Asia · Eastern Asia
South Korea Demographics
South Korea combines near-flat total population, very low fertility, high life expectancy, and a fast-rising older-age share.
Headline values use KOSIS and the Ministry of Data and Statistics for final 2025 birth statistics and June 2026 population trends; Statistics Korea and KOSIS for 2026 median age and 2024 life tables; World Bank WDI for internationally comparable 2024 population, age, urban, fertility, and life-expectancy series; and Statistics Korea projections for the 2022-2072 medium-growth scenario.
Last updated: August 27, 2026
Core Demographic Indicators
Detailed Demographic Indicators
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-year population | 51,751,065 | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Projected population | 51.61 million | 2026 | KOSIS population projections |
| Register-based census population | 51.77 million | 2023 | Statistics Korea Population and Housing Census |
| Population growth rate | +0.074% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Median age | 47.3 years | 2026 | KOSIS Indicator |
| Total fertility rate | 0.799 births per woman | 2025 | KOSIS final birth statistics |
| Life expectancy at birth, total | 83.7 years | 2024 | Statistics Korea life tables |
| Life expectancy at birth, men | 80.8 years | 2024 | Statistics Korea life tables |
| Life expectancy at birth, women | 86.6 years | 2024 | Statistics Korea life tables |
| Female-male life expectancy gap | 5.8 years | 2024 | Calculated from Statistics Korea life tables |
| Urban population share | 81.5% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Urban population count | 42.01 million | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Population aged 0-14 | 10.6% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Population aged 15-64 | 70.2% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Population aged 65+ | 19.3% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Working-age population | 36.55 million | 2023 | Statistics Korea Population and Housing Census |
| Population density | 529.8 people per sq km | 2023 | World Bank WDI |
| Land area | 97,600 sq km | 2023 | World Bank WDI |
| Live births | 254,341 | 2025 | KOSIS final birth statistics |
| Deaths | 363,389 | 2025 | KOSIS vital statistics |
| Natural change | -109,048 | 2025 | Calculated from final KOSIS births and deaths |
| Net migration | +65,731 | 2025 | World Bank WDI country profile |
Table analysis
- The 2024 WDI mid-year population is 51,751,065, while the 2023 register-based census count is 51.77 million; these are different population concepts.
- The final 2025 vital statistics balance is negative: 254,341 live births against 363,389 deaths, a natural change of -109,048.
- The 2024 older-age share is 19.3%, close to one fifth of the population.
- The 2024 female-male life expectancy gap is 5.8 years, based on women at 86.6 years and men at 80.8 years.
Population Trend
South Korea Population Trend
Mid-year population estimates from selected years, 1960-2024
Source: World Bank WDI, population total, 1960-2024. Projection values are not included in this chart.
Trend analysis
- The WDI series rises from 25.0 million in 1960 to 51.8 million in 2020.
- The series then changes little: 51.84 million in 2020, 51.67 million in 2022, and 51.75 million in 2024.
- The chart uses mid-year estimates only; it does not mix census counts or projections.
Historical Population and Core Series
| Year | Population | Annual growth | Fertility rate | Life expectancy | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 25,012,374 | Data not available | 5.994 | 53.8 years | World Bank WDI |
| 1970 | 32,240,827 | +2.184% | 4.530 | 62.2 years | World Bank WDI |
| 1980 | 38,123,775 | +1.558% | 2.820 | 66.0 years | World Bank WDI |
| 1990 | 42,869,283 | +0.985% | 1.570 | 71.6 years | World Bank WDI |
| 2000 | 47,008,111 | +0.836% | 1.480 | 75.9 years | World Bank WDI |
| 2005 | 48,184,561 | +0.212% | 1.085 | 78.2 years | World Bank WDI |
| 2010 | 49,554,112 | +0.498% | 1.226 | 80.1 years | World Bank WDI |
| 2015 | 51,014,947 | +0.527% | 1.239 | 82.0 years | World Bank WDI |
| 2020 | 51,836,239 | +0.138% | 0.837 | 83.4 years | World Bank WDI |
| 2021 | 51,769,539 | -0.129% | 0.808 | 83.5 years | World Bank WDI |
| 2022 | 51,672,569 | -0.187% | 0.778 | 82.7 years | World Bank WDI |
| 2023 | 51,712,619 | +0.077% | 0.721 | 83.4 years | World Bank WDI |
| 2024 | 51,751,065 | +0.074% | 0.748 | 83.6 years | World Bank WDI |
Table analysis
- The WDI population series more than doubles between 1960 and 2024, from 25.0 million to 51.8 million.
- Annual population growth turns negative in 2021 and 2022 before returning to small positive values in 2023 and 2024.
- The WDI fertility series falls from 5.994 births per woman in 1960 to 0.748 in 2024.
- Life expectancy rises from 53.8 years in 1960 to 83.6 years in the 2024 WDI series.
Age Structure and Age-Sex Data Coverage
Age-sex data note: The source extracts used for this page did not provide verified five-year age-by-sex counts. A full population pyramid is therefore not shown. The chart below uses broad age shares and should not be read as an age-sex pyramid.
Broad Age Structure
Population share by broad age group, 2024
Source: World Bank WDI, broad age-group shares, 2024. Population counts are derived from WDI 2024 total population and rounded.
| Age group | Population estimate | Share | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-14 | 5,469,120 | 10.6% | 2024 | World Bank WDI; count derived from total population and age share |
| 15-64 | 36,307,698 | 70.2% | 2024 | World Bank WDI; count derived from total population and age share |
| 65+ | 9,974,248 | 19.3% | 2024 | World Bank WDI; count derived from total population and age share |
Age-sex analysis
- The 2024 broad age structure is led by the working-age group at 70.2%.
- The older population share is 19.3%, while the child-age share is 10.6%.
- The estimated 65+ count is about 9.97 million, using WDI total population and WDI age shares.
- Male and female counts by five-year age group are not shown because the verified source extract used here did not provide them.
Fertility, Life Expectancy and Urban Share
Fertility Compared With Replacement Level
Total fertility rate and the 2.1 births-per-woman benchmark
Source: KOSIS final birth statistics for South Korea, 2025. The 2.1 value is a broad replacement-level benchmark, not a country-specific target.
Chart analysis
- The final 2025 fertility rate is 0.799 births per woman.
- The value is below the broad 2.1 replacement-level benchmark.
Life Expectancy by Sex
Life expectancy at birth for men and women, 2024
Source: Statistics Korea life tables, 2024.
Chart analysis
- Women have a 2024 life expectancy of 86.6 years.
- Men have a 2024 life expectancy of 80.8 years.
- The female-male gap is 5.8 years.
Urban and Non-Urban Population Share
Urban share of the population, 2024
Source: World Bank WDI, based on national urban definitions and UN urbanization inputs.
Chart analysis
- The WDI urban share is 81.5% in 2024.
- The urban population count in the same WDI source is about 42.01 million.
- Urban values depend on the urban definition used in the source series.
Vital Statistics
| Year | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Fertility rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 254,341 | 363,389 | -109,048 | 0.799 | KOSIS final birth statistics and vital statistics; natural change calculated from births and deaths |
Table analysis
- Deaths exceed births by 109,048 in the final 2025 figures.
- The final 2025 fertility rate is 0.799 births per woman.
- Live births increased by 16,024, or 6.7%, from 2024. Births rose for a second consecutive year, and the absolute annual increase was the largest in 15 years.
2026 Fertility Rebound
The rise in births continued into the first half of 2026. In June, 23,111 babies were born, up 15.6% from a year earlier, extending year-on-year birth growth to 24 consecutive months.
| Measure | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live births | 23,111 | June 2026 | Ministry of Data and Statistics population trends |
| Year-on-year birth change | +15.6% | June 2026 | Ministry of Data and Statistics population trends |
| Consecutive months of year-on-year birth growth | 24 months | Through June 2026 | Ministry of Data and Statistics population trends |
Table analysis
- June 2026 extended the year-on-year increase in births to 24 straight months.
- The 15.6% June increase indicates that the birth recovery remained in place at the end of the first half of 2026.
- Monthly 2026 figures show the direction of the current trend but are not a full-year birth total or annual fertility rate.
Migration Balance
| Year or period | Net migration | Definition note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +159,428 | Five-year net migration estimate | World Bank WDI, UN Population Division series |
| 2002 | +81,223 | Five-year net migration estimate | World Bank WDI, UN Population Division series |
| 2007 | -156,546 | Five-year net migration estimate | World Bank WDI, UN Population Division series |
| 2012 | +401,183 | Five-year net migration estimate | World Bank WDI, UN Population Division series |
| 2017 | +58,657 | Five-year net migration estimate | World Bank WDI, UN Population Division series |
| 2025 | +65,731 | Country-profile net migration value | World Bank WDI country profile |
Table analysis
- The 2007 WDI five-year estimate is negative at -156,546.
- The 2012 five-year estimate is positive at +401,183.
- The 2025 country-profile value is +65,731, but it should not be treated as the same measurement period as the five-year series rows.
Population Projection Scenario
Medium-Growth Population Projection
Statistics Korea projection path, 2022-2072
Source: Statistics Korea, Population Projections for Korea, 2022-2072. Projection values are scenario-based estimates, not observed counts.
| Year | Projected population | Scenario | Age 0-14 share | Age 15-64 share | Age 65+ share | Median age | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 51.67 million | Medium-growth scenario | 11.5% | 71.1% | 17.4% | 44.9 years | Statistics Korea projection release |
| 2024 | 51.75 million | Medium-growth scenario | Data not available | Data not available | Data not available | Data not available | Statistics Korea projection release |
| 2030 | 51.31 million | Medium-growth scenario | Data not available | Data not available | Data not available | Data not available | Statistics Korea projection release |
| 2072 | 36.22 million | Medium-growth scenario | 6.6% | 45.8% | 47.7% | 63.4 years | Statistics Korea projection release |
Projection analysis
- The medium-growth scenario moves from 51.67 million in 2022 to 36.22 million in 2072.
- The 65+ share rises from 17.4% in 2022 to 47.7% in 2072 in the projection release.
- The working-age share falls from 71.1% to 45.8% over the same projection span.
- Projection rows are not observed population counts.
Projection Scenario Range
| Scenario | 2072 population | Use note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-growth scenario | 42.82 million | Upper scenario value in the official projection range | Statistics Korea projection release |
| Medium-growth scenario | 36.22 million | Main scenario used in the projection chart above | Statistics Korea projection release |
| Low-growth scenario | 30.17 million | Lower scenario value in the official projection range | Statistics Korea projection release |
Projection analysis
- The official 2072 range spans from 30.17 million in the low-growth scenario to 42.82 million in the high-growth scenario.
- The medium-growth value is 36.22 million.
- The range shows scenario spread; it is not an uncertainty interval for a single observed value.
Demographic Overview
The WDI population series is almost flat after 2020, while the Statistics Korea medium-growth scenario points to a lower population by 2072.
The 2024 age structure is already old by broad-age measures: 19.3% of the population is aged 65 or over.
KOSIS reports a final 2025 fertility rate of 0.799 births per woman, shown as 0.80 when rounded to two decimals.
Statistics Korea life tables show 83.7 years at birth in 2024, with women at 86.6 and men at 80.8.
World Bank WDI reports an urban population share of 81.5% in 2024, equal to about 42.01 million urban residents in the source series.
Births rose for a second consecutive year in 2025, then continued higher through June 2026, when the monthly count was 15.6% above June 2025.
Mid-year estimates, register-based census counts, vital statistics, monthly releases, and projections use different definitions and should not be merged without a source note.
Data Sources and Methodology
| Source | Year or release | Used for | Method note |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOSIS, Ministry of Data and Statistics, and Statistics Korea | 2024-2026 source years; August 26, 2026 releases | Final 2025 live births and fertility rate, 2025 deaths, June 2026 birth trend, 2026 median age, 2024 life expectancy by sex | Final annual birth statistics are used for the 2025 birth total and fertility rate; monthly 2026 figures are kept separate from annual totals. |
| World Bank World Development Indicators | 1960-2024 series; 2025 country-profile migration value | Population trend, growth rate, historical fertility, historical life expectancy, broad age shares, urban share, urban population, density, land area, net migration | Used for same-source international series and long time-series tables. |
| Statistics Korea Population Projections for Korea | 2022-2072 projection release | Medium-growth population projection, age-structure projection, 2072 scenario range | Projection values are scenario-based and kept separate from observed or estimated data. |
| Statistics Korea Population and Housing Census | 2023 register-based census | Register-based population and working-age population indicator | Register-based census values are not treated as the same measure as WDI mid-year population. |
Method note
- Population totals are rounded where shown in millions; full-count rows keep the original integer format when available.
- Derived values are labeled when calculated from source values, such as 2025 natural change and broad-age population estimates. The 2025 birth total and fertility rate use the final annual release.
- Historical and projection values are kept in separate tables and charts.
- Missing detailed age-by-sex values are not filled from broad age shares.
Methodological Safety Note
Methodological Safety Note: South Korea demographic values can differ by source because a mid-year estimate, register-based census count, vital-statistics release, and population projection are not the same measure. Projection values are scenario-based estimates, not observed counts. Urban share depends on the source definition of urban population. Net migration rows may use different measurement periods, so they should not be compared without the definition note. Fertility is shown as births per woman, while the 2.1 benchmark is only a broad replacement-level reference. A full population pyramid is not shown because verified five-year age-by-sex counts were not available in the source extracts used for this page.
South Korea Demographics FAQ
What is South Korea’s population?
World Bank WDI reports 51,751,065 people in 2024 as a mid-year population estimate. KOSIS population projections show 51.61 million for 2026.
What is South Korea’s fertility rate?
KOSIS reports a final 2025 total fertility rate of 0.799 births per woman, which rounds to 0.80 at two decimals.
How old is South Korea’s population?
KOSIS reports a median age of 47.3 years for 2026. World Bank WDI reports 19.3% of the population aged 65 or over in 2024.
Why do population values differ across the page?
The page separates WDI mid-year estimates, Statistics Korea register-based census values, KOSIS projection values, and official vital statistics because they use different measurement concepts.
Why is there no population pyramid?
A full population pyramid requires detailed age-by-sex counts. Those verified five-year age-by-sex counts were not available in the source extracts used here, so the page shows broad age structure instead.