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Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — South Korea

Rural population share in South Korea in 2025 — 18.8%. Ranked 164 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 53.5 pp.

2025 18.8% −0 pp vs 2024
World rank 164of 217
Period maximum 72.3%1960
Period minimum 18%2010

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — South Korea, 1960–202502040608019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 72.3%1962: 70.8%1964: 69%1966: 66.9%1968: 63.5%1970: 59.3%1972: 56.2%1974: 53.5%1976: 50.4%1978: 46.9%1980: 43.3%1982: 40%1984: 36.9%1986: 33.4%1988: 29.4%1990: 26%1992: 23.8%1994: 22.1%1996: 21.2%1998: 20.8%2000: 20.4%2002: 19.7%2004: 18.9%2006: 18.4%2008: 18.2%2010: 18%2012: 18.1%2014: 18.3%2016: 18.4%2018: 18.6%2020: 18.8%2022: 18.8%2024: 18.8%2025: 18.8%
Change over the period: −53.5 pp Annual average: -0.82 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Korea

South Korea 18.8%
World 42.2%
East Asia & Pacific 35.2%
Eastern Asia computed 31.1%
High-income countries computed 19.7%
Rural population share — South Korea, by year South Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 18.8 −0 pp
2024 18.8 −0 pp
2023 18.8 −0 pp
2022 18.8 −0 pp
2021 18.8 +0 pp
2020 18.8 +0.1 pp
2019 18.7 +0.1 pp
2018 18.6 +0.1 pp
2017 18.5 +0.1 pp
2016 18.4 +0.1 pp
2015 18.4 +0.1 pp
2014 18.3 +0.1 pp
2013 18.2 +0.1 pp
2012 18.1 +0.1 pp
2011 18 +0 pp
2010 18 −0 pp
2009 18.1 −0.1 pp
2008 18.2 −0.1 pp
2007 18.3 −0.1 pp
2006 18.4 −0.2 pp
2005 18.6 −0.3 pp
2004 18.9 −0.4 pp
2003 19.3 −0.4 pp
2002 19.7 −0.4 pp
2001 20.1 −0.3 pp
2000 20.4 −0.2 pp
1999 20.6 −0.2 pp
1998 20.8 −0.2 pp
1997 21 −0.2 pp
1996 21.2 −0.4 pp
1995 21.6 −0.5 pp
1994 22.1 −0.8 pp
1993 22.9 −0.9 pp
1992 23.8 −1 pp
1991 24.8 −1.2 pp
1990 26 −1.5 pp
1989 27.5 −1.9 pp
1988 29.4 −2 pp
1987 31.4 −2 pp
1986 33.4 −1.8 pp
1985 35.2 −1.6 pp
1984 36.9 −1.6 pp
1983 38.5 −1.6 pp
1982 40 −1.6 pp
1981 41.7 −1.7 pp
1980 43.3 −1.8 pp
1979 45.1 −1.8 pp
1978 46.9 −1.8 pp
1977 48.7 −1.7 pp
1976 50.4 −1.6 pp
1975 52 −1.5 pp
1974 53.5 −1.4 pp
1973 54.9 −1.4 pp
1972 56.2 −1.4 pp
1971 57.7 −1.6 pp
1970 59.3 −2 pp
1969 61.3 −2.2 pp
1968 63.5 −2 pp
1967 65.4 −1.5 pp
1966 66.9 −1.1 pp
1965 68 −1 pp
1964 69 −0.9 pp
1963 69.9 −0.8 pp
1962 70.8 −0.8 pp
1961 71.6 −0.8 pp
1960 72.3 —

Eastern Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

KP North Korea 35.8 CN China 33.7 MN Mongolia 28.9 KR South Korea 18.8 JP Japan 7.7 HK Hong Kong 0 MO Macao 0
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The share of population living outside urban settlements, as a percent of the total. It is computed as the difference between total and urban population, and therefore inherits every particularity of national definitions of urban areas.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.

Other indicators for South Korea

Demography Rural population

How many people live outside cities — in absolute numbers.

South Korea by year Demography Urban population share

What part of a country's residents lives in cities — the level of urbanization.

South Korea by year Labor Employment in agriculture

The share of workers employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing.

South Korea by year Agriculture Agricultural land share

What part of the territory is used for arable land, permanent crops and pasture.

South Korea by year
All indicators for South Korea