Busan: population
Busan, South Korea: 3.26 million people in 2025, by the UN estimate.
Rank among the cities of the country: 2 of 49.
In 1975 it had 2.43 million people.
In 2000 it had 3.58 million people, so it has grown by -9% since then.
For 2050 the UN projects 2.74 million people.
A city here is a dense area of at least 1,500 people per km² with at least 50,000 people, drawn on a population grid by the UN degree of urbanisation. It can differ from the city’s administrative borders and from national statistics. Years from 2026 on are projections.
Largest cities: South Korea
| City | 2025 | 2050, projected |
|---|---|---|
| Seoul | 22,490,482 | 21,225,404 |
| Busan | 3,263,221 | 2,742,944 |
| Daegu | 2,334,446 | 1,968,877 |
| Daejeon | 1,517,299 | 1,353,972 |
| Gwangju | 1,441,495 | 1,297,682 |
| Ulsan | 881,858 | 723,568 |
| Cheongju-si | 690,333 | 612,122 |
| Changwon | 665,772 | 547,493 |
| Jeonju | 637,082 | 570,907 |
| Cheonan-si | 428,378 | 383,153 |
South Korea: population and ages
Sources: World Urbanization Prospects 2025, UN DESA Population Division (CC BY 3.0 IGO).
