Busan's 2026 population is now estimated at 3,233,150. In 1980, the population of Busan was 3,248,232. Busan experienced a decrease of -19,028 residents over the past year, marking an annual decline of -0.59%. These population values and projections come from South Korea city census series 1980-2020 via CityPopulation official attribution and World Population Review Internal Projections .
Busan is a city that is located in South Korea. It is one of the country’s most populous cities, coming in second place only behind Seoul. The city has a population of approximately 3.5 million people. The metro area’s population exceeds 4.6 million.
The total area of the city is over 296 square miles, which gives it a population density of around 12,000 people per square mile. The city’s total land area makes up less than 1% of the Korean peninsula.
The city’s large industrial area, thriving port, and position as a cultural and educational center makes it a place that draws in residents from all around the world.
The majority of the residents in Busan are Buddhist, with over 41% following this religion. Trailing just behind are non-religious residents or people that follow indigenous religions, which account for almost 40% of the total population. The remainder follow Protestantism and Catholicism.
Korean and Korean dialects are the prevalent languages used here, and English is also in use as well.
Like other cities throughout South Korea, the population of Busan is expected to stabilize through the early 2020s after years of ups and downs.
| City | 2026 Pop. ↓ | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Seoul | 9,217,913 | -0.65% |
| Busan | 3,233,150 | -0.59% |
| Incheon | 3,012,841 | 0.38% |
| Daegu | 2,345,915 | -0.45% |
| Daejeon | 1,430,621 | -0.66% |
| Suwon | 1,229,432 | 0.26% |
| Yongin | 1,194,265 | 1.9% |
| Hwaseong | 1,189,035 | 5.13% |
| Goyang | 1,116,116 | 1.1% |
| Ulsan | 1,099,092 | -0.54% |
| Changwon | 994,675 | -0.57% |
| Seongnam | 890,939 | -0.57% |
| Cheongju | 882,558 | 0.52% |
| Bucheon | 820,550 | -0.25% |
| Namyangju | 785,876 | 2.04% |
| Cheonan | 751,921 | 1.64% |
| Siheung | 705,258 | 4.71% |
| Ansan | 683,270 | -0.81% |
| Jeonju | 676,671 | 0.25% |
| Pyeongtaek | 665,004 | 3.45% |
| Gimpo | 640,570 | 5.13% |
| Gimhae | 575,220 | 0.68% |
| Jeju | 545,796 | 1.73% |
| Paju | 521,314 | 2.09% |
| Gwangju | 499,185 | 4.42% |
| Anyang | 495,046 | -1.51% |
| Pohang | 488,570 | -0.42% |
| Uijeongbu | 485,628 | 1.29% |
| Sejong | 477,760 | 5.13% |
| Yangsan | 428,544 | 3.37% |
| Gumi | 411,299 | -0.21% |
| Wonju | 380,184 | 1.27% |
| Hanam | 377,684 | 5.13% |
| Asan | 366,981 | 1.26% |
| Jinju | 355,567 | 0.15% |
| Gyeongsan | 290,143 | 0.37% |
| Chuncheon | 288,347 | 0.22% |
| Suncheon | 281,168 | 0.53% |
| Osan | 277,282 | 2.39% |
| Yangju | 270,860 | 2.52% |
| Yeosu | 268,822 | -0.17% |
| Iksan | 266,793 | -1.11% |
| Gunpo | 263,866 | -0.72% |
| Gunsan | 261,845 | -0.45% |
| Gyeongju | 261,141 | -0.04% |
| Gwangmyeong | 255,955 | -2.51% |
| Icheon | 248,743 | 1.59% |
| Geoje | 230,722 | -1.13% |
| Chungju | 227,644 | 0.69% |
| Gangneung | 217,585 | 0.08% |
| Seogwipo | 213,465 | 3.02% |
| Anseong | 213,412 | 0.83% |
| Mokpo | 207,728 | -1.29% |
| Guri | 207,495 | 1.3% |
| Seosan | 185,369 | 0.83% |
| Dangjin | 175,404 | 0.63% |
| Uiwang | 166,896 | 0.68% |
| Pocheon | 151,640 | -0.68% |
| Andong | 149,065 | -1.11% |
| Naju | 144,349 | 4.12% |
| Gwangyang | 143,347 | -0.07% |
| Gimcheon | 141,096 | 0.23% |
| Jecheon | 132,894 | -0.23% |
| Tongyeong | 117,730 | -1.38% |
| Yeoju | 117,590 | 0.61% |
| Nonsan | 114,479 | -0.74% |
| Sacheon | 108,657 | -0.38% |
| Yeongcheon | 103,671 | 0.54% |
| Miryang | 103,419 | 0.03% |
| Gongju | 102,397 | -0.93% |
| Jeongeup | 102,184 | -0.72% |
| Yeongju | 97,638 | -1.02% |
| Boryeong | 95,870 | -0.55% |
| Dongducheon | 92,682 | -0.45% |
| Sangju | 91,673 | -0.67% |
| Donghae | 84,944 | -0.55% |
| Sokcho | 80,304 | 0.05% |
| Namwon | 75,309 | -0.6% |
| Gimje | 74,611 | -1.1% |
| Mungyeong | 64,075 | -1.04% |
| Samcheok | 61,896 | -1.05% |
| Gwacheon | 50,794 | -2.19% |
| Gyeryong | 42,875 | 0.81% |
| Taebaek | 35,993 | -2.34% |