Natural population growth in Korea. History of south korea
The history of the state of South Korea (Republic of Korea) dates back to 1945, when the Korean Peninsula was divided after the Soviet-American agreement, and then in 1948 the formation of two states - North (DPRK) and South Korea. In those years, the population of South Korea was 19 million people, and the country itself was one of the most underdeveloped and poor in the region.
Population census in ancient times
The state of Korea has a long history. Since ancient times, the population of Korea (South and North) has been under strict accounting. This was done by the elders in the villages, who every three years provided information to officials about the number of families and people in each village. Information was collected by counties, then by provinces and reduced to general figures already in the capital.
However, the reliability of this information has long been in doubt, since it was possible to underestimate the real number (presumably by at least 2 times). Each village and province was interested in a lower number of people living in order to pay less taxes or join the army.
Scientists suggest that in the 15th century the population of Korea was about 8 million people, and by the beginning of the 19th century it had grown to 15 million. Most of the Koreans lived in villages (about 97%). The number of inhabitants of the capital fluctuated during this time from 100 to 150 thousand people (during the reign of the Li dynasty).
The population of Korea in the 20th and 21st centuries
The first completely reliable census took place only in 1910 and gave a figure of 17 million people. For comparison: the population of Russia at that time was 160 million.
In 1948, the country was divided into two states: North Korea and South (9 and 19 million citizens, respectively). Since then, the percentage of people living at different ends of the peninsula has remained almost unchanged (2:1 - South:North).
By 1998, the population of South Korea was already 46.44 million people, and it could already compete in numbers with large European countries: England (57 million), Poland (38 million), France (58 million), Spain (40 million).
Demographics
Until the early 20th century, Korea's female population was young and the birth rate was very high. One Korean woman gave birth to an average of 7-10 children, but a third of them died in infancy and another third before the age of 10 years. Life expectancy for men was 24 (!), and for women - 26 years. Thus, in those years, the high birth rate was fully compensated by high child and adult mortality, because total The population increased rather slowly.
During the era of colonization of the country by Japan (first half of the 20th century), demographic figures are improving due to the emergence of new treatments, new medicines and a decrease in mortality. By 1945, the average life expectancy for men was 43 years, for women - 44, that is, almost 2 times longer.
The biggest spike in the birth rate occurred between 1945 and 1960 (the start of the economy), at which time the government began to worry that South Korea's population was growing too fast. In this regard, there have been attempts to limit the birth rate of Koreans.
The economic progress of the country brought changes to these figures: as education increased and life improved, the birth rate began to fall. By 1995, Koreans live for 70 years, and Korean women - 78, which is 3 times more than in the beginning of the 20th century.
In 2004, the number of Koreans was 48.4 million, the duration for women - 72.1, men - 79.6 years.
Population growth of Korea, its capital and demographic indicators in the 20th-21st centuries
According to the table, one can trace the dynamics of the increase in the number of inhabitants of the Republic and a significant change in demographic indicators for more than 100 years.
Population, million people | Capital Seoul, number of inhabitants, people | Average life expectancy (men/women), years |
|
(North + South) | |||
there is no data | |||
there is no data | |||
there is no data | |||
9.9 million (excluding suburbs) | there is no data | ||
there is no data | |||
23 million (suburban) |
By 2017, the Republic of Korea became one of the highest developed countries in the world. Modern Korean women have an average of 1.18 children. Although most of them do not work, they show no desire to have many children. This is due to the expensive education that needs to be provided to children and the later age when children start working and contributing to family budget.
Korean nationality
The official language is Korean, although it has 6 dialects with differences in pronunciation and grammar. From the middle of the 20th century, texts began to be written from left to right, 50% of the words were borrowed from Chinese.
What is the population of South Korea in terms of ethnic composition and religion? Koreans make up 90% of the country's population, and 10% - national. minorities, among which the Chinese predominate (20 thousand). A large number of people from China, the Philippines and the Malaysian islands come to the country to work.
According to the latest statistics in 2016, 46% of Koreans do not identify themselves with any religion, the rest adhere to Buddhist and Confucian religious movements, and there are also Protestants and Catholics.
The population density is quite high - 508 people / km 2, with 47% of the population living in two cities - Seoul (11 million) and Busan (4 million).
In 2016, the population of the Republic amounted to 51.634 million. The largest cities are Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Taejon, Ulsan.
Korean character traits
The most important feature of the Koreans is hard work, which underlies the national character. A career for young citizens is the main life goal.
Korean Character Features:
- always "save face", do not raise their voice, do not show resentment, anger or weakness;
- respectful attitude towards guests, all the best for them;
- respect for elders, the young man always and in everything agrees with the elder (brother, father, grandfather);
- patriotic solidarity, always ready to help their friend both at home and abroad.
Hard-working Koreans only recently switched to a 5-day work week and an 8-hour work day (before that there was a 6-day workday for 10 hours a day). Koreans study or work almost continuously, it is not even customary for them to go to a bar and drink beer with friends, and it would never even occur to them to play several hours a day on a computer. A Korean child, on average, has 1 hour of entertainment per day and devotes 10-12 hours to study, then passes exams, becomes a student, etc.
Economic development
Now the Republic of Korea has become an industrial country with a highly developed industry.
But after the end of the Korean War in 1953, it found itself with a dilapidated economy, its GDP was below the level of underdeveloped African countries. And Natural resources in this country were at a minimum level.
A little over 60 years have passed - and now it is an industrial country with a highly developed industry. GDP per capita (South Korea) in 2016 amounted to more than 37 thousand dollars, the unemployment rate for 2016 was 3.6%.
What is the mystery of this transformation? Experts say that the answer to this question must be sought, first of all, in the Koreans themselves. After all, both the government (since 1961, when President Park came to power), and the people of South Korea themselves set themselves the goal of creating a country with highly educated specialists, and all forces and means were subordinated to this. A whole generation of people with a high level of education has learned in the country, who laid the foundation for industrial and economic prosperity.
Also, President Park, with the help of increasing his powers and power management, forced wealthy Koreans to invest in the industry of their country, in particular, in the creation of shipbuilding.
The employment rate of the population of South Korea in 2016 was 65% for residents of working age (15-64 years old) who have well-paid jobs. Among men, this figure is higher (76%) than among women (55%).
Koreans are rightly proud of their level (85% of adults have completed secondary education) and the quality of education. The country has a very high standard of living, an average family income per person in 2016 amounted to more than 19 thousand dollars per year.
Urban and rural population
During the period of the "Korean economic miracle" (1960-1985), South Korea rapidly transformed from an agricultural to an urbanized country with a high level of industry. V agriculture due to the mechanization of people, less and less people were required, and in cities with such industrial growth, more and more. This process affected the urban population of South Korea. The population of cities over the years has grown from 34 to 65% due to the massive relocation of peasants.
Until 1970, the South Korean capital was a chaotic pile of one-story houses. Now Seoul surprises tourists with its ultra-high building density, which is explained not only by the high cost of land, but also by the traditions that have developed even earlier in Korean villages to allocate as much area as possible for scarce land for plowing.
Megapolis Seoul
The distribution of the population of South Korea is characterized by high density - 453 people / sq km on average in the country, as well as a high share of urbanization: over the past 60 years, the percentage of the urban population has increased from 34% (1960) to 80% (2015).
A special role in urbanization is given to Seoul, which has been inhabited by 100-150 thousand people for almost 5 last centuries. But in 1936, Seoul was already inhabited by 727 thousand, in 1945 - 901 thousand, in 1960 - 1.5 million. by 9%.
Economists attribute this to the emergence of satellite cities of Seoul, to which residents of the capital began to move. They are attracted more cheap housing, Fresh air and good environment. All of these satellites are connected to Seoul by subway lines.
The huge zone of Seoul and its satellites (more than 80 km in circumference) is now home to 45% of the total population of the Republic, which is an example of an extremely high concentration of population in the metropolitan area (for example, only 13% of the English population lives in London).
Thrifty Nation
Koreans are a very frugal nation. It is interesting to know how and how much the population of South Korea spends money on utilities and other expenses? The main principle here is the separation of bills and expenses. Any Korean family opens several accounts, which allows them to share expenses for education, food, etc.
The biggest part is studying at a university, for which they begin to save money from the first months of a child's life. For the purchase of products and visiting a restaurant (national tradition) - a separate account, on public Utilities- also. Moreover, Koreans most often buy products via the Internet (it is 40% cheaper than in a store). And for travel in public transport, they generally came up with the idea of paying with a credit card.
Korea is dying?
Recently, the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea predicted that the population of South Korea is gradually dying out due to low birth rates in recent decades. Researchers have calculated that this will happen by 2750.
With the current number of 50 million people, a decrease is predicted total number Koreans by 2136 to 10 million people. The coming years will confirm or refute these statements.
South Korea is the name of the Republic of Korea, adopted in the media, so that there is no confusion when mentioning a neighboring state. Previously, this country was a single entity with North Korea. Therefore, the peoples living there today have common roots. The population of South Korea in 2019 is 51,294,272 people(current as of 03/28/2019).
History of the South Korean ethnic group
Koreans have been considered the indigenous people of the Republic of Korea since ancient times. In the 19th century, the Chinese also immigrated to these territories. Today, immigrants from neighboring states live and work in South Korea. Taiwanese, Chinese and even a small number of Japanese have been living there for a long time.
The main religions of the country are the following beliefs:
- Buddhism;
- Confucianism;
- Shamanism;
- Christianity;
- Taoism;
- Faith in ancestors.
The official language of the country is Korean. On the territory of the state there are many dialects of the official language.
The population of South Korea in numbers
The South Korean population is over 51.2 million. The ratio of men and women is approximately equal. The birth rate is twice the death rate. For example, more than 400,000 people are born in South Korea every year.
« In the Middle Ages, Korean women gave birth to 7-10 babies. Only 2-3 children survived to adulthood. And the total life expectancy did not exceed 30 years then. Therefore, with a high birth rate, Korea had problems with demography for a long time.».
The total area of the Republic of Korea is 99,720 square kilometers. The population density is 510 people per square meter. These figures directly indicate the overpopulation of the country.
![](https://i2.wp.com/southkorealife.ru/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/south-korea-population.png)
The pension burden ratio in South Korea reaches 15%. The rate is quite low, able-bodied population there are many more in Korea than those who are retired.
The average life expectancy in the country is 79 years. Men live to age 75, while women live an average of 7 years longer. Compared with previous centuries, such figures speak of the development of medicine and concern for the ecology of the republic. In addition, these figures are close to European standards.
South Korea is a rather closed country for foreigners. That is why its centuries-old traditions can be found unchanged. The South Korean population is growing due to the birth rate, but also due to moderate immigration, too. The government of the country is not interested in a large increase in the population, because overpopulation is already observed in South Korea.
How has the population of Korea changed over the centuries? How many people lived in it before, how many live now?
Answering these questions is not always easy. the main problem The problem faced by those historians who deal with the demography of medieval Korea (and indeed of any medieval state) is the absence of any reliable statistical materials. In this regard, Korean historians are still in a rather advantageous position, because population censuses have been conducted here quite regularly since ancient times.
At first glance, these censuses were organized in a coherent pattern. Once every three years, the village elders informed the officials about how many families ("yards") there are in a particular village, and how many people live in each yard. This information was sent to the county, and then to the province, and, finally, to the capital, where they were summarized.
However, it has long been known that the results of these ancient "censuses" are extremely unreliable. First, they were held much less regularly than theoretically expected. Secondly, according to modern historians, censuses could underestimate the real population by more than two times. Often, two censuses taken just a few years apart produced very different results. There were several reasons for this. The main one was that the authorities did not conduct the census for the sake of idle demographic curiosity. The government needed to know how many taxpayers in the country and how many people liable for military service. Based on the census data, tax and draft quotas were determined for each province and each county. It is clear that the majority of the people were not particularly eager to pay taxes or join the glorious ranks of the armed forces. Therefore, any village, any county sought to underestimate the size of its population, because this meant that later they would have to pay less taxes and send fewer men to soldiers. Thus, the data presented "to the top" were always, to one degree or another, underestimated. A few officials simply did not have the opportunity to seriously check them, and, often, did not particularly strive for this (especially if excessive bureaucratic curiosity was neutralized by expensive offerings from interested residents of the county).
Therefore, all data on the population of Korea in the pre-colonial era, that is, in the period before 1910, are extremely unreliable. Apparently, in the 15th century, about 7-8 million people lived in the country, that is, 10 times less than now (I remind you that we are talking about both halves of Korea, and at present the total population of the North and South is 70 million people). The 15 million milestone was crossed in late XVIII or early 19th century. The vast majority of Koreans, approximately 96-98%, then lived in villages. The population of Seoul, as far as we can now judge, during the five centuries of the rule of the Li dynasty fluctuated between 100 and 150 thousand people. It was, of course, the largest city in Korea, because the population of even the largest provincial cities in those days did not exceed 10 thousand. Already in our century, in 1918, there were 189,153 inhabitants in Seoul, that is, more than six times more than in Kaesong, which, with a population of 27,659 people, was then the second city of the country. It is curious that at that time Pyongyang was in third place (21.869), fourth and fifth - completely provincial now Sanju and Cheonju, while the current megacities of Busan, Daegu, Gwangju occupied very modest places: twelfth, sixth, and ... thirty sixth respectively.
The first reliable census, that is, organized according to modern scientific methods, was carried out in Korea only in 1910. It gave a result of 17 million 420 thousand people. For comparison, the population of Russia was then 160 million people, the United States - 92 million, France - 40 million, China - 450 million. In other words, in 1910 the population of Korea was 9 times smaller than the Russian one (now it is two times smaller) and 6 times smaller than the American one (now it is four times smaller). In 1945, when Korea was divided into North and South, there were already 28 million people living in it: in the South there were about 19 million, and in the North about 9 million inhabitants. This ratio (2:1 in favor of the South) is generally maintained to this day.
As elsewhere in the world, the population of Korea before the beginning of this century was very young. The birth rate was very high, a woman usually gave birth 7-10 times in her (usually short) life, but about a third of the children died before reaching the age of one, and another third did not live to the age of ten. There is nothing surprising in this: in the now idealized Tsarist Russia at the end of the last century, according to official data, out of every 1,000 newborns, 279 died before they reached the age of one! In Korea in 1910, the average life expectancy for men was only ... 24 years. Women lived a little longer - 26 years. These figures for us seem terribly low, but, again, for those times they are quite common. Therefore, the population of Korea, despite the high birth rate, grew very slowly. The high birth rate was "compensated" by high mortality.
During the colonial era, the situation in Korea improved significantly. New drugs, European medicine, and especially the spread of modern ideas about hygiene made many diseases - from appendicitis to cholera - curable, which were previously deadly. Therefore, by 1945, the average life expectancy for men was 43, and for women - 44 years, that is, almost two (!) times more than just three decades before.
Generally speaking, demographic situation in Korea in 1920-1960. was very similar to what now exists in Africa or in the countries of the Middle East: during this time, the birth rate remained high, but the death rate fell rapidly. The result was rapid population growth. Over the past century, the population of Korea has quadrupled, and for the most part this leap happened in just 15 years: 1945-1960! For comparison: over the same century, the population of France increased 1.4 times, Spain - 2.0 times, Germany - 1.2 times, Japan - 1.9 times.
In the 1960s, the rate of population growth caused considerable anxiety in Korea, then a poor country. The authorities even started a birth control campaign at that time, although not as active as in today's China. However, the best solution to problems, as always happens, was not loud slogans, posters and persistent calls for civic consciousness, but economic development country. As the standard of living and the level of education increased, the birth rate in Korea began to decline rapidly, and very quickly. This happens always and everywhere: contrary to the widespread modern Russia It is believed that the better people live in a particular country, the fewer children they usually have. In just two decades, Korea from a typical developing country turned into a typical highly developed: with a low birth rate, low mortality, high life expectancy. In 1995, Koreans lived on average 70.4 years and Korean women 78 years, three times longer than just a century ago.
However, this new model also has a downside. As in most developed countries, today in Korea even a simple reproduction of the population is not ensured. Now a Korean woman has an average of 1.8 children. While the majority of married women in Korea do not work, they no longer want to have as many children as their mothers or grandmothers had. This is understandable. In the old days, children, especially sons, were a guarantee of a secure old age. In addition, in peasant families (that is, in 9/10 of all families), children began to work from the age of 10-11, and their labor contribution to the family budget could be quite significant. Now the situation has changed. The education of children is very expensive, they start working very late, and there are many ways to ensure their old age.
It is clear that in order for the population to remain at a more or less stable level, each woman on average should have a little more than two births. This situation, for example, exists in the United States, where the average woman has 2.1 children. However, among the developed countries, the USA, with its cult of the family and "family values," is an exception, while Korea, with its 1.8 children per family, is much more typical. The population of Korea, however, continues to grow, but this is solely due to the continuing increase in life expectancy to this day and the constant decrease in mortality.
In 1998, the population of South Korea was 46 million 440 thousand people. Data on the population of the North is not very reliable, but it is most likely around 23-24 million. If we count both northerners and southerners, then in terms of population, Korea is in 12th place in the world. Even if we talk about South Korea alone, then it is not the smallest country: South Korea, with its 46 million inhabitants, belongs to approximately the same "weight category" as England (57 million), Poland (38 million), France (58 million), Spain (40 million).
The population of South Korea is over 48 million people.
National composition:
- Koreans (99%);
- other nations (Chinese, Filipinos, Thais, Vietnamese, Americans).
The Koreans are sure that they are the descendants of the Altaic or proto-Altaic tribes: they compare themselves with the Turks, Mongols and Tungus. Their confidence is based on archaeological data, according to which tribes from the southern and central regions of Siberia did indeed migrate to the Korean Peninsula during the Neolithic and Bronze Age.
There are 480 people per 1 sq. km, but the most densely populated is the Seoul district of Yangcheon-gu (population density is over 27,000 people per 1 sq. km), and the least populated is Inje-gun County (Gangwon-do Province): here by 1 sq. km. km is home to 20 people.
The official language is Korean, but it is also widely used in the country. English language.
Big cities: Seoul, Daejeon, Busan, Iacheon, Daegu, Gwangju, Ulsan, Suwon,
Half of the inhabitants of South Korea (51%) profess Buddhism, the rest - Protestantism, Catholicism, Confucianism, shamanism.
Lifespan
The female population lives on average up to 80, and the male population lives up to 73 years. Despite the rather high figures, South Korea does not allocate so much money for health care ($2,000 per year for 1 person).
Koreans boast the lowest rates of obese people at 4%, while the European average is 18% and Mexico's is 40%. And this is surprising, because they do not adhere to a healthy diet: they eat little vegetables and fruits, and their diet consists of meat, fatty and fried foods, as well as inedible, according to Europeans, dishes in the form of fried insects.
Surely, Koreans would live even longer if it were not for their craving for smoking and alcoholic beverages.
Traditions and customs of the inhabitants of South Korea
Koreans are a devout people who respect ancestors, family, parents and friends, as well as any culture and foreigners.
In South Korea, it is interesting that a man, regardless of his age, will be considered an adult by others only after he marries.
A special event in the life of Koreans is the birth of a child: on the 100th day after his birth, the family organizes a small evening, inviting close relatives and friends to it. And when the child is one year old, this event is celebrated with special splendor. In addition to the fact that many people are invited to this event, the child is dressed in a bright silk suit, and a special ritual is arranged in his honor - fortune-telling for his future.
Koreans love to celebrate holidays. For example, on the Seokhonje holiday (March, September), people go to Confucian chapels, where costumed processions are held, accompanied by a traditional orchestra. And on the holiday of Buddha's birthday (May), Koreans arrange a spectacular spectacle - a parade of lanterns.
If in Korea you are invited to some institution, know that it is customary here that everyone pays for himself, and if you are invited to visit, then you must definitely praise the hostess for the food (this is very much appreciated).
First of all, let's designate where Seoul is located. This is a huge metropolis located on and is the capital of South Korea. This city is one of the largest cities in the world. The official name of the country is the Republic of Korea. This democratic state was formed in the summer of 1945 after the division of spheres of influence on the Korean Peninsula. Under the treaty, this part of the peninsula came under the jurisdiction of the United States, and its northern part came under the influence of the USSR. Today the South is divided into 9 provinces with different populations. And Seoul is the most densely populated point in the country.
Population
- the group of children under 15 is 15.7% of the total;
- a group of people of working age from 15 to 65 - 72.9%;
- in the group of people over 65 - 11.4% of the population.
The natural increase for this year, according to calculations, should be more than 184 thousand people. If the level of external migrants is maintained, then an additional increase will increase by more than 61 thousand people, since more people arrive in the country than leave it.
Threatening rates of aging
Seoul's population is rapidly aging. Experts attribute this phenomenon to increased life expectancy and reduced fertility. For the past 10 years, the number of young people has been declining, but the number of older people has been rising. If this trend continues until 2030, more than 3 million residents in the capital of South Korea will be over 65 years old. By this time, Seoul may take the 8th line in the ranking of "aging" cities in the world.
Statistics recorded that in 2013 Seoul, whose population was over 9 million, had approximately 11% of the "age" population. According to calculations, by 2019 this figure may increase to 14.3%, and by 2030 it will amount to 31% of society. Young people, on whose shoulders the burden of the maintenance of pensioners will fall, will be under great pressure. This can lower the standard of living.
To avoid an aging society, governments and employers must develop a global strategy to increase the birth rate.
A little about currency
The currency of Seoul (Republic of Korea) is the Korean Won. This currency unit consists of 100 chon. The South Korean won was introduced into circulation in 1962, and since 1980 it has been firmly pegged to the dollar. Since South Korea is an economically developed state, the population has a fairly high level of income. A large percentage of the population works in the shipbuilding and engineering industries. Parity purchasing power South Korea is 13th in the world ranking.
Seoul's currency has the official abbreviation KRW and its international symbol is ₩.
Character features
Koreans are hardworking people. They work hard and enjoy it. For young people, a career is a top priority. This is partly due to the low birth rate in the country.
Tourists can not always correctly assess the character of the Seouls. It seems to them that everyone around them is closed and unfriendly. In fact, the people of Seoul are not in the habit of publicly expressing their emotions. They consider it a manifestation of bad manners. To understand the soul of a resident of the country, it is necessary to enter into his confidence and become a friend.
The culture of communication among Koreans also has its own traditions:
- South Koreans do not yell at each other, show resentment, or talk about their enemies behind their backs. They believe that these are all signs of weakness.
- The best dishes are always prepared for guests. Respect for the guest is another important feature of the national character.
- South Koreans respect old age. They never argue with their elders, even when they are wrong. The younger must remain silent.
The people of the Republic of Korea are patriots of their country. They stand up for it and are always ready to help their fellow citizens anywhere in the world. If a tourist speaks disrespectfully about South Korea, then he inflicts a deep insult on everyone who heard him.
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