South Korea 65th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 vs. gdp per capita in South Korea?
- Share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita in South Korea was 81.2% 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 share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 82.0% in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.5% in 1950.
- How does South Korea rank for share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita?
- South Korea ranks 65th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita 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 rising.
- 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 Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.