Japan vs South Korea

Japan vs South Korea: Population

Population in 2023: 124 million people in Japan and 51.8 million people in South Korea, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Japan, by 72.7 million people, or 2.4 times that in South Korea.

Watch it change on the map

people · UN

Japan vs South Korea: PopulationPopulation in 2023: 124 million people in Japan and 51.8 million people in South Korea, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Japan, by 72.7 million people, or 2.4 times that in South Korea.
JapanSouth KoreaEstimates, HYDE and GapminderUN projection (medium variant)95% prediction intervalWorld

What the numbers say

  • Japan has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
  • In 2023, Japan ranked 12 and South Korea ranked 29 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
  • The UN projection (medium variant) puts Japan at 76.9 million people and South Korea at 21.9 million people in 2100.
  • The world as a whole: 8.09 billion people in 2023.

Every year

people · UN

YearJapanSouth KoreaWorld
2023124 million51.8 million8.09 billion
2022125 million51.8 million8.02 billion
2021126 million51.9 million7.95 billion
2020126 million51.9 million7.89 billion
2019127 million51.8 million7.81 billion
2018127 million51.6 million7.73 billion
2017127 million51.5 million7.65 billion
2016127 million51.3 million7.56 billion
2015127 million51 million7.47 billion
2014128 million50.5 million7.38 billion
2013128 million50.1 million7.29 billion
2012128 million49.6 million7.2 billion
2011128 million49.1 million7.11 billion
2010128 million48.8 million7.02 billion
2009128 million48.6 million6.93 billion
2008128 million48.4 million6.84 billion
2007128 million48.2 million6.76 billion
2006128 million48 million6.67 billion
2005128 million47.9 million6.59 billion
2004128 million47.7 million6.5 billion
2003128 million47.5 million6.42 billion
2002128 million47.3 million6.34 billion
2001127 million47 million6.26 billion
2000127 million46.8 million6.17 billion
1999127 million46.5 million6.09 billion
1998127 million46.2 million6.01 billion
1997126 million45.9 million5.93 billion
1996126 million45.6 million5.84 billion
1995126 million45.4 million5.76 billion
1994125 million45.1 million5.68 billion
1993125 million44.9 million5.59 billion
1992124 million44.7 million5.51 billion
1991124 million44.4 million5.42 billion
1990123 million44.1 million5.33 billion
1989123 million43.5 million5.23 billion
1988123 million42.9 million5.14 billion
1987122 million42.3 million5.05 billion
1986121 million41.7 million4.96 billion
1985121 million41.2 million4.87 billion
1984120 million40.6 million4.78 billion
1983120 million40 million4.7 billion
1982120 million39.4 million4.61 billion
1981119 million38.7 million4.53 billion
1980118 million38.1 million4.45 billion
1979118 million37.7 million4.37 billion
1978117 million37.3 million4.29 billion
1977116 million36.8 million4.22 billion
1976115 million36.4 million4.14 billion
1975113 million35.9 million4.07 billion
1974112 million35.3 million4 billion
1973111 million34.6 million3.92 billion
1972109 million33.9 million3.85 billion
1971108 million33.2 million3.77 billion
1970107 million32.5 million3.7 billion
1969106 million31.9 million3.62 billion
1968104 million31.2 million3.55 billion
1967103 million30.5 million3.47 billion
1966102 million29.9 million3.4 billion
1965101 million29.3 million3.34 billion
196499.9 million28.7 million3.26 billion
196399 million28.2 million3.19 billion
196298.1 million27.5 million3.12 billion
196197.2 million26.9 million3.07 billion
196096.4 million26.1 million3.02 billion
195995.6 million25.3 million2.97 billion
195894.9 million24.5 million2.91 billion
195794.1 million23.7 million2.85 billion
195693.3 million22.9 million2.8 billion
195592.4 million22.1 million2.74 billion
195491.4 million21.4 million2.69 billion
195390.3 million20.8 million2.63 billion
195289.1 million20.2 million2.58 billion
195187.9 million19.9 million2.54 billion
195086.4 million19.8 million2.49 billion
194983.3 million19.6 million–
194882.2 million19.1 million–
194781 million18.6 million–
194679.9 million18 million–
194578.8 million17.5 million–
194477.7 million17 million–
194376.7 million16.6 million–
194275.6 million16.1 million–
194174.6 million15.7 million–
194073.6 million15.3 million–
193972.6 million15.1 million–
193871.7 million14.8 million–
193770.8 million14.7 million–
193669.9 million14.5 million–
193569 million14.3 million–
193468.1 million14.1 million–
193367.2 million14 million–
193266.4 million13.8 million–
193165.5 million13.6 million–
193064.7 million13.5 million–
192963.8 million13.3 million–
192862.9 million13.1 million–
192762.1 million12.9 million–
192661.2 million12.6 million–
192560.3 million12.4 million–
192459.5 million12.2 million–
192358.7 million12 million–
192257.9 million11.8 million–
192157.1 million11.7 million–
192056.3 million11.5 million–
191955.6 million11.3 million–
191854.9 million11.1 million–
191754.3 million10.9 million–
191653.6 million10.8 million–
191553 million10.6 million–
191452.3 million10.5 million–
191351.7 million10.3 million–
191251.1 million10.1 million–
191150.5 million10 million–
191049.9 million9.91 million–
190949.3 million9.84 million–
190848.7 million9.8 million–
190748.2 million9.78 million–
190647.6 million9.77 million–
190547 million9.75 million–
190446.5 million9.74 million–
190346 million9.72 million–
190245.4 million9.71 million–
190144.9 million9.7 million–
190044.4 million9.69 million–
189944 million9.68 million–
189843.5 million9.68 million–
189743.1 million9.68 million–
189642.7 million9.68 million–
189542.3 million9.68 million–
189441.9 million9.68 million–
189341.5 million9.68 million–
189241.1 million9.68 million–
189140.7 million9.68 million–
189040.3 million9.68 million–
188939.9 million9.68 million–
188839.6 million9.67 million–
188739.2 million9.67 million–
188638.9 million9.67 million–
188538.6 million9.67 million–
188438.2 million9.67 million–
188337.9 million9.67 million–
188237.6 million9.67 million–
188137.3 million9.67 million–
188037 million9.67 million–
187936.7 million9.67 million–
187836.4 million9.67 million–
187736.2 million9.67 million–
187636 million9.67 million–
187535.7 million9.67 million–
187435.5 million9.67 million–
187335.2 million9.67 million–
187235 million9.67 million–
187134.8 million9.67 million–
187034.6 million9.66 million–
186934.4 million9.66 million–
186834.3 million9.66 million–
186734.1 million9.65 million–
186634 million9.64 million–
186533.9 million9.64 million–
186433.7 million9.63 million–
186333.6 million9.62 million–
186233.5 million9.62 million–
186133.4 million9.61 million–
186033.2 million9.61 million–
185933.1 million9.6 million–
185833 million9.59 million–
185732.9 million9.59 million–
185632.7 million9.58 million–
185532.6 million9.58 million–
185432.5 million9.57 million–
185332.4 million9.56 million–
185232.2 million9.56 million–
185132.1 million9.55 million–
185032.1 million9.55 million–
184932 million9.54 million–
184831.9 million9.54 million–
184731.9 million9.53 million–
184631.9 million9.53 million–
184531.8 million9.52 million–
184431.8 million9.52 million–
184331.8 million9.51 million–
184231.7 million9.51 million–
184131.7 million9.5 million–
184031.7 million9.5 million–
183931.6 million9.49 million–
183831.6 million9.49 million–
183731.6 million9.48 million–
183631.5 million9.48 million–
183531.5 million9.47 million–
183431.5 million9.47 million–
183331.4 million9.46 million–
183231.4 million9.46 million–
183131.4 million9.45 million–
183031.3 million9.45 million–
182931.3 million9.44 million–
182831.3 million9.44 million–
182731.2 million9.43 million–
182631.2 million9.43 million–
182531.2 million9.42 million–
182431.1 million9.42 million–
182331.1 million9.41 million–
182231.1 million9.41 million–
182131 million9.4 million–
182030.9 million9.4 million–
181930.8 million9.4 million–
181830.7 million9.4 million–
181730.5 million9.4 million–
181630.4 million9.4 million–
181530.2 million9.4 million–
181430.1 million9.4 million–
181329.9 million9.4 million–
181229.8 million9.4 million–
181129.6 million9.4 million–
181029.5 million9.4 million–
180929.3 million9.4 million–
180829.2 million9.4 million–
180729 million9.4 million–
180628.9 million9.4 million–
180528.7 million9.4 million–
180428.6 million9.4 million–
180328.4 million9.4 million–
180228.3 million9.4 million–
180128.1 million9.4 million–
180028 million9.4 million–
  • 12.3Estimates, HYDE and Gapminder
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
YearJapanSouth KoreaWorld
2024124 million124 million–124 million51.7 million51.6 million–51.8 million8.16 billion
2025123 million123 million–123 million51.7 million51.4 million–51.9 million8.23 billion
2026122 million122 million–123 million51.6 million51.1 million–52.1 million8.3 billion
2027122 million121 million–123 million51.5 million50.8 million–52.3 million8.37 billion
2028121 million120 million–122 million51.4 million50.4 million–52.5 million8.44 billion
2029120 million119 million–122 million51.3 million50 million–52.7 million8.5 billion
2030120 million118 million–122 million51.2 million49.6 million–52.9 million8.57 billion
2031119 million117 million–121 million51.1 million49.1 million–53.1 million8.63 billion
2032118 million116 million–121 million50.9 million48.6 million–53.3 million8.7 billion
2033117 million115 million–120 million50.7 million48.1 million–53.4 million8.76 billion
2034117 million114 million–120 million50.5 million47.6 million–53.6 million8.82 billion
2035116 million112 million–120 million50.3 million47.1 million–53.8 million8.89 billion
2036115 million111 million–119 million50.1 million46.6 million–54 million8.95 billion
2037114 million110 million–119 million49.8 million46 million–54.2 million9.01 billion
2038114 million109 million–119 million49.5 million45.4 million–54.2 million9.06 billion
2039113 million108 million–118 million49.3 million44.7 million–54.4 million9.12 billion
2040112 million107 million–118 million49 million44.2 million–54.6 million9.18 billion
2041111 million106 million–118 million48.6 million43.6 million–54.7 million9.23 billion
2042111 million105 million–117 million48.3 million42.9 million–54.8 million9.29 billion
2043110 million104 million–117 million48 million42.2 million–54.9 million9.34 billion
2044109 million103 million–117 million47.6 million41.5 million–55 million9.39 billion
2045109 million102 million–116 million47.2 million40.8 million–55.1 million9.44 billion
2046108 million101 million–116 million46.9 million40.2 million–55.2 million9.49 billion
2047107 million99.6 million–116 million46.5 million39.5 million–55.2 million9.54 billion
2048107 million98.5 million–115 million46 million38.8 million–55.1 million9.58 billion
2049106 million97.5 million–115 million45.6 million38.2 million–54.9 million9.62 billion
2050105 million96.4 million–115 million45.1 million37.5 million–54.9 million9.66 billion
2051105 million95.3 million–115 million44.7 million36.7 million–54.9 million9.7 billion
2052104 million94.1 million–114 million44.2 million36 million–54.8 million9.74 billion
2053103 million93 million–114 million43.7 million35.2 million–54.6 million9.78 billion
2054102 million91.9 million–114 million43.2 million34.4 million–54.5 million9.81 billion
2055102 million90.9 million–114 million42.6 million33.6 million–54.5 million9.85 billion
2056101 million89.8 million–113 million42.1 million33 million–54.4 million9.88 billion
2057100 million88.6 million–113 million41.6 million32.2 million–54.3 million9.91 billion
205899.6 million87.5 million–113 million41 million31.4 million–54.2 million9.94 billion
205998.9 million86.3 million–113 million40.4 million30.6 million–54 million9.96 billion
206098.1 million85.1 million–113 million39.9 million29.8 million–53.8 million9.99 billion
206197.4 million84 million–112 million39.3 million29.1 million–53.6 million10 billion
206296.6 million82.9 million–112 million38.7 million28.3 million–53.6 million10 billion
206395.8 million81.7 million–111 million38.2 million27.6 million–53.5 million10.1 billion
206495.1 million80.7 million–111 million37.6 million26.8 million–53.3 million10.1 billion
206594.3 million79.4 million–111 million37.1 million26 million–53.1 million10.1 billion
206693.6 million78 million–111 million36.6 million25.3 million–52.9 million10.1 billion
206792.8 million76.7 million–111 million36 million24.7 million–53 million10.1 billion
206892.1 million75.5 million–110 million35.5 million24 million–53.1 million10.2 billion
206991.3 million74.4 million–110 million35 million23.3 million–53.1 million10.2 billion
207090.6 million73.3 million–110 million34.5 million22.6 million–53.1 million10.2 billion
207189.9 million72.2 million–110 million33.9 million22 million–53.1 million10.2 billion
207289.2 million71.2 million–110 million33.4 million21.4 million–53 million10.2 billion
207388.6 million70.2 million–110 million32.9 million20.8 million–52.9 million10.2 billion
207488 million69.2 million–109 million32.5 million20.3 million–52.8 million10.2 billion
207587.4 million68.2 million–110 million32 million19.8 million–52.8 million10.3 billion
207686.8 million67.2 million–110 million31.5 million19.2 million–52.7 million10.3 billion
207786.2 million66.3 million–110 million31 million18.6 million–52.6 million10.3 billion
207885.7 million65.3 million–110 million30.6 million18 million–52.6 million10.3 billion
207985.2 million64.5 million–110 million30.1 million17.4 million–52.8 million10.3 billion
208084.7 million63.6 million–110 million29.7 million16.9 million–52.9 million10.3 billion
208184.3 million62.8 million–110 million29.2 million16.5 million–52.8 million10.3 billion
208283.8 million62.1 million–110 million28.8 million15.9 million–52.8 million10.3 billion
208383.4 million61.4 million–110 million28.4 million15.5 million–53 million10.3 billion
208483 million60.7 million–110 million27.9 million15.2 million–52.9 million10.3 billion
208582.6 million59.9 million–110 million27.5 million14.7 million–52.8 million10.3 billion
208682.2 million59.2 million–110 million27.1 million14.3 million–52.6 million10.3 billion
208781.8 million58.5 million–110 million26.7 million13.8 million–52.4 million10.3 billion
208881.4 million57.7 million–111 million26.3 million13.4 million–52.4 million10.3 billion
208981 million56.9 million–111 million25.9 million12.9 million–52.3 million10.3 billion
209080.6 million56.1 million–111 million25.5 million12.5 million–52 million10.3 billion
209180.3 million55.3 million–111 million25.1 million12.1 million–51.8 million10.3 billion
209279.9 million54.5 million–111 million24.7 million11.8 million–51.6 million10.3 billion
209379.5 million53.6 million–112 million24.3 million11.5 million–51.7 million10.3 billion
209479.1 million52.6 million–112 million23.9 million11.1 million–52 million10.2 billion
209578.8 million51.8 million–112 million23.5 million10.7 million–52.2 million10.2 billion
209678.4 million51 million–112 million23.2 million10.4 million–52.1 million10.2 billion
209778 million50.1 million–112 million22.8 million10.1 million–51.8 million10.2 billion
209877.6 million49.4 million–113 million22.5 million9.82 million–51.7 million10.2 billion
209977.2 million48.6 million–113 million22.2 million9.53 million–51.8 million10.2 billion
210076.9 million47.8 million–113 million21.9 million9.29 million–52 million10.2 billion

Each country on its own

Good to know

  • Everyone living in the country on 1 July of each year.
  • Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
  • Before 1950: HYDE (2023), Gapminder (2022) and UN WPP (2024), via Our World in Data.
  • The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
  • Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
  • The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.

How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time

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