Data / Population / South Korea

Population in South Korea

Population in South Korea was 51.68 million in 2025, according to the World Bank. That is down 0.1% from 2024. That is the 29th highest of 215 countries in 2025.

2025, persons51,684,564
Change on 2024-0.1%
Rank29th of 215Countries ranked
Series high51,836,2392020
Series low25,012,3741960

Population in South Korea, 1960 to 2025

CSVChart (SVG)

20M30M40M50M60M196019701980199020002010202020251960: 25,012,374 persons1961: 25,765,673 persons1962: 26,513,030 persons1963: 27,261,747 persons1964: 27,984,155 persons1965: 28,704,674 persons1966: 29,435,571 persons1967: 30,130,983 persons1968: 30,838,302 persons1969: 31,544,266 persons1970: 32,240,827 persons1971: 32,882,704 persons1972: 33,505,406 persons1973: 34,103,149 persons1974: 34,692,266 persons1975: 35,280,725 persons1976: 35,848,523 persons1977: 36,411,795 persons1978: 36,969,185 persons1979: 37,534,236 persons1980: 38,123,775 persons1981: 38,723,248 persons1982: 39,326,352 persons1983: 39,910,403 persons1984: 40,405,956 persons1985: 40,805,744 persons1986: 41,213,674 persons1987: 41,621,690 persons1988: 42,031,247 persons1989: 42,449,038 persons1990: 42,869,283 persons1991: 43,295,704 persons1992: 43,747,962 persons1993: 44,194,628 persons1994: 44,641,540 persons1995: 45,092,991 persons1996: 45,524,681 persons1997: 45,953,580 persons1998: 46,286,503 persons1999: 46,616,677 persons2000: 47,008,111 persons2001: 47,370,164 persons2002: 47,644,736 persons2003: 47,892,330 persons2004: 48,082,519 persons2005: 48,184,561 persons2006: 48,438,292 persons2007: 48,683,638 persons2008: 49,054,708 persons2009: 49,307,835 persons2010: 49,554,112 persons2011: 49,936,638 persons2012: 50,199,853 persons2013: 50,428,893 persons2014: 50,746,659 persons2015: 51,014,947 persons2016: 51,217,803 persons2017: 51,361,911 persons2018: 51,585,058 persons2019: 51,764,822 persons2020: 51,836,239 persons2021: 51,769,539 persons2022: 51,672,569 persons2023: 51,712,619 persons2024: 51,751,065 persons2025: 51,684,564 persons
persons. Source: World Bank. Retrieved 2026-10-09, published 2026-10-08.
All 66 values
Periodpersons
202551,684,564
202451,751,065
202351,712,619
202251,672,569
202151,769,539
202051,836,239
201951,764,822
201851,585,058
201751,361,911
201651,217,803
201551,014,947
201450,746,659
201350,428,893
201250,199,853
201149,936,638
201049,554,112
200949,307,835
200849,054,708
200748,683,638
200648,438,292
200548,184,561
200448,082,519
200347,892,330
200247,644,736
200147,370,164
200047,008,111
199946,616,677
199846,286,503
199745,953,580
199645,524,681
199545,092,991
199444,641,540
199344,194,628
199243,747,962
199143,295,704
199042,869,283
198942,449,038
198842,031,247
198741,621,690
198641,213,674
198540,805,744
198440,405,956
198339,910,403
198239,326,352
198138,723,248
198038,123,775
197937,534,236
197836,969,185
197736,411,795
197635,848,523
197535,280,725
197434,692,266
197334,103,149
197233,505,406
197132,882,704
197032,240,827
196931,544,266
196830,838,302
196730,130,983
196629,435,571
196528,704,674
196427,984,155
196327,261,747
196226,513,030
196125,765,673
196025,012,374

Rankings

Definition

Resident population. Spain and the EU: 1 January, with Spanish figures from the official municipal register (Padrón). United States: Census Bureau population estimates for 1 July. Other countries and the World: World Bank mid-year estimates, which count all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.

For Denmark, Statistics Denmark counts the registered resident population on 1 January. Greenland and the Faroe Islands are excluded. The annual series selects the first-quarter reference date from FOLK1A. The World Bank series exists for every country, so use it (through compare) to rank countries on one basis.

How to cite

World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL. Retrieved 2026-10-09.

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Questions

What is the population in South Korea?

Population in South Korea was 51.68 million in 2025, according to the World Bank. That is down 0.1% from 2024. That is the 29th highest of 215 countries in 2025.

Where does this figure come from?

World Bank. Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL). Retrieved by Invokely on 2026-10-09.

What was the highest population in South Korea?

51.84 million in 2020, the highest value since 1960 in this series.

More statistics for South Korea

All statistics for South Korea