Population and Demographics of South Korea
Population declining at 0.06% in 2024 · 19.27% aged 65 or older
The working-age group represents 70.16% of South Korea's population, alongside a much larger older-adult share than child share. Fertility, at 0.7 children per woman, matters alongside an age split of 10.57% under 15 and 19.27% at 65 or above. The medium projection reaches 45.14 million in 2050, placing the mid-century total 12.7% below 2024.
Population Over Time in South Korea
Over the 24 years from 2000 to 2024, South Korea added roughly 4.95 million people, leaving the 2024 total at 51.718M. The UN medium projection places 2050 at 45.143M, about 12.7% below the 2024 reference point. The chart connects dated reference points only and should not be read as an annual interpolated series.
Age Structure and Sex Balance
South Korea has a maturing demographic profile in the 2024 broad age data. At 19.27%, the 65-and-older group is larger than the 10.57% share under 15, with 70.16% aged 15 to 64. Older adults outnumber children in these broad age bands.
Population by broad age group
South Korea's 2024 population is 50.1% female and 49.9% male in the World Bank series. The split is close to even.
Female and male population share
The World Bank's 2024 series shows a nearly even sex balance: 50.1% female and 49.9% male.
What Is Shaping Population Change
For South Korea, the latest annual population movement is -0.06%, compared with fertility of 0.7, beside an age profile led by 70.16% in the 15-to-64 group.
By 2024, South Korea had shifted +10.6% from its 2000 population level, followed by a medium projection that is -12.7% different in 2050; this describes the trajectory without guessing at migration or natural increase.
2024 estimate for South Korea. The world comparison value is 2.25 children per woman.
South Korea vs. World
In the harmonized 2024 comparison, South Korea's annual population change is lower than the world rate, fertility is below the global level, and its population is older than the world median-age profile.
| Indicator | South Korea | World | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual population change | -0.06% | +0.87% | 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 0.7 | 2.25 | 2024 |
| Median age | 45 | 30.6 | 2024 |
These are same-year, same-table comparisons. The underlying country table identifies UN World Population Prospects 2024 as its demographic framework.
Key Takeaways
At 51.718M, the 2024 population is paired with an annual change rate of -0.06%.
Age structure is a key feature of the profile: 10.57% are under 15 and 19.27% are 65 or older.
The World Bank 2024 sex-share series is 50.1% female and 49.9% male.
On the medium path, 2050 reaches 45.143M, a -12.7% shift from the 2024 level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of South Korea?
The 2024 harmonized population estimate for South Korea is 51,717,590 people.
Is the population of South Korea growing or declining?
In the 2024 estimate, South Korea's population is declining, with annual change of -0.06%.
What percentage of the population of South Korea is aged 65 or older?
People aged 65 or older account for 19.27% of South Korea's 2024 population in the UN WPP-based broad age data.
What is the projected population of South Korea in 2050?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium projection puts South Korea's 2050 population at 45,143,134.
What is the fertility rate in South Korea?
The 2024 harmonized fertility estimate for South Korea is 0.7 children per woman.
Sources & methodology
This profile uses United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 as the primary framework for globally comparable population, age, fertility and projection data. The World Bank is the primary source for the female population share. Some country values were accessed through secondary retrieval interfaces that republish or organize UN data; those interfaces are identified below as secondary and are not treated as the original statistical publishers.
View sources used for this page
Primary global framework for the population estimates and projections.
Harmonized 2024 country table based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized broad age shares based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized reference for the 2000 population point.
Harmonized 2050 country projection based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Used for the 2024 female share; the male share is calculated as the remainder to 100%.