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South Korea vs Japan population, 1950 to 2100

Japan had 124.37 million people in 2023, versus 51.75 million in South Korea. Compare UN estimates and projections to 2100.

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What the data shows

  • South Korea: 19.76M in 1950, 21.85M in 2100 (projected). The latest estimate is 51.75M in 2023. It peaked at 51.86M in 2020.
  • Japan: 86.44M in 1950, 76.85M in 2100 (projected). The latest estimate is 124.37M in 2023. It peaked at 128.19M in 2009.

About this chart

South Korea is below its earlier estimated peak of 51.86 million people in 2020: its 2023 total is 51.75 million. The comparison still puts Japan ahead of South Korea, with 124.37 million and 51.75 million respectively. In 1950, the corresponding totals were 19.76 million for South Korea and 86.44 million for Japan. All values are population totals, rather than population density or annual growth rates.

By 2100, the UN medium-variant projection reaches 21.85 million people for South Korea and 76.85 million for Japan. Estimates end in 2023; later values are conditional projections rather than observed counts. Future fertility, mortality and migration can move the eventual totals away from this path. Comparing the same projection variant keeps the two countries on a consistent basis.

The data

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 via Our World in Data; estimates to 2023, medium-variant projections after, millions of people. Retrieved November 5, 2026. UN estimates through 2023; later years are medium-variant projections, not observed counts.

South Korea vs Japan population, Millions of people, 1950–2100; projected after 2023, 1950–2100
Date🇰🇷 South Korea🇯🇵 Japan
195019.76M86.44M
195119.87M87.85M
195220.23M89.14M
195320.78M90.32M
195421.42M91.41M
195522.13M92.43M
195622.87M93.34M
195723.66M94.11M
195824.47M94.85M
195925.30M95.62M
196026.12M96.40M
196126.85M97.22M
196227.51M98.08M
196328.15M98.96M
196428.74M99.89M
196529.28M100.92M
196629.85M101.89M
196730.50M102.97M
196831.18M104.24M
196931.85M105.48M
197032.54M106.71M
197133.24M107.95M
197233.94M109.24M
197334.63M110.61M
197435.29M112.01M
197535.88M113.32M
197636.38M114.50M
197736.84M115.57M
197837.28M116.58M
197937.71M117.52M
198038.14M118.36M
198138.69M118.99M
198239.36M119.49M
198340.00M119.95M
198440.60M120.38M
198541.15M120.83M
198641.72M121.37M
198742.32M121.94M
198842.92M122.48M
198943.52M122.95M
199044.08M123.40M
199144.44M123.89M
199244.65M124.38M
199344.89M124.84M
199445.13M125.29M
199545.37M125.67M
199645.64M125.98M
199745.94M126.27M
199846.23M126.55M
199946.50M126.80M
200046.77M127.03M
200147.04M127.26M
200247.30M127.48M
200347.51M127.67M
200447.70M127.82M
200547.85M127.91M
200648.01M128.00M
200748.18M128.09M
200848.36M128.16M
200948.55M128.19M
201048.77M128.19M
201149.13M128.10M
201249.60M127.93M
201350.07M127.72M
201450.54M127.49M
201550.98M127.28M
201651.30M127.16M
201751.49M127.06M
201851.64M126.91M
201951.77M126.70M
202051.86M126.30M
202151.85M125.68M
202251.78M125.00M
202351.75M124.37M
202451.72M123.75M
202551.67M123.10M
202651.60M122.43M
202751.52M121.73M
202851.42M121.02M
202951.31M120.31M
203051.19M119.58M
203151.05M118.85M
203250.89M118.11M
203350.71M117.37M
203450.52M116.63M
203550.30M115.88M
203650.07M115.13M
203749.81M114.38M
203849.54M113.63M
203949.25M112.89M
204048.95M112.16M
204148.63M111.42M
204248.30M110.69M
204347.96M109.97M
204447.60M109.26M
204547.23M108.55M
204646.85M107.85M
204746.45M107.16M
204846.03M106.47M
204945.60M105.80M
205045.14M105.12M
205144.67M104.45M
205244.18M103.78M
205343.67M103.10M
205443.16M102.42M
205542.63M101.72M
205642.10M101.02M
205741.55M100.30M
205840.98M99.58M
205940.42M98.85M
206039.86M98.10M
206139.30M97.35M
206238.74M96.60M
206338.18M95.84M
206437.63M95.09M
206537.09M94.32M
206636.55M93.56M
206736.02M92.81M
206835.49M92.07M
206934.97M91.33M
207034.45M90.61M
207133.94M89.91M
207233.44M89.24M
207332.94M88.58M
207432.46M87.95M
207531.97M87.35M
207631.50M86.78M
207731.03M86.23M
207830.57M85.71M
207930.12M85.21M
208029.67M84.73M
208129.23M84.27M
208228.79M83.83M
208328.36M83.40M
208427.93M82.98M
208527.51M82.57M
208627.09M82.17M
208726.67M81.78M
208826.26M81.39M
208925.85M81.01M
209025.45M80.63M
209125.05M80.26M
209224.66M79.88M
209324.28M79.50M
209423.90M79.12M
209523.54M78.75M
209623.18M78.37M
209722.83M77.99M
209822.50M77.61M
209922.17M77.23M
210021.85M76.85M

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Frequently asked questions

Which country has more people, South Korea or Japan?

Japan has more people in the 2023 UN estimates: about 124.37 million, compared with 51.75 million in South Korea. The gap is approximately 72.62 million.

What populations are projected for 2100?

The UN medium-variant projection gives South Korea 21.85 million people and Japan 76.85 million in 2100. These values are projections, not current population estimates.

Where do the estimates end and projections begin?

The UN World Population Prospects series uses estimates through 2023. Values from 2024 onward follow its medium-variant projection. Both countries use the same source and scenario.

Where does this data come from?

UN World Population Prospects 2024 via Our World in Data; estimates to 2023, medium-variant projections after, millions of people. Retrieved November 5, 2026. UN estimates through 2023; later years are medium-variant projections, not observed counts. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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Related data

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WorldReal data

South Korea's population

South Korea peaked at 51.86M in 2020. The UN medium scenario projects 21.85M in 2100, versus 51.75M in 2023.

MoneyReal data

South Korea's GDP

South Korea GDP reached $1.87T in 2025. Its rank was 26 in 1980 and 13 in 2025. Current US dollars, not real growth.

WorldReal data

South Korea's birth rate

5.99 births per woman in 1960 to 0.75 in 2024: South Korea. Total fertility rate, compared with Japan, China and the US.