In 2025, South Korea's male population is projected to reach about 25.84 million, while the female population is estimated at 25.85 million. In the long term, South Korea's population is expected to decline, reaching about 36.22 million in 2072.

The statistic shows the total population of South Korea from 2019 to 2023, with projections up until 2029. In 2023, the total population of South Korea was about 51.71 million people. Population of South Korea South Korea, also called Republic of Korea, has one of the highest population densities worldwide, i.e. a very high number of inhabitants per square kilometer. However, this does not equal bad standard of living; on the Human Development Index, which ranks countries by their level of living standards using key factors, such as unemployment rate, literacy rate, fertility and mortality rates, etc., South Korea is among the highest-ranked countries. When looking at the aforementioned key factors, South Korea indeed seems to offer a fairly stable environment for its inhabitants, economically and demographically: The country’s unemployment rate has been relatively steady for the past decade, its gross domestic product (GDP) is constantly increasing, and it is among the countries with the highest trade surplus worldwide. As for standard of living, life expectancy at birth in South Korea is among the highest worldwide – South Korea is even mentioned in a recent ranking of the best birthplaces for children. Despite the high population density, South Korea is now one of the countries with the lowest fertility rates, i.e. the number of babies born by women of childbearing age. This apparent discrepancy could be explained by a high number of immigrants coupled with the aforementioned high life expectancy.

In 2025, the total population of South Korea is projected to be around 51.68 million. In thirty years, the number of people aged 15 to 64 is estimated to decrease by one-third, while the number of older adults is anticipated to more than double. Additionally, the overall population is expected to decline by around six million people by that time. Declining birth rate Several factors are contributing to the expected demographic changes in South Korea. Firstly, the birth rate has been declining for years. As of 2024, South Korea had the lowest fertility rate in the world. This trend continues despite the efforts of successive governments to encourage young people to have children. An increasing number of South Korean women are prioritizing their careers, often choosing to focus on work rather than starting a family at a young age. While the employment rate for South Korean women is still lower than that of men, it has steadily risen over the past decade. Increase in life expectancy Secondly, life expectancy in South Korea has steadily increased due to improved living standards and healthcare. The average life expectancy at birth for South Koreans has risen from less than 75 years to almost 83 years over the past twenty years. As a result, the proportion of people aged 65 and older has grown from less than 11 percent to around 18 percent in the last decade.

Population ages 60-64, female (% of female population) in South Korea was reported at 8.2317 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Population ages 50-64, female (% of female population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

The total population in South Korea was estimated at 51.8 million people in 2024, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - South Korea Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Chart and table of South Korea population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

Key information about South Korea population

• The South Korea population reached 51.8 million people in Dec 2024, compared with the previously reported figure of 51.7 million people in Dec 2023
• The data reached an all-time high of 51.8 million people in Dec 2020 and a record low of 20.7 million people in Dec 1956

• In the latest reports, South Korea Unemployment Rate increased to 3.7 % in Dec 2024
• Monthly earnings of the South Korea population was 2,878.8 USD in Oct 2024
• South Korea Labour Force Participation Rate dropped to 63.9 % in Dec 2024

As of February 2025, online video giant YouTube had a total potential advertising reach of around 84 percent of the total population in South Korea. This put them far ahead of other social media platforms' potential ad reach, with Instagram coming in second at about 46 percent of the population.

Population ages 0-14, female (% of female population) in South Korea was reported at 10.66 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Population ages 0-14, female (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Cheongju, South Korea metro area from 1950 to 2025. United Nations population projections are also included through the year 2035.

School age population, secondary education, female (number) in South Korea was reported at 1366903 Persons in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Population of the official age for secondary education, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

International migrant stock is the number of people born in a country other than that in which they live. It also includes refugees. The data used to estimate the international migrant stock at a particular time are obtained mainly from population censuses. The estimates are derived from the data on foreign-born population--people who have residence in one country but were born in another country. When data on the foreign-born population are not available, data on foreign population--that is, people who are citizens of a country other than the country in which they reside--are used as estimates. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 people living in one of the newly independent countries who were born in another were classified as international migrants. Estimates of migrant stock in the newly independent states from 1990 on are based on the 1989 census of the Soviet Union. For countries with information on the international migrant stock for at least two points in time, interpolation or extrapolation was used to estimate the international migrant stock on July 1 of the reference years. For countries with only one observation, estimates for the reference years were derived using rates of change in the migrant stock in the years preceding or following the single observation available. A model was used to estimate migrants for countries that had no data.

Chart and table of North Korea population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

The total population of South Korea was estimated to reach around 51.7 million in 2025. While South Korea's population has increased since the 1960s, it is expected to fall to about 36 million by 2072.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Working-Age Population Total: From 25 to 54 Years for Korea (LFWA25TTKRM647S) from Jun 1999 to Jan 2025 about 25 to 54 years, working-age, Korea, and population.

Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Population ages 0-14, male in South Korea was reported at 2912580 Persons in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Population, ages 0-14, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

Chart and table of Korea Rep population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

Population ages 65 and above, female in South Korea was reported at 5349211 Persons in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Population ages 65 and above, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes (number) in South Korea was reported at 453439 Persons in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Population of the official age for the last grade of primary education, both sexes - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.