Population of Korea, Rep.
Current Population
51,751,065
10yr Growth Rate
+1.98%
Rank
#29 of 209
Population Over Time
Analysis# South Korea Population Analysis
South Korea's population of 51.75 million ranks 29th globally, but its 1.98% growth over the past decade signals demographic stagnation compared to its explosive 1960s expansion. The nation's peak growth period in the 1961 decade reflects postwar recovery and high fertility rates, yet current modest growth—substantially below both historical norms and global averages—indicates the country faces aging demographics and sub-replacement fertility typical of developed economies. With 64 years of consistent data (1960–2024), South Korea's trajectory demonstrates the transition from rapid expansion to population maturity characteristic of successful industrialized nations.
Historical Population Data
| Year | Population | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 51,751,065 | +0.07% |
| 2023 | 51,712,619 | +0.08% |
| 2022 | 51,672,569 | -0.19% |
| 2021 | 51,769,539 | -0.13% |
| 2020 | 51,836,239 | +0.14% |
| 2019 | 51,764,822 | +0.35% |
| 2018 | 51,585,058 | +0.43% |
| 2017 | 51,361,911 | +0.28% |
| 2016 | 51,217,803 | +0.40% |
| 2015 | 51,014,947 | +0.53% |
| 2014 | 50,746,659 | +0.63% |
| 2013 | 50,428,893 | +0.46% |
| 2012 | 50,199,853 | +0.53% |
| 2011 | 49,936,638 | +0.77% |
| 2010 | 49,554,112 | +0.50% |
| 2009 | 49,307,835 | +0.52% |
| 2008 | 49,054,708 | +0.76% |
| 2007 | 48,683,638 | +0.51% |
| 2006 | 48,438,292 | +0.53% |
| 2005 | 48,184,561 | +0.21% |
Show all 65 rows
| Year | Population | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 48,082,519 | +0.40% |
| 2003 | 47,892,330 | +0.52% |
| 2002 | 47,644,736 | +0.58% |
| 2001 | 47,370,164 | +0.77% |
| 2000 | 47,008,111 | +0.84% |
| 1999 | 46,616,677 | +0.71% |
| 1998 | 46,286,503 | +0.72% |
| 1997 | 45,953,580 | +0.94% |
| 1996 | 45,524,681 | +0.96% |
| 1995 | 45,092,991 | +1.01% |
| 1994 | 44,641,540 | +1.01% |
| 1993 | 44,194,628 | +1.02% |
| 1992 | 43,747,962 | +1.04% |
| 1991 | 43,295,704 | +0.99% |
| 1990 | 42,869,283 | +0.99% |
| 1989 | 42,449,038 | +0.99% |
| 1988 | 42,031,247 | +0.98% |
| 1987 | 41,621,690 | +0.99% |
| 1986 | 41,213,674 | +1.00% |
| 1985 | 40,805,744 | +0.99% |
| 1984 | 40,405,956 | +1.24% |
| 1983 | 39,910,403 | +1.49% |
| 1982 | 39,326,352 | +1.56% |
| 1981 | 38,723,248 | +1.57% |
| 1980 | 38,123,775 | +1.57% |
| 1979 | 37,534,236 | +1.53% |
| 1978 | 36,969,185 | +1.53% |
| 1977 | 36,411,795 | +1.57% |
| 1976 | 35,848,523 | +1.61% |
| 1975 | 35,280,725 | +1.70% |
| 1974 | 34,692,266 | +1.73% |
| 1973 | 34,103,149 | +1.78% |
| 1972 | 33,505,406 | +1.89% |
| 1971 | 32,882,704 | +1.99% |
| 1970 | 32,240,827 | +2.21% |
| 1969 | 31,544,266 | +2.29% |
| 1968 | 30,838,302 | +2.35% |
| 1967 | 30,130,983 | +2.36% |
| 1966 | 29,435,571 | +2.55% |
| 1965 | 28,704,674 | +2.57% |
| 1964 | 27,984,155 | +2.65% |
| 1963 | 27,261,747 | +2.82% |
| 1962 | 26,513,030 | +2.90% |
| 1961 | 25,765,673 | +3.01% |
| 1960 | 25,012,374 | — |