Rural population in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Rural population was 18.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population in Republic of Korea, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population in Republic of Korea stood at 18.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Republic of Korea peaked at 72.3% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 18.0%, in 2010.
That places Republic of Korea 164th out of 217 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 in Republic of 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% |
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 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)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Republic of Korea?
- Rural population in Republic of Korea was 18.8% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 72.3% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.0% in 2010.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for rural population?
- Republic of Korea ranks 164th out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.5%. 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 (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.