Population in cities over 1 million in South Korea in 2025 — 26,413,034 people. Ranked 15 in the world out of 121. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 384.2%.
1960–2025 · people
How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Korea
| Year | people | Change | Change, % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26.41M | +78,905 | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 26.33M | +76,921 | +0.29% |
| 2023 | 26.26M | +75,062 | +0.29% |
| 2022 | 26.18M | +73,702 | +0.28% |
| 2021 | 26.11M | +72,803 | +0.28% |
| 2020 | 26.04M | +71,767 | +0.28% |
| 2019 | 25.96M | +70,777 | +0.27% |
| 2018 | 25.89M | +132,924 | +0.52% |
| 2017 | 25.76M | +130,980 | +0.51% |
| 2016 | 25.63M | +129,073 | +0.51% |
| 2015 | 25.5M | +127,030 | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 25.37M | +125,199 | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 25.25M | +123,234 | +0.49% |
| 2012 | 25.12M | +121,807 | +0.49% |
| 2011 | 25M | +100,643 | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 24.9M | +60,699 | +0.24% |
| 2009 | 24.84M | +58,373 | +0.24% |
| 2008 | 24.78M | +56,351 | +0.23% |
| 2007 | 24.73M | +54,158 | +0.22% |
| 2006 | 24.67M | +76,338 | +0.31% |
| 2005 | 24.6M | +116,332 | +0.48% |
| 2004 | 24.48M | +107,201 | +0.44% |
| 2003 | 24.37M | +98,501 | +0.41% |
| 2002 | 24.27M | +90,756 | +0.38% |
| 2001 | 24.18M | +123,589 | +0.51% |
| 2000 | 24.06M | +187,609 | +0.79% |
| 1999 | 23.87M | +170,182 | +0.72% |
| 1998 | 23.7M | +154,350 | +0.66% |
| 1997 | 23.55M | +139,529 | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 23.41M | +138,376 | +0.59% |
| 1995 | 23.27M | +150,448 | +0.65% |
| 1994 | 23.12M | +140,559 | +0.61% |
| 1993 | 22.98M | +131,142 | +0.57% |
| 1992 | 22.85M | +122,832 | +0.54% |
| 1991 | 22.72M | +309,118 | +1.38% |
| 1990 | 22.42M | +668,618 | +3.07% |
| 1989 | 21.75M | +643,720 | +3.05% |
| 1988 | 21.1M | +622,479 | +3.04% |
| 1987 | 20.48M | +599,609 | +3.02% |
| 1986 | 19.88M | +600,100 | +3.11% |
| 1985 | 19.28M | +619,715 | +3.32% |
| 1984 | 18.66M | +599,448 | +3.32% |
| 1983 | 18.06M | +577,517 | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 17.48M | +557,237 | +3.29% |
| 1981 | 16.93M | +577,730 | +3.53% |
| 1980 | 16.35M | +635,072 | +4.04% |
| 1979 | 15.71M | +608,825 | +4.03% |
| 1978 | 15.11M | +584,525 | +4.03% |
| 1977 | 14.52M | +560,471 | +4.01% |
| 1976 | 13.96M | +584,379 | +4.37% |
| 1975 | 13.38M | +680,972 | +5.36% |
| 1974 | 12.7M | +641,143 | +5.32% |
| 1973 | 12.05M | +603,498 | +5.27% |
| 1972 | 11.45M | +570,977 | +5.25% |
| 1971 | 10.88M | +598,303 | +5.82% |
| 1970 | 10.28M | +727,737 | +7.62% |
| 1969 | 9.55M | +671,572 | +7.56% |
| 1968 | 8.88M | +622,403 | +7.54% |
| 1967 | 8.26M | +548,990 | +7.12% |
| 1966 | 7.71M | +438,187 | +6.03% |
| 1965 | 7.27M | +410,018 | +5.97% |
| 1964 | 6.86M | +385,384 | +5.95% |
| 1963 | 6.48M | +360,859 | +5.9% |
| 1962 | 6.12M | +338,509 | +5.86% |
| 1961 | 5.78M | +322,518 | +5.91% |
| 1960 | 5.46M | — | — |
The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages
The population of urban agglomerations with more than one million residents. The unit of count is the agglomeration, not the city within its administrative boundaries, and that is essential: along administrative lines many of the largest concentrations of people break up into dozens of municipalities. The indicator measures not urbanization as such but its concentration in large centers — a country can be highly urbanized without a single million-plus city.
Important: The table covers about 120 territories — the rest have no agglomerations of this size, and that is a zero, not a gap. Aggregates for groups of countries are therefore calculated at a lowered coverage threshold.
Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.
What share of a country's population lives in agglomerations larger than a million.
Demography Urban populationThe absolute number of city dwellers by country.
Demography Urban population shareWhat part of a country's residents lives in cities — the level of urbanization.
Environment Forest coverWhat share of a country's territory is covered by forest.
Environment Forest areaThe absolute area of forest in square kilometers.
Environment Protected areasThe share of land and sea under protection — nature reserves, national parks, sanctuaries.
