Rural population growth in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Rural population growth was -0.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in Republic of Korea, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population growth in Republic of Korea is -0.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 391.2% on the previous year and down 115.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in Republic of Korea peaked at 1.9% in 1961 and was at its lowest, -5.7%, in 1988.
Republic of Korea ranks 123rd of 209 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 growth in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.9% | — |
| 1962 | 1.8% | -7.9% |
| 1963 | 1.6% | -8.2% |
| 1964 | 1.3% | -18.0% |
| 1965 | 1.1% | -18.9% |
| 1966 | 0.8% | -23.1% |
| 1967 | 0.1% | -83.6% |
| 1968 | -0.7% | -648.7% |
| 1969 | -1.2% | +65.0% |
| 1970 | -1.1% | -7.8% |
| 1971 | -0.8% | -26.4% |
| 1972 | -0.7% | -21.1% |
| 1973 | -0.7% | +3.2% |
| 1974 | -0.8% | +18.4% |
| 1975 | -1.1% | +34.9% |
| 1976 | -1.5% | +42.3% |
| 1977 | -1.9% | +25.4% |
| 1978 | -2.2% | +15.6% |
| 1979 | -2.4% | +7.7% |
| 1980 | -2.4% | +0.5% |
| 1981 | -2.4% | -1.0% |
| 1982 | -2.4% | +0.9% |
| 1983 | -2.6% | +7.2% |
| 1984 | -3.0% | +17.1% |
| 1985 | -3.6% | +18.3% |
| 1986 | -4.2% | +17.1% |
| 1987 | -5.1% | +22.4% |
| 1988 | -5.7% | +10.5% |
| 1989 | -5.6% | -1.2% |
| 1990 | -4.7% | -16.4% |
| 1991 | -3.6% | -22.5% |
| 1992 | -3.2% | -11.4% |
| 1993 | -2.9% | -10.2% |
| 1994 | -2.3% | -19.6% |
| 1995 | -1.5% | -36.7% |
| 1996 | -0.7% | -53.6% |
| 1997 | -0.2% | -70.3% |
| 1998 | -0.2% | -9.3% |
| 1999 | -0.2% | -11.4% |
| 2000 | -0.2% | +37.4% |
| 2001 | -0.7% | +215.7% |
| 2002 | -1.4% | +100.8% |
| 2003 | -1.7% | +19.2% |
| 2004 | -1.7% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | -1.3% | -22.0% |
| 2006 | -0.4% | -67.5% |
| 2007 | -0.3% | -32.5% |
| 2008 | 0.1% | -129.4% |
| 2009 | 0.0% | -75.0% |
| 2010 | 0.3% | +1101.3% |
| 2011 | 0.8% | +217.3% |
| 2012 | 0.8% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 0.9% | +10.9% |
| 2014 | 1.2% | +27.0% |
| 2015 | 1.0% | -10.6% |
| 2016 | 0.9% | -17.4% |
| 2017 | 0.7% | -13.0% |
| 2018 | 0.9% | +23.1% |
| 2019 | 0.8% | -7.6% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | -11.4% |
| 2021 | -0.1% | -107.1% |
| 2022 | -0.2% | +263.7% |
| 2023 | 0.1% | -134.7% |
| 2024 | 0.1% | -17.8% |
| 2025 | -0.2% | -391.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.7% | -1.2% | 1.9% | 9 |
| 1970s | -1.3% | -2.4% | -0.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | -3.7% | -5.7% | -2.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.9% | -4.7% | -0.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.8% | -1.7% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8% | 0.3% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | -0.2% | 0.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
More agriculture & rural data for Republic of 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, annual growth rate -0.1591 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1883 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture share gdp 1.46 (2025)
- Value added in the agricultural sector as of gdp vs gdp per capita 1.46 (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.8% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in Republic of Korea?
- Rural population growth in Republic of Korea was -0.2% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.9% in 1961.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -5.7% in 1988.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for rural population growth?
- Republic of Korea ranks 123rd out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 115.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual rural population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear rural population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.