South Korea

Demographics

DemographicsMain article: See also:

In April 2016, South Korea's population was estimated to be around 50.8 million by , with continuing decline of working age population and total fertility rate. The country is noted for its population density, which was an estimated 505 per square kilometer in 2015, more than 10 times the global average. Most South Koreans live in urban areas, because of rapid migration from the countryside during the country's quick economic expansion in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The capital city of is also the country's largest city and chief industrial center. According to the 2005 census, Seoul had a population of 10 million inhabitants. The has 24.5 million inhabitants (about half of South Korea's entire population) making it the world's second largest metropolitan area. Other major cities include (3.5 million), (2.5 million), (2.5 million), (1.4 million), (1.4 million) and (1.1 million).

The population has also been shaped by international migration. After World War II and the , about four million people from North Korea crossed the border to South Korea. This trend of net entry reversed over the next 40 years because of emigration, especially to the United States and Canada. South Korea's total population in 1955 was 21.5 million, and has more than doubled, to 50 million, by 2010.

South Korea is one of the most ethnically homogeneous societies in the world, with more than 99% of inhabitants having Korean ethnicity.

The percentage of foreign nationals has been growing rapidly. As of 2009, South Korea had 1,106,884 foreign residents, 2.7% of the population; however, more than half of them are ethnic Koreans with a foreign citizenship. For example, make up 56.5% of foreign nationals, but approximately 70% of the Chinese citizens in Korea are , PRC citizens of Korean ethnicity. Regardless of the ethnicity, there are 28,500 personnel serving in South Korea, most serving a one-year unaccompanied tour (though approximately 10% serve longer tours accompanied by family), according to the Korea National Statistical Office. In addition, about 43,000 English teachers from reside temporarily in Korea. Currently, South Korea has one of the highest rates of growth of foreign born population, with about 30,000 foreign born residents obtaining South Korean citizenship every year since 2010.

South Korea's birthrate was the world's lowest in 2009. If this continues, its population is expected to decrease by 13% to 42.3 million in 2050. South Korea's annual birthrate is approximately 9 births per 1000 people. However, the birthrate has increased by 5.7% in 2010 and Korea no longer has the world's lowest birthrate. According to a 2011 report from , South Korea's total fertility rate (1.23 children born per woman) is higher than those of Taiwan (1.15) and Japan (1.21). The average in 2008 was 79.10 years, (which was 34th in the world) but by 2015 it had increased to around 81. South Korea has the steepest decline in working age population of the OECD nations. In 2015, National Statistical Office estimated that the population of the country will have reached its peak by 2035.

Largest cities or towns in South Korea













1

9,904,31211

971,327


2

3,448,73712

948,7573

2,890,45113

843,7944

2,446,05214

833,2765

1,538,39415

747,0356

1,502,88116

658,1727

1,194,31317

629,0628

1,166,61518

629,0619

1,059,24119

608,72510

990,07320

585,177