Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in South Korea
South Korea: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 18.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
18.8%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
165th
of 218 countries
All-time high
72.3%
in 1960
All-time low
18.0%
in 2010
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Rural population in South Korea, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population in South Korea stood at 18.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in South Korea peaked at 72.3% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 18.0%, in 2010.
That places South Korea 165th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 72.3% | — |
| 1961 | 71.6% | -1.1% |
| 1962 | 70.8% | -1.1% |
| 1963 | 69.9% | -1.2% |
| 1964 | 69.0% | -1.3% |
| 1965 | 68.0% | -1.5% |
| 1966 | 66.9% | -1.7% |
| 1967 | 65.4% | -2.2% |
| 1968 | 63.5% | -3.0% |
| 1969 | 61.3% | -3.4% |
| 1970 | 59.3% | -3.3% |
| 1971 | 57.7% | -2.8% |
| 1972 | 56.2% | -2.5% |
| 1973 | 54.9% | -2.4% |
| 1974 | 53.5% | -2.5% |
| 1975 | 52.0% | -2.7% |
| 1976 | 50.4% | -3.1% |
| 1977 | 48.7% | -3.4% |
| 1978 | 46.9% | -3.7% |
| 1979 | 45.1% | -3.8% |
| 1980 | 43.3% | -3.9% |
| 1981 | 41.7% | -3.9% |
| 1982 | 40.0% | -3.9% |
| 1983 | 38.5% | -4.0% |
| 1984 | 36.9% | -4.2% |
| 1985 | 35.2% | -4.5% |
| 1986 | 33.4% | -5.1% |
| 1987 | 31.4% | -5.9% |
| 1988 | 29.4% | -6.4% |
| 1989 | 27.5% | -6.4% |
| 1990 | 26.0% | -5.5% |
| 1991 | 24.8% | -4.5% |
| 1992 | 23.8% | -4.2% |
| 1993 | 22.9% | -3.8% |
| 1994 | 22.1% | -3.3% |
| 1995 | 21.6% | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 21.2% | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 21.0% | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 20.8% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 20.6% | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 20.4% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 20.1% | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 19.7% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 19.3% | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 18.9% | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 18.6% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 18.4% | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 18.3% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 18.2% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 18.1% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 18.0% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 18.0% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 18.1% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 18.2% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 18.3% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 18.4% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 18.4% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 18.5% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 18.6% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 18.7% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 18.8% | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 18.8% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 18.8% | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 18.8% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 18.8% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 18.8% | -0.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 18.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 18.7%, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 18.8% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 34.6%, 54% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 67.9% | 61.3% | 72.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 52.5% | 45.1% | 59.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 35.7% | 27.5% | 43.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.5% | 20.6% | 26.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.0% | 18.1% | 20.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.3% | 18.0% | 18.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.8% | 18.8% | 18.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
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, 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)
- 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 0.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in South Korea?
- Rural population in South Korea was 18.8% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 72.3% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.0% in 2010.
- How does South Korea rank for rural population?
- South Korea ranks 165th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
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.