Total population in Korea
In 2025, the total population (number of people) in Korea was 51,667,029 people, down from 51,717,590 people in 2024. This gives Korea the 15th-highest among G20 countries, and the 29th-highest globally (out of 236 economies with available data).
Total population
Number of people
Korea
How Korea compares
About this indicator
Total population refers to all residents of a country or territory, regardless of legal status or citizenship. It reflects demographic dynamics driven by births, deaths, and migration.
Population data are essential for calculating per capita indicators and for understanding the scale of an economy, its labor force, and its social services demand. Changes in population size have direct implications for economic growth potential, fiscal sustainability, and resource allocation.
This indicator is measured at mid-year (July 1) and expressed in number of people.
Population data are essential for calculating per capita indicators and for understanding the scale of an economy, its labor force, and its social services demand. Changes in population size have direct implications for economic growth potential, fiscal sustainability, and resource allocation.
This indicator is measured at mid-year (July 1) and expressed in number of people.
Sources and updates
Data sources
The data for this indicator are drawn from the United Nations (UN) World Population Prospects database.
Last update
This indicator was last updated on Econorama on 18 June 2026 and reflects the latest data available from the underlying sources at that time.
More on Korea
Population & Demographics
Cumulative growth of population
Total growth of population (%) since 2010
Rank161st of 236
Median age of population
Age dividing the population into two equal halves
Rank18th of 236
Elderly population
Share of total population aged 65 and over
Rank41st of 236
Young population
Share of total population aged under 15
Rank235th of 236
Working age population
Share of total population aged 15 to 64
Rank36th of 236
Fertility rate
Average number of births per woman
Rank234th of 236
Migration rate
Net number of migrants (immigrants minus emigrants) per 1,000 population
Rank68th of 236
Economic activity
Health
Public Finance
Government debt (% of GDP)
Gross debt of the general government
Rank99th of 190
Public debt per capita
Gross debt of the general government, in current international dollars
Rank32nd of 191
Government budget balance (% of GDP)
Positive values indicate a surplus; negative values indicate a deficit
Rank61st of 194