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Japan vs South Korea population

In 2025 Japan has 2.39× as many people as South Korea: 123 million against 51.7 million. The difference is 71.7 million.

Japan 123 million and South Korea 51.7 million in 2025, 1 dot = 2 million peopleJapan has 123,366,734 people and South Korea has 51,684,564 in 2025. Each dot is 2 million people.
Japan 123 million and South Korea 51.7 million in 2025, 1 dot = 2 million peopleJapan has 123,366,734 people and South Korea has 51,684,564 in 2025. Each dot is 2 million people.
Japan 123 million and South Korea 51.7 million in 2025, 1 dot = 5 million peopleJapan has 123,366,734 people and South Korea has 51,684,564 in 2025. Each dot is 5 million people.

South Korea would fit inside Japan 2 times over.

Drag the year for this pair

Population of Japan and South Korea, 1960 to 2050: Japan 123 million and South Korea 51.7 million in 2025
Population of Japan and South Korea, 1960 to 2050: Japan 123 million and South Korea 51.7 million in 2025
Population of Japan and South Korea, 1960 to 2050: Japan 123 million and South Korea 51.7 million in 2025

How the two compare

In 2025 Japan has 2.39× as many people as South Korea: 123 million against 51.7 million. The difference is 71.7 million. South Korea would fit inside Japan 2 times over. Together they hold 2.1% of the 8.19 billion counted here.

Then and now

In 1960 the order was Japan ahead, 93.2 million to 25 million, a ratio of 3.73×. Since then Japan has grown 1.32× and South Korea 2.07×, averaging 0.43% and 1.12% a year.

The lines never cross between 1960 and 2050: Japan stays ahead throughout, and the gap narrows by 2050.

Towards 2050

Projected to 2050, Japan reaches 105 million (14.8% fewer than today) and South Korea reaches 44.4 million (14% fewer). By then the ratio is 2.36× in favour of Japan.

Land and people

Land changes the picture: Japan has 364,569 km² and 338 people per km², South Korea has 97,600 km² and 530 per km². South Korea is 1.56× more densely settled.

Behind the totals, fertility is 1.15 in Japan and 0.75 in South Korea; life expectancy is 84 against 83.6 years; 30% against 20.3% of people are 65 or older. The younger the population, the longer it keeps growing after birth rates fall.

Where the numbers come from

Figures are the World Bank's "Population estimates and projections" series, built from United Nations and national statistics. Values up to 2025 are estimates; 2026–2050 are projections that assume current fertility, mortality and migration trends continue, so they are not forecasts of events such as wars or policy changes. Territories are listed as the World Bank lists them, and a small number of places have gaps in some years.

How the numbers are taken. Total population from the World Bank's population estimates and projections (built from United Nations and national statistics). Values to 2025 are estimates; 2026–2050 are projections that continue current fertility, mortality and migration trends. Sources and limits.

Japan on its own · South Korea on its own