South Korea's population is projected to be 22,833,463 by 2097.
Historical
Switch the toggle to see projected data.
| Year ↓ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 51,600,388 | -0.1% | 31 |
| 2025 | 51,667,029 | -0.07% | 29 |
| 2020 | 51,858,482 | 0.18% | 28 |
| 2019 | 51,767,846 | 0.25% | 27 |
| 2018 | 51,640,894 | 0.3% | 27 |
| 2017 | 51,486,270 | 0.37% | 27 |
| 2015 | 50,983,912 | 0.89% | 27 |
| 2010 | 48,769,332 | 0.38% | 26 |
| 2005 | 47,851,644 | 0.46% | 25 |
| 2000 | 46,766,661 | 0.61% | 26 |
| Year ↑ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 51,600,388 | -0.1% | 31 |
| 2032 | 50,891,289 | -0.24% | 34 |
| 2037 | 49,813,426 | -0.43% | 36 |
| 2042 | 48,299,745 | -0.61% | 37 |
| 2047 | 46,452,061 | -0.78% | 44 |
| 2052 | 44,178,842 | -1% | 49 |
| 2057 | 41,545,089 | -1.22% | 53 |
| 2062 | 38,739,045 | -1.39% | 57 |
| 2067 | 36,018,518 | -1.45% | 58 |
| 2072 | 33,438,135 | -1.48% | 60 |
1.1M
2.5M
5M
7.5M
9.2M
Seoul has a metropolitan area population of 9,217,913, comprising 17.86%% of South Korea's total population.
As of 2026, South Korea has a total population of 51,600,388, ranking as the 31st most populous nation in the world.
South Korea has a net population change of approximately -200 people per day, driven by 683 births, 1,055 deaths, and net immigration of 172 people.
South Korea represents 0.64% of the total global population and 1.03% of Asia's population.
South Korea has a population density of 530.7 people per km² (approximately 1374.5 per mi²), making it the 25th most densely populated country in the world.
Currently, 92.9% of the population resides in urban areas.
*Rates last updated: June 16, 2026
As of 2026, the largest ethnicity in South Korea is Korean . Note: homogeneous.
As of 2026, None is the largest religion in South Korea, comprising 56.9% of the population.
