Population growth in South Korea
South Korea: Population growth was -0.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in South Korea, 1961–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, population growth in South Korea stood at -0.1%.
The figure is down 273.0% on the previous year and down 124.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in South Korea peaked at 3.0% in 1961 and was at its lowest, -0.2%, in 2022.
That places South Korea 181st out of 215 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.6% | 2.3% | 3.0% | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.7% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.9% | 0.7% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.6% | 0.2% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.0% | -0.2% | 0.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More climate change data for South Korea
- Population, total 51.68 million (2025)
- Urban population growth -0.1% (2025)
- Urban population 41.95 million (2025)
- Urban population 81.2% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 51.1% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 29.2 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 45.0% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 17.7% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 5.9% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 2.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in South Korea?
- Population growth in South Korea was -0.1% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 3.0% in 1961.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.2% in 2022.
- How does South Korea rank for population growth?
- South Korea ranks 181st out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population growth rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 124.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.