Iran vs South Korea: Population in largest city
Iran
9.73 million
in 2025
South Korea
10.03 million
in 2025
Iran rank
25th
South Korea rank
22nd
Population in largest city over time
- Iran
- South Korea
How they compare
South Korea currently reports 10.03 million against 9.73 million in Iran, a difference of 296,060.
Across all 66 years both countries report, South Korea has been ahead every year.
Iran ranks 25th and South Korea ranks 22nd of 153 countries.
South Korea has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Iran | South Korea | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.46 million | 3.44 million | 973,118 | South Korea |
| 1970s | 4.15 million | 6.64 million | 2.49 million | South Korea |
| 1980s | 5.73 million | 9.24 million | 3.51 million | South Korea |
| 1990s | 6.68 million | 10.28 million | 3.60 million | South Korea |
| 2000s | 7.58 million | 9.83 million | 2.25 million | South Korea |
| 2010s | 8.51 million | 9.88 million | 1.37 million | South Korea |
| 2020s | 9.44 million | 9.99 million | 550,782 | South Korea |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher population in largest city, Iran or South Korea?
- South Korea, at 10.03 million against 9.73 million in Iran as of 2025.
- What is the difference in population in largest city between Iran and South Korea?
- 296,060, with South Korea ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Iran and South Korea?
- 66 years are reported by both, from 1960 to 2025.
- How do Iran and South Korea rank globally for population in largest city?
- Iran ranks 25th and South Korea ranks 22nd of 153 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as Population in largest city. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.