South Korea vs North Korea: population
How South Korea and North Korea compare in population today and out to 2100, side by side, from UN World Population Prospects 2024.
South Korea and North Korea population, 2000-2100
Population 2000-2100
Side by side
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | 🇰🇵 North Korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Population today | 51.6 million | 26.6 million |
| Population 2050 | 45.4 million | 25.8 million |
| Population 2100 | 22.0 million | 19.6 million |
| World rank | #31 | #56 |
| Peak year | 2021 | 2032 |
| Median age (2024) | 45 | 36 |
| Fertility rate (2024) | 0.73 | 1.78 |
| Life expectancy (2024) | 84 yrs | 74 yrs |
| Density (per km²) | 522 | 221 |
Why this comparison matters
The divided Korean peninsula offers a stark demographic contrast within one nation. Prosperous South Korea has the lowest fertility rate ever recorded and is ageing and shrinking fast, while isolated, poorer North Korea has a higher birth rate, though it too is now below replacement. Both Koreas are projected to lose population over the century, the South far more steeply.
South Korea vs North Korea, explained
Today South Korea is the larger of the two, with about 51.6 million people against North Korea's 26.6 million. South Korea is the world's 31st most populous country and North Korea the 56th.
Their paths to 2100 differ. South Korea falls sharply over the century, moving from about 51.7 million to 22.0 million (-57.5%). North Korea falls sharply, going from 26.5 million to 19.6 million (-26.0%).
The order does not flip this century: South Korea is still the larger of the two in 2100. The two trajectories run in parallel rather than crossing.
The deeper contrast is age and fertility. South Korea has a median age near 45 and 0.73 births per woman, against North Korea's 36 and 1.78. All figures follow the UN's medium-variant projection.