Korea, Rep. — Urban population
Urban Population (% of Total) for Korea, Rep., 1960–2025.
Urban population for Korea, Rep. was 81.17% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 66 years, from 1960 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 81.97% in 2010. The lowest was 27.69% in 1960 (about 2.9× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 1.67% per year.
Korea, Rep. ranks 54 of 217 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 25%. The median for East Asia & Pacific is 65.45%, so Korea, Rep. sits above it. It peaked in 2010 and has fallen 1% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 1%. Within East Asia & Pacific it ranks 10 of 37 economies; American Samoa (80.51%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 6% in 1969.
Data highlights
From its 1960 level: doubled by 1980. Doubling roughly every 42 years at that pace.
World ranking. Climbed: 130th of 217 in 1960 → 105th of 217 in 1970 → 82nd of 217 in 1980 → 52nd of 217 in 1990 → 44th of 217 in 2000 → 48th of 217 in 2010 → 55th of 217 in 2020 → 54th of 217 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1960 to 2025
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 81.17% | +0.0 pp |
| 2024 | 81.17% | +0.0 pp |
| 2023 | 81.16% | +0.0 pp |
| 2022 | 81.16% | +0.0 pp |
| 2021 | 81.16% | -0.0 pp |
| 2020 | 81.18% | -0.1 pp |
| 2019 | 81.29% | -0.1 pp |
| 2018 | 81.38% | -0.1 pp |
| 2017 | 81.47% | -0.1 pp |
| 2016 | 81.56% | -0.1 pp |
| 2015 | 81.64% | -0.1 pp |
| 2014 | 81.73% | -0.1 pp |
| 2013 | 81.83% | -0.1 pp |
| 2012 | 81.91% | -0.1 pp |
| 2011 | 81.96% | -0.0 pp |
| 2010 | 81.97% | +0.0 pp |
| 2009 | 81.92% | +0.1 pp |
| 2008 | 81.84% | +0.1 pp |
| 2007 | 81.71% | +0.1 pp |
| 2006 | 81.57% | +0.2 pp |
| 2005 | 81.39% | +0.3 pp |
| 2004 | 81.1% | +0.4 pp |
| 2003 | 80.71% | +0.4 pp |
| 2002 | 80.28% | +0.4 pp |
| 2001 | 79.88% | +0.3 pp |
| 2000 | 79.58% | +0.2 pp |
| 1999 | 79.36% | +0.2 pp |
| 1998 | 79.18% | +0.2 pp |
| 1997 | 78.99% | +0.2 pp |
| 1996 | 78.75% | +0.4 pp |
| 1995 | 78.4% | +0.5 pp |
| 1994 | 77.86% | +0.8 pp |
| 1993 | 77.11% | +0.9 pp |
| 1992 | 76.2% | +1.0 pp |
| 1991 | 75.16% | +1.2 pp |
| 1990 | 73.99% | +1.5 pp |
| 1989 | 72.47% | +1.9 pp |
| 1988 | 70.59% | +2.0 pp |
| 1987 | 68.56% | +2.0 pp |
| 1986 | 66.58% | +1.8 pp |
| 1985 | 64.8% | +1.6 pp |
| 1984 | 63.15% | +1.6 pp |
| 1983 | 61.54% | +1.6 pp |
| 1982 | 59.95% | +1.6 pp |
| 1981 | 58.33% | +1.7 pp |
| 1980 | 56.66% | +1.8 pp |
| 1979 | 54.9% | +1.8 pp |
| 1978 | 53.1% | +1.8 pp |
| 1977 | 51.3% | +1.7 pp |
| 1976 | 49.57% | +1.6 pp |
| 1975 | 47.97% | +1.5 pp |
| 1974 | 46.51% | +1.4 pp |
| 1973 | 45.15% | +1.4 pp |
| 1972 | 43.79% | +1.4 pp |
| 1971 | 42.35% | +1.6 pp |
| 1970 | 40.71% | +2.0 pp |
| 1969 | 38.71% | +2.2 pp |
| 1968 | 36.53% | +2.0 pp |
| 1967 | 34.56% | +1.5 pp |
| 1966 | 33.1% | +1.1 pp |
| 1965 | 31.96% | +1.0 pp |
| 1964 | 30.96% | +0.9 pp |
| 1963 | 30.06% | +0.8 pp |
| 1962 | 29.23% | +0.8 pp |
| 1961 | 28.45% | +0.8 pp |
| 1960 | 27.69% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Korea, Rep.’s Urban population in 1961?
28.45% (1961). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of total population, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Korea, Rep.’s Urban population growing or shrinking?
Between 1960 and 2025 the series was growing overall: +193.2% in total — about 1.7% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 81.17%; 2024: 81.17%; 2023: 81.16%; 2022: 81.16%; 2021: 81.16%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS — Urban Population (% of Total). Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.