A world in perspective
51.7M
Reference period 2025 · people
World Bank · World Development Indicators
CompareFollow the selected indicator from its value to its history.
Displayed reference years run from 2023 to 2025. These are each indicator's published periods, not a single-year country snapshot. A comparison may use an older common period; follow Compare to check it.
The notes below use the currently published values. Years and sources may differ across indicators.
For South Korea, the 2023 population growth rate of -0.041%/year indicates decline. Fertility below describes a period's childbearing pattern, while median age describes composition. Even same-year figures do not decompose causes; fertility alone cannot explain the population change.
44.5 years
Reference period: 2023 · UN DESA Population Division · World Population Prospects 2024
EstimatedMedian age differs from mean age. It locates the middle of the population, but does not directly give the older-age or working-age share.
0.72 births per woman
Reference period: 2023 · UN DESA Population Division · World Population Prospects 2024
EstimatedTotal fertility rate is not the year's number of births or the completed family size of women who have finished childbearing. It summarizes age-specific fertility in a period.
-0.041%/year
Reference period: 2023 · UN DESA Population Division · World Population Prospects 2024
EstimatedPositive values indicate growth and negative values decline. This is not a fertility rate; population change reflects births, deaths and international migration.
World Bank · World Development Indicators
Exact values by period are available in the table below.
| Reference period | Value | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 51,769,539 people | |
| 2022 | 51,672,569 people | |
| 2023 | 51,712,619 people | |
| 2024 | 51,751,065 people | |
| 2025 | 51,684,564 people |
Results: 4
| Indicator | Value | Reference period | Source | Quality | Historical trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 years | 2023 | UN DESA Population Division | Estimated | No trend available |
| Rate of population change | -0.041%/year | 2023 | UN DESA Population Division | Estimated | No trend available |
| Total fertility rate | 0.72 births per woman | 2023 | UN DESA Population Division | Estimated | No trend available |
| Total population | 51,684,564 people | 2025 | World Bank | Historical trend |
Ranks show position by higher raw values and do not imply better outcomes.
Trace each value to its source and dataset terms.