Population (International Monetary) in South Korea
South Korea: Population (International Monetary) was 51.75 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
51.75 million
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
29th
of 186 countries
All-time high
51.84 million
in 2020
All-time low
25.01 million
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Population in South Korea, 1960–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 51.75 million for population in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in South Korea peaked at 51.84 million in 2020 and was at its lowest, 25.01 million, in 1960.
That places South Korea 29th out of 186 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 65 years of available data.
Population (International Monetary) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 25.01 million | — |
| 1961 | 25.77 million | +3.0% |
| 1962 | 26.51 million | +2.9% |
| 1963 | 27.26 million | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 27.98 million | +2.7% |
| 1965 | 28.70 million | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 29.44 million | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 30.13 million | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 30.84 million | +2.3% |
| 1969 | 31.54 million | +2.3% |
| 1970 | 32.24 million | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 32.88 million | +2.0% |
| 1972 | 33.51 million | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 34.10 million | +1.8% |
| 1974 | 34.69 million | +1.7% |
| 1975 | 35.28 million | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 35.85 million | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 36.41 million | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 36.97 million | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 37.53 million | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 38.12 million | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 38.72 million | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 39.33 million | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 39.91 million | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 40.41 million | +1.2% |
| 1985 | 40.81 million | +1.0% |
| 1986 | 41.21 million | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 41.62 million | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 42.03 million | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 42.45 million | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 42.87 million | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 43.30 million | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 43.75 million | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 44.19 million | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 44.64 million | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 45.09 million | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 45.52 million | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 45.95 million | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 46.29 million | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 46.62 million | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 47.01 million | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 47.37 million | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 47.64 million | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 47.89 million | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 48.08 million | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 48.18 million | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 48.44 million | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 48.68 million | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 49.05 million | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 49.31 million | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 49.55 million | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 49.94 million | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 50.20 million | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 50.43 million | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 50.75 million | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 51.01 million | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 51.22 million | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 51.36 million | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 51.59 million | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 51.76 million | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 51.84 million | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 51.77 million | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 51.67 million | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 51.71 million | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 51.75 million | +0.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 51.75 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.64 million, 9.2× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 51.75 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.69 million, 9.1× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 28.32 million | 25.01 million | 31.54 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 34.95 million | 32.24 million | 37.53 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 40.46 million | 38.12 million | 42.45 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 44.82 million | 42.87 million | 46.62 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.17 million | 47.01 million | 49.31 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.78 million | 49.55 million | 51.76 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.75 million | 51.67 million | 51.84 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More gender data for South Korea
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 4,318 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -3.79 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 46,871 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 46,871 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.0957 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 119,025 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 125,732 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 116,471 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 122,813 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 119,098 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in South Korea?
- Population in South Korea was 51.75 million in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest population recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 51.84 million in 2020.
- What is the lowest population recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.01 million in 1960.
- How does South Korea rank for population?
- South Korea ranks 29th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Data on Gender-disaggregated on selected population characteristics.