1. Homepage
  2. South Korea

South Korea Population 2023

South Korea map
  • The current population of South Korea is estimated at 51,940,333 people as of May, 2023, according to the latest population growth rate and projections.
  • Population of South Korea represent 0.66% of the total world population.
  • The population density of South Korea is 507 inhabitants per km2.
  • South Korea is located in Asia.
  • South Korea ranks number 28 in the list of countries ordered by population.
  • The latitudinal point of South Korea is 35.9130° N. The longitudinal coordinate of the country is 127.7633° E.
  • The median age in South Korea is 43.7 years.
  • Minimum Wages in South Korea is 9,160 KRW per hour, around USD $7.09 per hour, in 2022.
  • The countries that South Korea shares its land boundary with are North Korea to the north. It is also bordered by the East Sea to the east, the East China Sea to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west. The Korea Strait lies to the south east and separate the country from the Japan.

South Korea

Official name Republic of Korea
Location Asia
Capital Seoul
Population 51,912,141 (as of June, 2022)
Population density 507/km2
Population growth rate 0.07% (in 2023)
Area 100,363 km2 (38,750.36 sq mi)
Official language Korean
Currency Korean Republic won (KRW)
Life expectancy 83.35 years
Internet TLD .kr
Call code +82

South Korea Population Graph

South Korea Population History (1960-2020)

Year Population Male Population Female Population Male (%) Female (%) Urban Population Urban (%)
2020 51,839,349 25,950,778 25,888,571 50.06% 49.94% 42,202,414 81.41%
2019 51,767,928 25,920,202 25,847,726 50.07% 49.93% 42,154,624 81.43%
2018 51,588,153 25,835,347 25,752,806 50.08% 49.92% 42,023,709 81.46%
2017 51,364,993 25,728,725 25,636,268 50.09% 49.91% 41,862,469 81.5%
2016 51,220,876 25,661,659 25,559,217 50.1% 49.9% 41,775,746 81.56%
2015 51,018,008 25,565,124 25,452,884 50.11% 49.89% 41,646,000 81.63%
2014 50,749,704 25,430,677 25,319,027 50.11% 49.89% 41,467,583 81.71%
2013 50,431,919 25,271,435 25,160,484 50.11% 49.89% 41,243,223 81.78%
2012 50,202,865 25,151,635 25,051,230 50.1% 49.9% 41,091,045 81.85%
2011 49,945,627 25,022,759 24,922,868 50.1% 49.9% 40,915,458 81.92%
2010 49,563,032 24,831,079 24,731,953 50.1% 49.9% 40,611,948 81.94%
2009 49,316,710 24,712,603 24,604,107 50.11% 49.89% 40,360,795 81.84%
2008 49,063,538 24,595,552 24,467,986 50.13% 49.87% 40,099,630 81.73%
2007 48,692,401 24,414,370 24,278,031 50.14% 49.86% 39,747,607 81.63%
2006 48,447,011 24,296,176 24,150,835 50.15% 49.85% 39,498,848 81.53%
2005 48,193,234 24,178,545 24,014,689 50.17% 49.83% 39,205,196 81.35%
2004 48,091,174 24,127,342 23,963,832 50.17% 49.83% 38,953,851 81%
2003 47,900,951 24,031,907 23,869,044 50.17% 49.83% 38,632,117 80.65%
2002 47,653,312 23,907,667 23,745,645 50.17% 49.83% 38,265,610 80.3%
2001 47,378,691 23,769,889 23,608,802 50.17% 49.83% 37,874,526 79.94%
2000 47,016,572 23,588,214 23,428,358 50.17% 49.83% 37,434,595 79.62%
1999 46,625,068 23,396,459 23,228,609 50.18% 49.82% 37,010,979 79.38%
1998 46,294,835 23,230,748 23,064,087 50.18% 49.82% 36,642,362 79.15%
1997 45,961,852 23,063,657 22,898,195 50.18% 49.82% 36,268,497 78.91%
1996 45,532,875 22,852,950 22,679,925 50.19% 49.81% 35,816,159 78.66%
1995 45,101,108 22,631,736 22,469,372 50.18% 49.82% 35,287,107 78.24%
1994 44,649,575 22,405,157 22,244,418 50.18% 49.82% 34,581,096 77.45%
1993 44,202,583 22,176,436 22,026,147 50.17% 49.83% 33,881,280 76.65%
1992 43,755,837 21,943,552 21,812,285 50.15% 49.85% 33,175,676 75.82%
1991 43,303,497 21,712,373 21,591,124 50.14% 49.86% 32,464,632 74.97%
1990 42,876,999 21,494,240 21,382,759 50.13% 49.87% 31,660,376 73.84%
1989 42,456,679 21,279,288 21,177,391 50.12% 49.88% 30,632,494 72.15%
1988 42,038,813 21,065,649 20,973,164 50.11% 49.89% 29,591,120 70.39%
1987 41,629,182 20,856,220 20,772,962 50.1% 49.9% 28,540,967 68.56%
1986 41,221,092 20,647,645 20,573,447 50.09% 49.91% 27,486,224 66.68%
1985 40,813,089 20,443,276 20,369,813 50.09% 49.91% 26,479,532 64.88%
1984 40,413,229 20,242,986 20,170,243 50.09% 49.91% 25,581,574 63.3%
1983 39,917,587 19,994,719 19,922,868 50.09% 49.91% 24,625,159 61.69%
1982 39,333,431 19,706,049 19,627,382 50.1% 49.9% 23,623,659 60.06%
1981 38,730,218 19,403,839 19,326,379 50.1% 49.9% 22,622,320 58.41%
1980 38,130,637 19,107,262 19,023,375 50.11% 49.89% 21,627,697 56.72%
1979 37,540,992 18,811,791 18,729,201 50.11% 49.89% 20,640,037 54.98%
1978 36,975,839 18,532,291 18,443,548 50.12% 49.88% 19,682,239 53.23%
1977 36,418,349 18,252,877 18,165,472 50.12% 49.88% 18,748,166 51.48%
1976 35,854,976 17,974,099 17,880,877 50.13% 49.87% 17,827,094 49.72%
1975 35,287,076 17,692,940 17,594,136 50.14% 49.86% 16,948,383 48.03%
1974 34,698,511 17,401,303 17,297,208 50.15% 49.85% 16,162,566 46.58%
1973 34,109,288 17,112,630 16,996,658 50.17% 49.83% 15,393,522 45.13%
1972 33,511,437 16,819,390 16,692,047 50.19% 49.81% 14,641,147 43.69%
1971 32,888,623 16,513,378 16,375,245 50.21% 49.79% 13,898,732 42.26%
1970 32,246,630 16,197,482 16,049,148 50.23% 49.77% 13,124,378 40.7%
1969 31,549,944 15,853,847 15,696,097 50.25% 49.75% 12,228,758 38.76%
1968 30,843,853 15,508,289 15,335,564 50.28% 49.72% 11,365,960 36.85%
1967 30,136,407 15,161,626 14,974,781 50.31% 49.69% 10,538,702 34.97%
1966 29,440,869 14,817,589 14,623,280 50.33% 49.67% 9,818,530 33.35%
1965 28,709,841 14,455,405 14,254,436 50.35% 49.65% 9,287,634 32.35%
1964 27,989,192 14,098,156 13,891,036 50.37% 49.63% 8,780,210 31.37%
1963 27,266,654 13,736,940 13,529,714 50.38% 49.62% 8,291,789 30.41%
1962 26,517,802 13,362,320 13,155,482 50.39% 49.61% 7,812,144 29.46%
1961 25,770,311 12,980,506 12,789,805 50.37% 49.63% 7,352,270 28.53%
1960 25,016,876 12,593,495 12,423,381 50.34% 49.66% 6,932,176 27.71%
Source: Worldbank Open Data | Some data could be adjusted by Pediaglobe.

Cities in South Korea ordered by Population

The list offered below features the biggest cities of South Korea. Besides, in the table you will find information regarding the population size in these cities. Cities are ordered by population (largest to smallest).

South Korea

# City Population 2023
1 Seoul 10,360,696
2 Busan 3,682,234
3 Incheon 2,630,628
4 Daegu 2,570,133
5 Daejeon 1,477,286
6 Gwangju 1,418,638
7 Suwon 1,244,091
8 Goyang-si 1,074,249
9 Seongnam-si 1,033,070
10 Ulsan 963,924
11 Bucheon-si 851,752
12 Ansan-si 717,573
13 Jeonju 712,420
14 Cheonan 667,217
15 Hwaseong-si 641,787
16 Cheongju-si 635,231
17 Anyang-si 596,478
18 Kimhae 551,474
19 Changwon 550,715
20 Pohang 500,500
21 Jeju City 488,446
22 Uijeongbu-si 482,447
23 Masan 436,977
24 Gumi 431,363
25 Gwangmyeong 359,726
26 Wonju 334,180
27 Iksan 309,364
28 Chinju 308,686
29 Yeosu 297,400
30 Gunpo 287,889
31 Mokpo 270,227
32 Hanam 255,585
33 Gunsan 245,329
34 Suncheon 232,135
35 Sejong 231,317
36 Chungju 211,326
37 Chuncheon 210,753
38 Icheon-si 197,937
39 Guri-si 196,076
40 Gangneung 181,695
41 Yangju 181,092
42 Seogwipo 179,730
43 Osan 159,757
44 Gyeongju 156,339
45 Gimcheon 150,705
46 Jeongeup 140,463
47 Gyeongsan-si 130,747
48 Andong 130,147
49 Hwado 107,092
50 Tonghae 102,038
51 Sangju 102,006
52 Asan 98,394
53 Wabu 97,317
54 Namyangju 91,316
55 Kwangyang 89,933
56 Hongseong 89,932
57 Sokcho 89,813
58 Eisen 85,488
59 Wanju 84,883
60 Ungsang 84,169
61 Yangp'yong 83,959
62 Sinhyeon 83,377
63 Nangen 82,053
64 Naeso 81,821
65 Mungyeong 77,845
66 Muan 76,301
67 Hongch'on 76,064
68 Changnyeong 75,489
69 Seosan 74,839
70 Koch'ang 73,799
71 Gongju 73,116
72 Kyosai 72,838
73 Yangsan 72,713
74 Anseong 69,975
75 Hwawon 65,288
76 Pubal 63,562
77 Kosong 62,946
78 Boryeong 62,573
79 Chinch'on 61,635
80 Hwasun 60,561
81 Okcheon 57,155
82 Gapyeong 56,002
83 Yeongam 55,418
84 Sinan 53,719
85 Miryang 53,645
86 T'aebaek 49,427
87 Kimje 45,217
88 Koesan 44,866
89 Nonsan 44,222
90 Munsan 43,614
91 Gijang 43,533
92 Naju 42,888
93 Santyoku 42,478
94 Yesan 39,764
95 Imsil 37,822
96 Yeoju 37,786
97 Heunghae 36,372
98 Yeonil 34,940
99 Kunwi 34,667
100 Tangjin 33,129

Other Countries from Asia Ranked by Population

Country Name Population 2023 Population density
China 1,450,158,659 145/km2
India 1,383,820,649 417/km2
Indonesia 276,736,832 142/km2
Pakistan 231,611,059 243/km2
Bangladesh 167,903,853 1,108/km2
Japan 125,553,305 332/km2
Philippines 112,540,861 337/km2
Turkey 86,336,104 116/km2
Iran 85,971,815 49/km2
Thailand 70,176,879 136.1/km2
Myanmar 55,086,917 76/km2
South Korea 51,912,141 507/km2
Iraq 42,001,087 83/km2
Afghanistan 40,697,213 48.57/km2
Saudi Arabia 35,909,711 15/km2
Malaysia 33,170,971 98/km2
Nepal 30,151,786 180/km2
North Korea 25,807,433 213/km2
Taiwan 23,898,113 650/km2
Sri Lanka 21,815,213 337/km2