South Korea Population History
1960 - 2026
South Korea's population has grown from 25,012,374 in 1960 to 51,751,065 in 2024, a total increase of 106.9% (2.07x). The population peaked at 51,836,239 in 2020.
1960 Population
25.0M
2024 Population
51.8M
Total Growth
106.9%
Peak Year
2020
Population by Decade
1960
25.0M
1970
32.2M
1980
38.1M
1990
42.9M
2000
47.0M
2010
49.6M
2020
51.8M
2024
51.8M
Growth Rate by Period
1960-1965
+2.79%
1965-1970
+2.35%
1970-1975
+1.82%
1975-1980
+1.56%
1980-1985
+1.37%
1985-1990
+0.99%
1990-1995
+1.02%
1995-2000
+0.84%
2000-2005
+0.50%
2005-2010
+0.56%
2010-2015
+0.58%
2015-2020
+0.32%
Year-by-Year Population
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 51,751,065 | +38,446 |
| 2023 | 51,712,619 | +40,050 |
| 2022 | 51,672,569 | -96,970 |
| 2021 | 51,769,539 | -66,700 |
| 2020 | 51,836,239 | +71,417 |
| 2019 | 51,764,822 | +179,764 |
| 2018 | 51,585,058 | +223,147 |
| 2017 | 51,361,911 | +144,108 |
| 2016 | 51,217,803 | +202,856 |
| 2015 | 51,014,947 | +268,288 |
| 2014 | 50,746,659 | +317,766 |
| 2013 | 50,428,893 | +229,040 |
| 2012 | 50,199,853 | +263,215 |
| 2011 | 49,936,638 | +382,526 |
| 2010 | 49,554,112 | +246,277 |
| 2009 | 49,307,835 | +253,127 |
| 2008 | 49,054,708 | +371,070 |
| 2007 | 48,683,638 | +245,346 |
| 2006 | 48,438,292 | +253,731 |
| 2005 | 48,184,561 | +102,042 |
| 2004 | 48,082,519 | +190,189 |
| 2003 | 47,892,330 | +247,594 |
| 2002 | 47,644,736 | +274,572 |
| 2001 | 47,370,164 | +362,053 |
| 2000 | 47,008,111 | +391,434 |
| 1999 | 46,616,677 | +330,174 |
| 1998 | 46,286,503 | +332,923 |
| 1997 | 45,953,580 | +428,899 |
| 1996 | 45,524,681 | +431,690 |
| 1995 | 45,092,991 | +451,451 |
| 1994 | 44,641,540 | +446,912 |
| 1993 | 44,194,628 | +446,666 |
| 1992 | 43,747,962 | +452,258 |
| 1991 | 43,295,704 | +426,421 |
| 1990 | 42,869,283 | +420,245 |
| 1989 | 42,449,038 | +417,791 |
| 1988 | 42,031,247 | +409,557 |
| 1987 | 41,621,690 | +408,016 |
| 1986 | 41,213,674 | +407,930 |
| 1985 | 40,805,744 | +399,788 |
| 1984 | 40,405,956 | +495,553 |
| 1983 | 39,910,403 | +584,051 |
| 1982 | 39,326,352 | +603,104 |
| 1981 | 38,723,248 | +599,473 |
| 1980 | 38,123,775 | +589,539 |
| 1979 | 37,534,236 | +565,051 |
| 1978 | 36,969,185 | +557,390 |
| 1977 | 36,411,795 | +563,272 |
| 1976 | 35,848,523 | +567,798 |
| 1975 | 35,280,725 | +588,459 |
| 1974 | 34,692,266 | +589,117 |
| 1973 | 34,103,149 | +597,743 |
| 1972 | 33,505,406 | +622,702 |
| 1971 | 32,882,704 | +641,877 |
| 1970 | 32,240,827 | +696,561 |
| 1969 | 31,544,266 | +705,964 |
| 1968 | 30,838,302 | +707,319 |
| 1967 | 30,130,983 | +695,412 |
| 1966 | 29,435,571 | +730,897 |
| 1965 | 28,704,674 | +720,519 |
| 1964 | 27,984,155 | +722,408 |
| 1963 | 27,261,747 | +748,717 |
| 1962 | 26,513,030 | +747,357 |
| 1961 | 25,765,673 | +753,299 |
| 1960 | 25,012,374 | — |