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South Korea's population is projected to have slipped past its peak: from a high of 51,858,482 in 2020, it is projected at 51,600,388 in 2026. That is a 2.6-fold increase on the 19,757,321 recorded in 1950. Numbers are roughly stable, edging down 0.14% a year. People are packed in tightly, at 522 people/km², among the most crowded places on Earth. Half the population is younger than 46.2 years, and the age structure is steadily tilting older: the median is projected to reach 56.7 by 2050. The sexes are close to evenly balanced, at 99 males per 100 females. By 2100, UN projections see it falling to 21,848,791 (-58% from 2026).
Total population
51,600,388
Density
522 people/km²
Median age
46.2 years
Growth rate
-0.14%
South Korea passed its population peak 6 years ago in 2020, and has since declined by 0.5%. The population is aging rapidly; median age will rise from 46 in 2026 to 57 by 2050. Population density is high at 522 people per km². Looking ahead, UN projections show the population falling to 21.8M by 2100, less than half of 2026's level.