PopulationTracker

South Korea population

Current population of South Korea

51,611,189

Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures

Births today
138
Deaths today
206
Change today (UTC)
−37
World rank
29th of 218
0.63% of world population
Population
51,684,564
2025 estimate
Annual growth
−0.13%
2025
Density
530 /km²
2023
Land area
97,600 km²
Urban population
81%
2025
Median age
45.6 yrs
2025 (UN WPP)
Fertility rate
0.75
births per woman, 2024
Life expectancy
83.6 yrs
2024
Net migration
+65,731
2025
Capital
Seoul
Region
East Asia & Pacific

Population of South Korea: overview

South Korea has a population of 51,684,564 according to the latest official estimates (2025), the 29th largest in the world. About 0.63% of the world's population lives in South Korea. South Korea is part of the East Asia & Pacific region and its capital is Seoul.

The population has essentially plateaued, changing by just −0.13% per year. That translates to a loss of roughly 66,501 people over the past year. Net immigration of about 65,731 people (2025) partly offsets the natural decline.

South Korea is densely settled, with about 530 people per km², spread across 97,600 km² of land. Most residents — 81% — live in urban areas.

At a median age of 45.6 years, South Korea has one of the oldest populations on Earth. At 0.75 children per woman, fertility is among the lowest recorded anywhere. Life expectancy at birth is 83.6 years (2024).

UN projections point downward: 45.14 million people by 2050, 13% fewer than today. The 2030 projection is 51,188,584.

South Korea population, 1960–2025 and projections

015M30M45M60M19601980200020202040projected2025: 51.68M1960: 25,012,3741961: 25,765,6731962: 26,513,0301963: 27,261,7471964: 27,984,1551965: 28,704,6741966: 29,435,5711967: 30,130,9831968: 30,838,3021969: 31,544,2661970: 32,240,8271971: 32,882,7041972: 33,505,4061973: 34,103,1491974: 34,692,2661975: 35,280,7251976: 35,848,5231977: 36,411,7951978: 36,969,1851979: 37,534,2361980: 38,123,7751981: 38,723,2481982: 39,326,3521983: 39,910,4031984: 40,405,9561985: 40,805,7441986: 41,213,6741987: 41,621,6901988: 42,031,2471989: 42,449,0381990: 42,869,2831991: 43,295,7041992: 43,747,9621993: 44,194,6281994: 44,641,5401995: 45,092,9911996: 45,524,6811997: 45,953,5801998: 46,286,5031999: 46,616,6772000: 47,008,1112001: 47,370,1642002: 47,644,7362003: 47,892,3302004: 48,082,5192005: 48,184,5612006: 48,438,2922007: 48,683,6382008: 49,054,7082009: 49,307,8352010: 49,554,1122011: 49,936,6382012: 50,199,8532013: 50,428,8932014: 50,746,6592015: 51,014,9472016: 51,217,8032017: 51,361,9112018: 51,585,0582019: 51,764,8222020: 51,836,2392021: 51,769,5392022: 51,672,5692023: 51,712,6192024: 51,751,0652025: 51,684,5642030: 51,188,5842050: 45,143,134
Population of South Korea by year
YearPopulationGrowth rateAnnual change
202551,684,564−0.13%−66,501
202451,751,065+0.07%+38,446
202351,712,619+0.08%+40,050
202251,672,569−0.19%−96,970
202151,769,539−0.13%−66,700
202051,836,239+0.14%+71,417
201951,764,822+0.35%+179,764
201851,585,058+0.43%+223,147
201751,361,911+0.28%+144,108
201651,217,803+0.40%+202,856
201551,014,947+0.53%+268,288
201450,746,659+0.63%+317,766
201049,554,112+0.50%+246,277
200548,184,561+0.21%+102,042
200047,008,111+0.84%+391,434
199545,092,991+1.01%+451,451
199042,869,283+0.99%+420,245
198540,805,744+0.98%+399,788
198038,123,775+1.56%+589,539
197535,280,725+1.68%+588,459
197032,240,827+2.18%+696,561
196528,704,674+2.54%+720,519
196025,012,374––

Recent years annually, earlier years at five-year steps. Annual change compares against the immediately preceding year.

South Korea population forecast

United Nations World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant.

Projected population of South Korea
YearProjected populationvs today
203051,188,584−1.0%
205045,143,134−12.7%

South Korea population pyramid (2025)

Age and sex structure from UN World Population Prospects 2024: 10.2% of South Korea's population is under 15, 69.5% is of working age (15–64), and 20.3% is 65 or older. Hover any bar for the group's size.

MaleFemale
0%2%2%4%4%0-4 male: 640,524 (1.2%)0-4 female: 607,612 (1.2%)0-45-9 male: 896,893 (1.7%)5-9 female: 853,274 (1.7%)10-14 male: 1,166,040 (2.3%)10-14 female: 1,108,002 (2.1%)10-1415-19 male: 1,189,895 (2.3%)15-19 female: 1,118,865 (2.2%)20-24 male: 1,410,681 (2.7%)20-24 female: 1,295,444 (2.5%)20-2425-29 male: 1,814,399 (3.5%)25-29 female: 1,636,254 (3.2%)30-34 male: 1,955,975 (3.8%)30-34 female: 1,692,059 (3.3%)30-3435-39 male: 1,732,895 (3.4%)35-39 female: 1,555,678 (3.0%)40-44 male: 1,984,486 (3.8%)40-44 female: 1,862,612 (3.6%)40-4445-49 male: 1,970,513 (3.8%)45-49 female: 1,897,341 (3.7%)50-54 male: 2,189,204 (4.2%)50-54 female: 2,138,319 (4.1%)50-5455-59 male: 2,145,890 (4.2%)55-59 female: 2,154,441 (4.2%)60-64 male: 2,056,173 (4.0%)60-64 female: 2,089,438 (4.0%)60-6465-69 male: 1,784,149 (3.5%)65-69 female: 1,901,899 (3.7%)70-74 male: 1,170,820 (2.3%)70-74 female: 1,327,939 (2.6%)70-7475-79 male: 803,368 (1.6%)75-79 female: 987,499 (1.9%)80-84 male: 524,351 (1.0%)80-84 female: 798,533 (1.5%)80-8485-89 male: 254,362 (0.5%)85-89 female: 534,852 (1.0%)90-94 male: 73,784 (0.1%)90-94 female: 250,904 (0.5%)90-9495-99 male: 9,851 (0.0%)95-99 female: 70,397 (0.1%)100+ male: 559 (0.0%)100+ female: 10,856 (0.0%)100+

South Korea population FAQ

What is the population of South Korea in 2026?

South Korea's population is estimated at about 51.61 million in 2026, extrapolated from the latest official figure of 51,684,564 (2025). South Korea ranks 29th in the world by population.

Is the population of South Korea growing or shrinking?

South Korea's population is essentially flat, changing by only −0.13% per year.

How densely populated is South Korea?

South Korea has about 530 people per square kilometre across a land area of 97,600 km².

What share of the world's population lives in South Korea?

South Korea is home to about 0.63% of the world's population.

What is South Korea's projected population in 2050?

United Nations medium-variant projections put South Korea's population at 45,143,134 in 2050, passing through 51,188,584 in 2030.

What is the median age in South Korea?

The median age in South Korea is 45.6 years (2025 estimate) — half the population is younger and half older than that.

Sources: World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0); median age and projections from UN World Population Prospects 2024. Live figures are estimates extrapolated from the latest official data — see methodology.