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Japan vs South Korea: Urban Population Comparison

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

⚡ Quick Comparison Summary

In 2025, Japan recorded Urban Population of 113.87M vs 41.95M for South Korea (Japan's Urban Population is 2.7× larger than South Korea's.).

🇯🇵 Japan
113.87M
+14.2% since 2000
🇰🇷 South Korea
41.95M
+12.2% since 2000
⚖️ Scale Ratio
2.7×
Gap: 71.91M
Urban Population
Progressive time series visualization
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Range: —
2000 2025
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Japan vs South Korea All Annual Observations (1960 – 2025)

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

Year 🇯🇵 Japan Urban Population 🇰🇷 South Korea Urban Population South Korea : Japan Ratio
2025 113.87M 41.95M 0.37×
2024 114.29M 42.01M 0.37×
2023 114.66M 41.97M 0.37×
2022 115.09M 41.94M 0.36×
2021 115.47M 42.02M 0.36×
2020 115.88M 42.08M 0.36×
2019 116.14M 42.08M 0.36×
2018 116.21M 41.98M 0.36×
2017 116.24M 41.85M 0.36×
2016 116.22M 41.77M 0.36×
2015 116.15M 41.65M 0.36×
2014 116.15M 41.48M 0.36×
2013 116.17M 41.26M 0.36×
2012 116.18M 41.12M 0.35×
2011 116.15M 40.93M 0.35×
2010 116.06M 40.62M 0.35×
2009 115.39M 40.40M 0.35×
2008 114.35M 40.14M 0.35×
2007 112.99M 39.78M 0.35×
2006 111.42M 39.51M 0.35×
2005 109.83M 39.22M 0.36×
2004 107.79M 39.00M 0.36×
2003 105.27M 38.65M 0.37×
2002 102.65M 38.25M 0.37×
2001 100.65M 37.84M 0.38×
2000 99.71M 37.41M 0.38×
1999 99.34M 37.00M 0.37×
1998 99.00M 36.65M 0.37×
1997 98.62M 36.30M 0.37×
1996 98.26M 35.85M 0.36×
1995 97.89M 35.35M 0.36×
1994 97.49M 34.76M 0.36×
1993 97.05M 34.08M 0.35×
1992 96.57M 33.33M 0.35×
1991 96.04M 32.54M 0.34×
1990 95.50M 31.72M 0.33×
1989 95.02M 30.76M 0.32×
1988 94.47M 29.67M 0.31×
1987 93.92M 28.54M 0.30×
1986 93.31M 27.44M 0.29×
1985 92.67M 26.44M 0.29×
1984 91.95M 25.52M 0.28×
1983 91.22M 24.56M 0.27×
1982 90.46M 23.58M 0.26×
1981 89.72M 22.59M 0.25×
1980 88.97M 21.60M 0.24×
1979 88.21M 20.61M 0.23×
1978 87.42M 19.63M 0.22×
1977 86.58M 18.68M 0.22×
1976 85.68M 17.77M 0.21×
1975 84.63M 16.92M 0.20×
1974 83.07M 16.14M 0.19×
1973 81.13M 15.40M 0.19×
1972 78.97M 14.67M 0.19×
1971 76.85M 13.93M 0.18×
1970 74.31M 13.12M 0.18×
1969 72.67M 12.21M 0.17×
1968 71.03M 11.27M 0.16×
1967 69.44M 10.41M 0.15×
1966 67.93M 9.74M 0.14×
1965 66.49M 9.18M 0.14×
1964 64.94M 8.66M 0.13×
1963 63.43M 8.19M 0.13×
1962 61.93M 7.75M 0.13×
1961 60.45M 7.33M 0.12×
1960 58.97M 6.92M 0.12×

Urban Population Comparison

• Current Leader: In 2025, Japan recorded Urban Population of 113.87M, while South Korea recorded 41.95M, representing a scale ratio of ~2.7×.
• 1960 Baseline: Japan stood at 58.97M and South Korea stood at 6.92M.
• 2000–2025 Trajectory: Japan moved to 113.87M (+14.2% since 2000), while South Korea moved to 41.95M (+12.2% since 2000).
• Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR): From 2000 to 2025, Japan's Urban Population expanded at ~0.5% CAGR, while South Korea's expanded at ~0.5% CAGR.

Historical Trends

Over the available reporting period from 1960 to 2025, Japan and South Korea followed distinct developmental paths. In 1960, Japan recorded 58.97M compared to 6.92M for South Korea. By 2025, the values evolved to 113.87M and 41.95M respectively.

Key Differences

• Absolute Gap: Difference in 2025 is 71.91M.
• Scale Ratio: Japan is 2.7× size of South Korea.
• Highest Observed Year: Peak observed was 113.87M (Japan in 2025).
• Growth Trajectory: Since 2000, Japan achieved +14.2% since 2000, while South Korea achieved +12.2% since 2000.

About Urban Population

Urban population refers to people living in urban 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 — Urban Population

What is the Urban Population of Japan?

In 2025, Japan's Urban Population was 113.87M according to official World Bank data.

What is the Urban Population of South Korea?

In 2025, South Korea's Urban Population was 41.95M according to official World Bank data.

Which country has a higher Urban Population?

In 2025, Japan recorded a higher Urban Population of 113.87M compared to South Korea's 41.95M (a difference of 71.91M).

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

From 2000 to 2025, Japan's Urban Population changed by +14.2% since 2000, while South Korea's changed by +12.2% since 2000.

Explore Japan vs South Korea Interactively

Use TradeSeekho Growth Explorer to customize time ranges, play animated timeline visualizations, and compare Japan and South Korea across Population, Health, Education, and Technology metrics.

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Data Source and Methodology

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