Population of South Korea
As of May 2026, the population of South Korea is 51.6 million. The number of inhabitants has decreased by 63 thousand in the last year, representing a decline of 0.12%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 40.5 years in 2016 to 46.2 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 84.5 years and population density is 521.8 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Population Growth
The population growth rate of South Korea peaked in 1957, reaching around 3.2% annually, but has since declined to approximately -0.12% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 783.88 thousand in 1959 to nearly -63.48 thousand in 2026.
Life Expectancy
In South Korea, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 79.1 years in 2006 to 84.5 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 5 years over the past 2 decades.
Most populous cities in South Korea
South Korea has multiple large cities with a significant number of inhabitants. The most populous city is Seoul, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 10.3 million inhabitants. It is followed by Busan with 3.3 million and Incheon with 3 million.
These are the 20 most populous cities in South Korea:
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seoul | 10,349,312 |
| 2 | Busan | 3,285,147 |
| 3 | Incheon | 3,015,482 |
| 4 | Daegu | 2,365,523 |
| 5 | Daejeon | 1,441,203 |
| 6 | Gwangju | 1,401,235 |
| 7 | Suwon, Gyeonggi-do | 1,234,582 |
| 8 | Ulsan | 1,098,421 |
| 9 | Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do | 1,061,752 |
| 10 | Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do | 1,025,702 |
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do | 914,832 |
| 12 | Cheongju-si, North Chungcheong | 852,147 |
| 13 | Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do | 850,731 |
| 14 | Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do | 658,831 |
| 15 | Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do | 640,890 |
| 16 | Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do | 638,421 |
| 17 | Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do | 623,256 |
| 18 | Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do | 595,644 |
| 19 | Kimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do | 531,966 |
| 20 | Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do | 492,041 |