Urban population in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Urban population was 81.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Urban population in Republic of Korea, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, urban population in Republic of Korea stood at 81.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Republic of Korea peaked at 82.0% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 27.7%, in 1960.
Republic of Korea ranks 54th of 217 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Urban population in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 27.7% | — |
| 1961 | 28.4% | +2.8% |
| 1962 | 29.2% | +2.8% |
| 1963 | 30.1% | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 31.0% | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 32.0% | +3.3% |
| 1966 | 33.1% | +3.6% |
| 1967 | 34.6% | +4.4% |
| 1968 | 36.5% | +5.7% |
| 1969 | 38.7% | +6.0% |
| 1970 | 40.7% | +5.2% |
| 1971 | 42.3% | +4.0% |
| 1972 | 43.8% | +3.4% |
| 1973 | 45.1% | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 46.5% | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 48.0% | +3.1% |
| 1976 | 49.6% | +3.3% |
| 1977 | 51.3% | +3.5% |
| 1978 | 53.1% | +3.5% |
| 1979 | 54.9% | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 56.7% | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 58.3% | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 60.0% | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 61.5% | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 63.1% | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 64.8% | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 66.6% | +2.7% |
| 1987 | 68.6% | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 70.6% | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 72.5% | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 74.0% | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 75.2% | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 76.2% | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 77.1% | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 77.9% | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 78.4% | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 78.8% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 79.0% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 79.2% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 79.4% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 79.6% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 79.9% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 80.3% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 80.7% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 81.1% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 81.4% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 81.6% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 81.7% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 81.8% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 81.9% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 82.0% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 82.0% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 81.9% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 81.8% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 81.7% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 81.6% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 81.6% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 81.5% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 81.4% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 81.3% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 81.2% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 81.2% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 81.2% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 81.2% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 81.2% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 81.2% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 32.1% | 27.7% | 38.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 47.5% | 40.7% | 54.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 64.3% | 56.7% | 72.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 77.5% | 74.0% | 79.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 81.0% | 79.6% | 81.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.7% | 81.3% | 82.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 81.2% | 81.2% | 81.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
More climate change data for Republic of Korea
- Share co2 vs population 0.2146 (2100)
- Urban population 41.95 million (2025)
- Urban population growth -0.1% (2025)
- Population, total 51.68 million (2025)
- Population growth -0.1% (2025)
- Annual Net Emissions/Removals 668.25 (2024)
- Temperature change with respect to a baseline climatology 2.54 (2024)
- Per capita CO₂ emissions vs. per capita energy use 11.29 tonnes per person (2024)
- Share global cumulative co2 including land 0.7622 (2024)
- Cumulative co2 including land 20.97 billion (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Republic of Korea?
- Urban population in Republic of Korea was 81.2% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 82.0% in 2010.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.7% in 1960.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for urban population?
- Republic of Korea ranks 54th out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.