Korea Urban Population
Urban population as % of total SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS
Korea's urban population was 81.16% in 2025, ranked 53rd globally. This represents a 0.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Korea's urban population stood at 81.16% in 2025, a decline of +0.01% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 81.16% by 2025. Korea ranked 53rd globally.
South Korea’s urban population has risen dramatically from 27.69 percent in 1960 to 81.16 percent in 2025, placing the country 53rd globally and just below Germany’s 82.17 percent and Spain’s 80.45 percent. The share of residents living in cities peaked at 81.97 percent in 2010, a level that has been largely sustained over the past decade despite modest fluctuations. This rapid urbanisation reflects the nation’s post‑war industrialisation, the concentration of manufacturing and services in metropolitan areas such as Seoul, and sustained internal migration from rural regions. The 66‑year span of data shows a consistent upward trajectory, with the early 1960s marking the all‑time trough at 27.69 percent, a figure comparable to the contemporary urban share of American Samoa at 80.53 percent. Continued investment in housing, transportation infrastructure, and balanced regional development will be crucial to maintaining the current high urban share, while policies that promote suburban growth or remote work could modestly temper future increases.
Data & projection
| Year | Urban Population | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 81.16% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 81.16% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 81.16% | - | - |
| 2025 | 81.16% | −0.01% | #53 |
| 2024 | 81.17% | +0.00% | #164 |
| 2023 | 81.16% | +0.00% | #163 |
| 2022 | 81.16% | +0.00% | #163 |
| 2021 | 81.16% | −0.01% | #163 |
| 2020 | 81.18% | −0.11% | #163 |
| 2019 | 81.29% | −0.09% | #164 |
| 2018 | 81.38% | −0.09% | #165 |
| 2017 | 81.47% | −0.08% | #166 |
| 2016 | 81.56% | −0.08% | #167 |
| 2015 | 81.64% | −0.09% | #168 |
| 2014 | 81.73% | −0.10% | #169 |
| 2013 | 81.83% | −0.08% | #170 |
| 2012 | 81.91% | −0.05% | #170 |
| 2011 | 81.96% | −0.01% | #170 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Korea matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2006. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw urban population improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Korea's urban population was 81.16% in 2025. Ranked 53rd globally. This represents a 0.0% decrease from the previous year.
Korea's urban population peaked at 81.97% in 2010.
The lowest urban population in Korea was 27.69% in 1960.
Korea ranks 53rd globally in urban population as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Korea's urban population is projected to reach 81.16% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The urban population of Korea in 2025 was 81.16%. This ranks 53rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_korea_urban-population,
title = {Korea Urban Population},
url = {https://historysaid.com/korea/urban-population/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}