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Korean Peninsula population to peak in 2025 to 75 mln

Posted December. 28, 2010 01:12,   

한국어

The population on the Korean Peninsula will peak in 2025 to 75 million and rapidly decline afterwards, falling below 70 million in 2050, a report released Sunday said.

A study by Statistics Korea and international organizations said 73.06 million people live on the peninsula this year (48.87 million in South Korea and 24.19 million in North Korea), but the combined population of both Koreas will peak in 2025 to more than 75 million (49.1 million in South Korea and 25.9 million in North Korea).

The peninsula’s population was 66.8 million in 1995 and 69.7 million in 2000. The figure rose to 71.7 million in 2005, topping 70 million for the first time.

Population growth will continue through 2025 as the figure will hit 74.05 million in 2015, 74.7 million in 2020, and 75 million in 2025 before falling to 74.95 million in 2030, 72.85 million in 2040, and 68.55 million in 2050.

South Korea’s population will peak in 2018 at 49.34 million and begin declining aftewards, becoming the main factor in slowing down the population growth on the peninsula in the 2020s.

A Statistics Korea official said, “Population decline will begin in South Korea first due to the low birth rate and aging population, and 15 to 20 years later, the population of the Korean Peninsula will begin in earnest.”



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