South Korea Population Clock
South Korea has an estimated population of about 51.7 million, which makes it the 29th most populous of the 115 countries tracked here.
Its population is slowly shrinking, at -0.13% a year.
The capital is Seoul.
The counter below is a live estimate interpolated from the World Bank's latest annual figures — not a real-time measurement. It links to its source, base year and method via the ⓘ next to it.
Statistics
Population trend
Population 2016–2025 (World Bank)
How South Korea's population is changing
South Korea records about 665 births and 991 deaths a day — more deaths than births. Natural change is therefore negative, at roughly 326 fewer people per day, or about 119,071 a year before migration.
Net migration runs at about 65,731 over the reported period, with more people arriving than leaving. That is equivalent to about 55% of its natural change.
Over the 9 years from 2016 to 2025, the population rose from 51.2 million to 51.7 million — a gain of 466,761, or 0.9%.
Where people live in South Korea
With about 530 people per square kilometre, South Korea is very densely populated, roughly 8.5× the world average of 62. That ranks 8th of the 115 countries here. Its closest comparisons on density are Netherlands and Burundi.
South Korea covers about 97,600 km² of land, which is what turns a population of 51.7 million into that density figure.
About 81.2% of people live in urban areas, making South Korea highly urbanised, above the world average of 57.8%. That works out to roughly 42.0 million town and city dwellers and 9.73 million living rurally.
Age, fertility and life expectancy in South Korea
South Korea has an ageing population: about 10.2% are under 15 and 20.3% are 65 or older. Over-65s now outnumber under-15s, which is the classic marker of a population that has finished its demographic transition.
The total fertility rate is about 0.75 births per woman, below the ~2.1 replacement level, so without net immigration the population would eventually decline. The world figure is about 2.19.
Life expectancy at birth is about 83.6 years, roughly 10.1 years above the global average of 73.5.
South Korea at a glance
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 51.7 million | 2025 |
| World rank by population | #29 | 2025 |
| Annual growth rate | -0.13% | 2025 |
| Population density | 530 /km² | 2023 |
| Land area | 97,600 km² | 2023 |
| Urban population | 81.2% | 2025 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 83.6 years | 2024 |
| Fertility rate | 0.75 births per woman | 2024 |
| Population under 15 | 10.2% | 2025 |
| Population 65 and over | 20.3% | 2025 |
| Net migration | 65,731 | 2025 |
| Births per day | 665 | 2025 |
| Deaths per day | 991 | 2025 |
Frequently asked questions
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Is South Korea's population growing or shrinking?
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Where do these South Korea figures come from?
Current local time in South Korea
Methodology & sources
Data: World Bank (CC BY 4.0), base year 2025. The live counter animates the latest annual growth rate per second; it is an estimate, not a real-time measurement. No figures are invented — every number traces back to the World Bank indicators listed above.
Source: World Bank