Regions of South Korea: population and official figures
South Korea is divided into 17 regions. The largest by population is Gyeonggi Province with 13,630,821 people (26.6% of the total); the smallest is Sejong with 386,525. Figures are from the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) of the Ministry of Data and Statistics and from ministry statistics carried on it. Population is the resident registration count at the end of 2023 (registered foreign nationals are not included). The 2026 employment tables list Gwangju and South Jeolla Province under a combined Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, with both still shown separately inside it; this site keeps them separate.
Who governs South Korea's regions?
Upper-level local governments (17): 1 special city (Seoul), 6 metropolitan cities, 1 special self-governing city (Sejong), 6 provinces, 3 special self-governing provinces (Jeju, Gangwon, Jeonbuk): Mayor or governor and council directly elected for four years; superintendent of education also directly elected. Regional planning, roads, transport, police support (autonomous police), education (via the education office).
How local power works in South Korea · Level 5: devolved and state governments worldwide
All 17 regions, largest first
| # | Region | Population | Year | Growth (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gyeonggi Province | 13,630,821 | 2023 | – |
| 2 | Seoul | 9,386,034 | 2023 | – |
| 3 | Busan | 3,293,362 | 2023 | – |
| 4 | South Gyeongsang Province | 3,251,158 | 2023 | – |
| 5 | Incheon | 2,997,410 | 2023 | – |
| 6 | North Gyeongsang Province | 2,577,312 | 2023 | – |
| 7 | Daegu | 2,351,972 | 2023 | – |
| 8 | South Chungcheong Province | 2,130,119 | 2023 | – |
| 9 | South Jeolla Province | 1,804,217 | 2023 | – |
| 10 | Jeonbuk State | 1,754,757 | 2023 | – |
| 11 | North Chungcheong Province | 1,593,469 | 2023 | – |
| 12 | Gangwon State | 1,527,807 | 2023 | – |
| 13 | Daejeon | 1,442,216 | 2023 | – |
| 14 | Gwangju | 1,419,237 | 2023 | – |
| 15 | Ulsan | 1,103,661 | 2023 | – |
| 16 | Jeju Special Self-Governing Province | 675,252 | 2023 | – |
| 17 | Sejong | 386,525 | 2023 | – |
Cities: the largest cities of South Korea.
More on South Korea: official statistics · government and power · local power
Sources
- Ministry of the Interior and Safety, published on KOSIS (Ministry of Data and Statistics): Korea City Statistics: local tax per person and fiscal independence ratio, with resident registration population and households, 2023 (table DT_110001_A012), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0ed0a4bf00d3…)
- Ministry of Data and Statistics, published on KOSIS: Regional Income: per-person GRDP, regional gross income and household disposable income by province, 2024 preliminary (table DT_1C96), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5d25f08e5a82…)
- Ministry of Data and Statistics, published on KOSIS: Economically Active Population Survey: economically active population by province, monthly, September 2025 to September 2026 (table DT_1DA7004S), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c3f248d42b19…)
- Ministry of Data and Statistics, published on KOSIS: Life Tables: abridged life tables by province (5-year age groups), 2023 (table DT_1B44), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 422d4dc3e3f8…)
- Ministry of Data and Statistics with the Ministry of Education, published on KOSIS: Private Education Expenditure Survey: average monthly private education spending per student by school level and province, 2025 (table DT_1PE105), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 92cdffded762…)
- Ministry of Health and Welfare, published on KOSIS: National Basic Livelihood Security recipient households by province and household characteristics, 2025 (table DT_11714_N004), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 59fb13cf0bc8…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.