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Japan vs South Korea: Rural Population Comparison

Compare Rural Population of Japan and South Korea over time using official World Bank Open Data.

⚡ Quick Comparison Summary

In 2025, South Korea recorded Rural Population of 9.73M vs 9.50M for Japan (South Korea's Rural Population is 1.0× larger than Japan's.).

🇯🇵 Japan
9.50M
-65.0% since 2000
🇰🇷 South Korea
9.73M
+1.4% since 2000
⚖️ Scale Ratio
1.0×
Gap: 0.23M
Rural Population
Progressive time series visualization
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Active Year
Range: —
2000 2025
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Japan vs South Korea All Annual Observations (1960 – 2025)

Complete annual observations of Rural Population for Japan and South Korea reported by World Bank.

Year 🇯🇵 Japan Rural Population 🇰🇷 South Korea Rural Population South Korea : Japan Ratio
2025 9.50M 9.73M 1.02×
2024 9.68M 9.75M 1.01×
2023 9.86M 9.74M 0.99×
2022 10.04M 9.73M 0.97×
2021 10.21M 9.75M 0.95×
2020 10.38M 9.76M 0.94×
2019 10.49M 9.69M 0.92×
2018 10.60M 9.60M 0.91×
2017 10.73M 9.52M 0.89×
2016 10.86M 9.45M 0.87×
2015 10.99M 9.37M 0.85×
2014 11.13M 9.27M 0.83×
2013 11.28M 9.16M 0.81×
2012 11.45M 9.08M 0.79×
2011 11.68M 9.01M 0.77×
2010 12.01M 8.94M 0.74×
2009 12.66M 8.91M 0.70×
2008 13.71M 8.91M 0.65×
2007 15.01M 8.90M 0.59×
2006 16.43M 8.93M 0.54×
2005 17.94M 8.97M 0.50×
2004 19.97M 9.09M 0.46×
2003 22.45M 9.24M 0.41×
2002 24.79M 9.40M 0.38×
2001 26.50M 9.53M 0.36×
2000 27.13M 9.60M 0.35×
1999 27.29M 9.62M 0.35×
1998 27.40M 9.64M 0.35×
1997 27.44M 9.65M 0.35×
1996 27.49M 9.67M 0.35×
1995 27.58M 9.74M 0.35×
1994 27.68M 9.88M 0.36×
1993 27.78M 10.12M 0.36×
1992 27.86M 10.41M 0.37×
1991 27.92M 10.75M 0.39×
1990 27.98M 11.15M 0.40×
1989 28.05M 11.69M 0.42×
1988 28.10M 12.36M 0.44×
1987 28.15M 13.08M 0.46×
1986 28.17M 13.77M 0.49×
1985 28.16M 14.37M 0.51×
1984 28.13M 14.89M 0.53×
1983 28.09M 15.35M 0.55×
1982 28.02M 15.75M 0.56×
1981 27.94M 16.13M 0.58×
1980 27.83M 16.52M 0.59×
1979 27.68M 16.93M 0.61×
1978 27.49M 17.34M 0.63×
1977 27.29M 17.73M 0.65×
1976 27.10M 18.08M 0.67×
1975 26.94M 18.36M 0.68×
1974 27.09M 18.56M 0.69×
1973 27.58M 18.71M 0.68×
1972 28.21M 18.83M 0.67×
1971 28.85M 18.96M 0.66×
1970 29.10M 19.12M 0.66×
1969 29.55M 19.33M 0.65×
1968 29.98M 19.57M 0.65×
1967 30.44M 19.72M 0.65×
1966 30.92M 19.69M 0.64×
1965 31.46M 19.53M 0.62×
1964 31.96M 19.32M 0.60×
1963 32.47M 19.07M 0.59×
1962 33.00M 18.76M 0.57×
1961 33.60M 18.44M 0.55×
1960 34.25M 18.09M 0.53×

Rural Population Comparison

• Current Leader: In 2025, South Korea recorded Rural Population of 9.73M, while Japan recorded 9.50M, representing a scale ratio of ~1.0×.
• 1960 Baseline: Japan stood at 34.25M and South Korea stood at 18.09M.
• 2000–2025 Trajectory: Japan moved to 9.50M (-65.0% since 2000), while South Korea moved to 9.73M (+1.4% since 2000).
• Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR): From 2000 to 2025, Japan's Rural Population expanded at ~-4.1% CAGR, while South Korea's expanded at ~0.1% CAGR.

Historical Trends

Over the available reporting period from 1960 to 2025, Japan and South Korea followed distinct developmental paths. In 1960, Japan recorded 34.25M compared to 18.09M for South Korea. By 2025, the values evolved to 9.50M and 9.73M respectively.

Key Differences

• Absolute Gap: Difference in 2025 is 0.23M.
• Scale Ratio: South Korea is 1.0× size of Japan.
• Highest Observed Year: Peak observed was 9.73M (South Korea in 2025).
• Growth Trajectory: Since 2000, Japan achieved -65.0% since 2000, while South Korea achieved +1.4% since 2000.

About Rural Population

Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices.

This comparison uses standardized data from World Bank Open Data. Historical records allow analysts to trace long-term development trajectories for Japan and South Korea.

Frequently Asked Questions — Rural Population

What is the Rural Population of Japan?

In 2025, Japan's Rural Population was 9.50M according to official World Bank data.

What is the Rural Population of South Korea?

In 2025, South Korea's Rural Population was 9.73M according to official World Bank data.

Which country has a higher Rural Population?

In 2025, South Korea recorded a higher Rural Population of 9.73M compared to Japan's 9.50M (a difference of 0.23M).

How has Rural Population changed over time for Japan and South Korea?

From 2000 to 2025, Japan's Rural Population changed by -65.0% since 2000, while South Korea's changed by +1.4% since 2000.

Explore Japan vs South Korea Interactively

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Data Source and Methodology

Source: World Bank Open Data. Indicator Code: SP.RUR.TOTL (Rural Population). Values represent annual rural population for Japan and South Korea from 1960 through 2025. Missing reporting years are omitted without converting missing values to zero.