In 2024, Seoul had the highest population density of all provinces in South Korea, with about ****** people per square kilometer. The port city of Busan, which lies 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, followed with about ***** residents per square kilometer. With 90 people per square kilometer, Gangwon was the province with the lowest population density. Population of Seoul The capital of South Korea, Seoul, is the country's largest city with a population of nearly 9.5 million people, meaning that about 20 percent of South Korea's total population live in Seoul. Together with the surrounding Gyeonggi Province and Incheon Metropolitan Area, the greater Seoul region (or Seoul Capital Area) is home to half of the total population of South Korea. This region also forms one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. Solving the problem of overpopulation in Seoul One of the major problems stemming from overpopulation in Seoul is the housing shortage, leading to a significant surge in real estate prices. Over the past few years, several efforts have been made to curb the excessive population concentration and to solve the associated economic and social problems. In 2007, for example, former President Roh Moo-hyun attempted to move the country's administrative capital to Sejong, which is located 120 kilometers south of Seoul. Although the grand plan did not fully work out, around 40 central administrative agencies have since been moved from Seoul to Sejong, turning the city into the de facto administrative capital of South Korea.

In 2023, the population density in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, reached around ****** inhabitants per square kilometer. In 2015, the population density peaked at about ****** inhabitants per square kilometer and started to gradually decrease in the following years.

Population density per pixel at 100 metre resolution. WorldPop provides estimates of numbers of people residing in each 100x100m grid cell for every low and middle income country. Through ingegrating cencus, survey, satellite and GIS datasets in a flexible machine-learning framework, high resolution maps of population counts and densities for 2000-2020 are produced, along with accompanying metadata. DATASET: Alpha version 2010 and 2015 estimates of numbers of people per grid square, with national totals adjusted to match UN population division estimates (http://esa.un.org/wpp/) and remaining unadjusted. REGION: East Asia and Pacific SPATIAL RESOLUTION: 0.000833333 decimal degrees (approx 100m at the equator) PROJECTION: Geographic, WGS84 UNITS: Estimated persons per grid square MAPPING APPROACH: Land cover based, as described in: Linard, C., Gilbert, M., Snow, R.W., Noor, A.M. and Tatem, A.J., 2012, Population distribution, settlement patterns and accessibility across Africa in 2010, PLoS ONE, 7(2): e31743. FORMAT: Geotiff (zipped using 7-zip (open access tool): www.7-zip.org) FILENAMES: Example - AGO10adjv4.tif = Angola (AGO) population count map for 2010 (10) adjusted to match UN national estimates (adj), version 4 (v4). Population maps are updated to new versions when improved census or other input data become available. Republic of Korea data available from WorldPop here.

In 2023, the population density in South Korea stood at around *** inhabitants per square kilometer, slightly up from *** in the previous year. The nationwide population density has been increasing steadily over the past decades. The highest density was in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, with ****** people per square kilometer. UrbanizationSouth Korea was primarily an agricultural nation. In the decades following its independence from Japanese rule in 1945, both the dictatorships and democratic governments that governed South Korea focused on industrialization and modernization of the country. The urban population has grown by about **** million over the past 20 years, while the rural population has fallen by around *** million. In 2023, around ** percent of the population lived in an urban area. The most populous city SeoulSeoul’s high population density is not surprising. The capital city is typically grouped with the province of Gyeonggi, which resembles a donut with Seoul at its center, and the metropolitan port city of Incheon, collectively known as the Seoul Capital Area. This is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world and serves as the political, economic, and cultural center of South Korea. With more than **** millio* residents, half of South Korea’s population lives in this area.

In 2024, Seoul's population amounted to around *** million, a decline from approximately *** million residents in the previous year. Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is one of the cities with the highest population densities in the world.

Seoul is a city with a population of 9,969,085 and lies in the 5000 and above (Very High) density category. The city has an area of 558.68 km² with a total green space of 31% and a tree coverage of 27%. The city lies in the North Temperate Zone of the world. The city has improved its Average health of urban vegetation when compared to Global Average and also improved its Urban green space per capita when compared to previous year. Within East, Southeast Asia and Oceania, 62.5% of cities are ranked lower than Seoul.

This data provides information on single-person households by administrative district in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. It includes the year, administrative district, and number of single-person households. This data reflects the changing demographics and diversification of lifestyles within the city, and is particularly useful in developing various policies, such as those addressing the growing demand for small housing and addressing social isolation. Year-to-year comparisons are also useful for diagnosing population structure changes and regional imbalances. Because the increase in single-person households impacts various areas, including welfare, safety, housing, and healthcare, this data can serve as a foundation for policies supporting isolated households, providing customized housing, and designing community spaces. Furthermore, it can be used to analyze the correlation between population density and housing characteristics, playing a key role in developing precise regional administrative plans.

The Seoul metropolitan region (Seoul + Gyeonggi/Incheon) dominates in education investment and EdTech adoption. This dominance is rooted in high population density, elevated household incomes, intense competition for top universities, and concentration of major hagwon chains headquartered there. In addition, international student inflows also favor Seoul-based universities, and technology infrastructure (broadband, device penetration) is more advanced in urban cores. Thus, capital-area hubs remain the crucibles of innovation, scale, and market pull for education providers. TheSouth Korea education/EdTech market in 2024 is estimated to be worth approximately USD 4.9 billion, according to a report for its digital education segment.Growth over the 2018–2023 period reflects strong adoption of digital learning, government initiatives (such as AI digital textbooks, smart classrooms, and “Digital Leadership Schools”), and private household spending on hagwon and supplementary education. South Korea Education Market Overview and Size

As of December 2024, the mean purchase price of housing in Seoul, South Korea, amounted to around 866 million South Korean won. The average price of detached houses amounted to around 1.14 billion won while the price of apartments was about 1.13 billion South Korean won. Apartments in South Korea Among all housing types, apartments are the most expensive, costing more than one billion South Korean won on average. Living in apartments is typical for Seoul, as an increasing number of citizens move towards the city, causing high population density. As of 2022, more than 40 percent of all households were living in apartments, excluding alternative housing, such as officetels or goshiwons. Gangnam Style Based on the average selling price of apartments in Seoul, Gangnam is the most expensive area in Seoul to live in, with an average sales price of around 2.38 billion South Korean won. The area became internationally known due to the viral YouTube hit Gangnam Style by South Korean artist PSY. Since Gangnam is known for its wealthy citizens, the song was inspired by their mannerisms.

South Korea Self-Storage Market size was valued at USD 2.25 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 3.93 Billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 7.2% from 2025 to 2032.

Key Market Drivers:

Density of Population and Urbanization: Nearly 92% of South Koreans live in urban areas, making it one of the countries with the greatest rates of urbanization in the world (World Bank, 2020). In places like Seoul, where space is limited, the need for self-storage solutions is fueled by the congested metropolitan lifestyle that leaves little room for personal storage.

Growth of E-Commerce: In 2024, the South Korean e-commerce market was valued at around $100 Billion (Korea Internet & Security Agency). The market for self-storage is being driven by the rise in internet shopping, which has raised demand for storage solutions as both individuals and businesses need more room for inventory, packing, and personal items storage.

In 2023, there were approximately 2.66 doctors for every 1,000 inhabitants in South Korea. This was a slight increase compared to the preceding year. This ratio has increased steadily since 2000, with the exception of a slight drop in 2004. However, South Korea still has few doctors relative to its population. An attempt to increase the number of medical student admissions quotas in February 2024 led to an ongoing strike of healthcare workers and conflict between medical professionals and the government. Shortage of medical staffs The Korean government officially declared a shortage of several thousand doctors across the nation and recommended the training of an additional 150 doctors every year to make up the shortfall. Furthermore, doctors of traditional Korean medicine are counted among the number of doctors, meaning there are even fewer doctors of modern medical sciences than official figures suggest. Yet there are several factors, such as resistance from doctors, preventing the government from simply increasing the number of medical graduates. Regional imbalances in the medical environmentSome experts refute the government’s claims that Korea faces a doctor shortage and point towards other factors. For example, Korea has a higher population density than other countries, meaning that the average Korean doctor meets with more patients than an Austrian or Norwegian one would. Indeed, half the population is concentrated in the Seoul Capital Area. Additionally, Koreans see doctors over 21 times per year on average, which is far more frequently than any other OECD nationals. Despite this, Korea spends a lower share of its GDP on medical expenditures than other OECD countries, implying that medical personnel do more work for less financial compensation. Regional disparities where doctors are concentrated in Seoul and other major cities is also an issue. The doctor-to-people ratio in Seoul is higher than the national ratio, and the same as the OECD average. Many argue that a shortage of nurses is a greater concern than an alleged shortage of doctors. While the number of trained nurses is adequate, many leave because of harsh working conditions.

South Korea Residential Real Estate Market was valued at USD 42.8 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 76.5 Billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 7.52% from 2026 to 2032.South Korea Residential Real Estate Market Key DriversThe South Korean residential real estate market is one of the most dynamic and closely watched globally, heavily influenced by a unique intersection of demographic shifts, geographic constraints, and proactive government intervention. Understanding the core drivers of the South Korea residential real estate market is essential for investors, developers, and policymakers. The market's complexity is defined by factors ranging from the nation's aging society to cutting-edge technological adoption.Demographic & Household Structure Changes : A primary structural shift driving the Korea housing market trends is the rapid increase in single-person households, particularly in the Seoul metro area. Fueled by an aging population, delayed marriages, and declining birth rates, this demographic change is fundamentally reshaping housing demand, shifting the focus from large family apartments to smaller, more diverse unit types. Concurrently, the overall aging population creates a growing need for specialized, age-friendly housing, emphasizing accessible designs and community-focused infrastructure. This trend is compounded by ongoing urban migration, where more citizens move to high-density zones like Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, intensifying competition for residential units in already crowded metropolitan centers.Supply Constraints & Land Scarcity : The inherent scarcity of developable urban land, especially in major Korean cities, is a critical supply constraint that significantly amplifies pressure on the existing housing stock. This geographic limitation ensures a high demand-to-supply ratio. Furthermore, the high cost of land in highly desirable areas, particularly in coveted prime school zones, acts as a powerful lever, consistently driving up real estate value in these locations. As urban sprawl is limited, land scarcity remains a persistent, non-negotiable factor underpinning high property prices in the most sought-after districts.

As of October 2025, the mean purchase price of housing in Seoul, South Korea, amounted to around *** million South Korean won. The average price of apartments amounted to around **** billion won, while the price of detached houses was about **** billion South Korean won. Apartments in South Korea Among all housing types, apartments are the most expensive, costing more than *** billion South Korean won on average. Living in apartments is typical for Seoul, as an increasing number of citizens move towards the city, causing high population density. As of 2022, more than ** percent of all households were living in apartments, excluding alternative housing, such as officetels or goshiwons. Gangnam Style Based on the average selling price of apartments in Seoul, Gangnam is the most expensive area in Seoul to live in, with an average sales price of around **** billion South Korean won. The area became internationally known due to the viral YouTube hit Gangnam Style by South Korean artist PSY. Since Gangnam is known for its wealthy citizens, the song was inspired by their mannerisms.

In 2024, there were just over *********** housing transactions in South Korea, up from about the ******* seen in the two years prior. The number of housing transactions in South Korea has notably decreased since 2020. Housing in South Korea There are around ** million housing units and counting for the more than ** million people living in South Korea. Given the mountainous topography of the peninsula and the imbalance in population density between urban and rural areas, there is limited space for constructing houses. Apartments make up most of the housing in the country as they allow for the vertical stacking of housing units. Housing outside of Seoul Detached houses have become more expensive over the years as people want space in Seoul and the surrounding areas. Many people who can afford to commute have purchased houses in the South Korean province of Gyeonggi, which is just outside the Seoul metropolitan area. The island of Jeju, below the southern coast, is also a popular holiday and retirement destination. Far less dense than the capital, detached houses constitute the highest number of housing units on the island.

In February 2021, the average monthly rent for one-bedroom flats in Seoul, South Korea, amounted to around ******* South Korean won, up from about ******* South Korean won in the previous month. The average monthly rent for one-bedroom apartments in Seoul has shown an upward trend recently.

Living in Seoul In a metropolitan area like Seoul, housing is a scarce commodity, and prices are constantly rising as a result. The high population density of the capital, and the increasing trend to move towards the city to enjoy urban life is reflected in the housing situation. This can also be seen in the most common type of housing in Seoul, which is apartments. This is a general trend nationwide, with high-rise apartments over **** stories being the most frequent type of housing in South Korea.

Single-households are most prominent The most prominent type of household in South Korea is single households, as they make up more than ** percent of all domestic households. To aid this portion of the public, there are housing support programs single households can participate in. The share of participants for such programs was the highest in loans for housing leases. Other offered programs are subsidies for monthly rent or the supply of long-term public rental housing.