South Korea Population
East Asia & Pacific · 31st most populous · High income
Population right now (estimate)
51,541,582
The population of South Korea is about 51,541,582 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 51.6 million for 2026 as a whole — 0.62% of the world's people.
South Korea is the 31st most populous of 217 countries and territories. The population is shrinking, by about 0.21% a year. It peaked around 2020 at 51.8 million and is projected to fall to 44.4 million by 2050. That is 2.1 times its 1960 population of 25.0 million. Population density is 528 people per square kilometre. 81% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
51.6 million
Yearly change
−0.21%
World rank
31st
Share of world
0.62%
Density
528/km²
Land area
97,600 km²
Life expectancy
83.6 yrs
Births per woman
0.75
GDP per capita
$36,227
GDP
$1.87T
Population of South Korea, 1960–2050
South Korea population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 25,012,374 | — | 256 |
| 1970 | 32,240,827 | +2.21% | 330 |
| 1980 | 38,123,775 | +1.57% | 391 |
| 1990 | 42,869,283 | +0.99% | 439 |
| 2000 | 47,008,111 | +0.84% | 482 |
| 2010 | 49,554,112 | +0.50% | 508 |
| 2020 | 51,836,239 | +0.14% | 531 |
| 2024 | 51,751,065 | +0.07% | 530 |
| 2026proj. | 51,578,532 | −0.21% | 528 |
| 2030proj. | 51,044,356 | −0.29% | 523 |
| 2040proj. | 48,565,736 | −0.69% | 498 |
| 2050proj. | 44,425,912 | −1.04% | 455 |
South Korea vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 3.4 times as many people as South Korea. Bangladesh is 2.6 times more densely populated.
South Korea population: questions and answers
What is the population of South Korea in 2026?
About 51,578,532 (51.6 million), based on World Bank projections.
Is South Korea's population growing?
No — it is falling by about 0.21% a year (2026).
What is the population density of South Korea?
About 528 people per km², with a land area of 97,600 km².
What will the population of South Korea be in 2050?
About 44.4 million on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of South Korea?
Seoul.
What is the life expectancy in South Korea?
83.6 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.