Rural population, annual growth rate in South Korea
South Korea: Rural population, annual growth rate was -0.1591 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-0.1591 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 390.8%
World rank
123rd
of 208 countries
All-time high
1.93 % change on previous year
in 1961
All-time low
-5.52 % change on previous year
in 1988
Years of data
65
1961–2025
Rural population, annual growth rate in South Korea, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
South Korea recorded -0.1591 % change on previous year for rural population, annual growth rate in 2025.
That represents a change of down 390.8% on the previous year and down 115.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population, annual growth rate in South Korea peaked at 1.93 % change on previous year in 1961 and was at its lowest, -5.52 % change on previous year, in 1988.
South Korea ranks 123rd of 208 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population, annual growth rate in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.93 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 1.77 % change on previous year | -8.0% |
| 1963 | 1.63 % change on previous year | -8.2% |
| 1964 | 1.33 % change on previous year | -18.1% |
| 1965 | 1.08 % change on previous year | -19.0% |
| 1966 | 0.8285 % change on previous year | -23.2% |
| 1967 | 0.1356 % change on previous year | -83.6% |
| 1968 | -0.7404 % change on previous year | -646.1% |
| 1969 | -1.22 % change on previous year | +64.6% |
| 1970 | -1.12 % change on previous year | -7.8% |
| 1971 | -0.8291 % change on previous year | -26.3% |
| 1972 | -0.6541 % change on previous year | -21.1% |
| 1973 | -0.6749 % change on previous year | +3.2% |
| 1974 | -0.7987 % change on previous year | +18.3% |
| 1975 | -1.08 % change on previous year | +34.7% |
| 1976 | -1.53 % change on previous year | +42.0% |
| 1977 | -1.91 % change on previous year | +25.1% |
| 1978 | -2.21 % change on previous year | +15.5% |
| 1979 | -2.37 % change on previous year | +7.6% |
| 1980 | -2.39 % change on previous year | +0.4% |
| 1981 | -2.36 % change on previous year | -1.0% |
| 1982 | -2.38 % change on previous year | +0.9% |
| 1983 | -2.55 % change on previous year | +7.2% |
| 1984 | -2.98 % change on previous year | +16.9% |
| 1985 | -3.52 % change on previous year | +18.0% |
| 1986 | -4.11 % change on previous year | +16.8% |
| 1987 | -5.01 % change on previous year | +21.8% |
| 1988 | -5.52 % change on previous year | +10.2% |
| 1989 | -5.46 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 1990 | -4.58 % change on previous year | -16.0% |
| 1991 | -3.57 % change on previous year | -22.1% |
| 1992 | -3.17 % change on previous year | -11.2% |
| 1993 | -2.85 % change on previous year | -10.0% |
| 1994 | -2.3 % change on previous year | -19.3% |
| 1995 | -1.46 % change on previous year | -36.5% |
| 1996 | -0.6804 % change on previous year | -53.4% |
| 1997 | -0.2026 % change on previous year | -70.2% |
| 1998 | -0.1838 % change on previous year | -9.3% |
| 1999 | -0.1628 % change on previous year | -11.4% |
| 2000 | -0.2236 % change on previous year | +37.3% |
| 2001 | -0.7044 % change on previous year | +215.1% |
| 2002 | -1.41 % change on previous year | +100.0% |
| 2003 | -1.68 % change on previous year | +19.1% |
| 2004 | -1.67 % change on previous year | -0.7% |
| 2005 | -1.3 % change on previous year | -21.8% |
| 2006 | -0.4259 % change on previous year | -67.3% |
| 2007 | -0.2877 % change on previous year | -32.4% |
| 2008 | 0.0848 % change on previous year | -129.5% |
| 2009 | 0.0212 % change on previous year | -75.0% |
| 2010 | 0.2548 % change on previous year | +1101.3% |
| 2011 | 0.8108 % change on previous year | +218.2% |
| 2012 | 0.8211 % change on previous year | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 0.9107 % change on previous year | +10.9% |
| 2014 | 1.16 % change on previous year | +27.2% |
| 2015 | 1.04 % change on previous year | -10.6% |
| 2016 | 0.8546 % change on previous year | -17.5% |
| 2017 | 0.7429 % change on previous year | -13.1% |
| 2018 | 0.9151 % change on previous year | +23.2% |
| 2019 | 0.8457 % change on previous year | -7.6% |
| 2020 | 0.749 % change on previous year | -11.4% |
| 2021 | -0.0528 % change on previous year | -107.0% |
| 2022 | -0.1918 % change on previous year | +263.5% |
| 2023 | 0.0666 % change on previous year | -134.7% |
| 2024 | 0.0547 % change on previous year | -17.8% |
| 2025 | -0.1591 % change on previous year | -390.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's -0.1591 % change on previous year is above the median for high income countries, which is -0.2844 % change on previous year, 56% of the median. (77 countries reporting)
- South Korea's -0.1591 % change on previous year is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.0489 % change on previous year. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Rural population, annual growth rate in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +1101.3% | 0.0212 % change on previous year | 0.2548 % change on previous year |
| 1968 | -646.1% | 0.1356 % change on previous year | -0.7404 % change on previous year |
| 2025 | -390.8% | 0.0547 % change on previous year | -0.1591 % change on previous year |
| 2022 | -263.5% | -0.0528 % change on previous year | -0.1918 % change on previous year |
| 2011 | +218.2% | 0.2548 % change on previous year | 0.8108 % change on previous year |
| 2001 | -215.1% | -0.2236 % change on previous year | -0.7044 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.7486 % change on previous year | -1.22 % change on previous year | 1.93 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | -1.32 % change on previous year | -2.37 % change on previous year | -0.6541 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | -3.63 % change on previous year | -5.52 % change on previous year | -2.36 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.92 % change on previous year | -4.58 % change on previous year | -0.1628 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.7593 % change on previous year | -1.68 % change on previous year | 0.0848 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8349 % change on previous year | 0.2548 % change on previous year | 1.16 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0778 % change on previous year | -0.1918 % change on previous year | 0.749 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 120 Grenada -0.0888 % change on previous year compare
- 121 Nigeria -0.1218 % change on previous year compare
- 122 Slovakia -0.1564 % change on previous year compare
- 124 Haiti -0.1649 % change on previous year compare
- 125 Romania -0.1768 % change on previous year compare
- 126 United Kingdom -0.1852 % change on previous year compare
More agriculture & rural data for South Korea
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 0.2516 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0146 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 530.46 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1883 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.8% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.9% (2024)
- Rural population 18.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population, annual growth rate in South Korea?
- Rural population, annual growth rate in South Korea was -0.1591 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest rural population, annual growth rate recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.93 % change on previous year in 1961.
- What is the lowest rural population, annual growth rate recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -5.52 % change on previous year in 1988.
- How does South Korea rank for rural population, annual growth rate?
- South Korea ranks 123rd out of 208 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population, annual growth rate rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 115.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Rural population, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Rural population. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Rural population World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Rural population. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.