Migrant populations in South Korea
South Korea: Migrant populations was 1.81 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.81 million
World rank
41st
of 228 countries
All-time high
1.81 million
in 2024
All-time low
18,499
in 1990
Years of data
8
1990–2024
Migrant populations in South Korea, 1990–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 1.81 million for migrant populations in 2024. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 38.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, migrant populations in South Korea peaked at 1.81 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 18,499, in 1990.
That places South Korea 41st out of 228 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
Migrant populations in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 18,499 | — |
| 1995 | 52,719 | +185.0% |
| 2000 | 144,426 | +174.0% |
| 2005 | 231,744 | +60.5% |
| 2010 | 566,098 | +144.3% |
| 2015 | 1.31 million | +131.8% |
| 2020 | 1.72 million | +31.3% |
| 2024 | 1.81 million | +5.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1.81 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 334,150, 5.4× the median. (84 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 1.81 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 51,446, 35.2× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 35,609 | 18,499 | 52,719 | 2 |
| 2000s | 188,085 | 144,426 | 231,744 | 2 |
| 2010s | 939,134 | 566,098 | 1.31 million | 2 |
| 2020s | 1.77 million | 1.72 million | 1.81 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More population data for South Korea
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.17 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.17 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3601 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -1.45 (2100)
- Population density 223.86 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 599,530 (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -1.45 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 0.007 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is migrant populations in South Korea?
- Migrant populations in South Korea was 1.81 million in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest migrant populations recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.81 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest migrant populations recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 18,499 in 1990.
- How does South Korea rank for migrant populations?
- South Korea ranks 41st out of 228 countries with data for 2024.
- Is migrant populations rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Migrant populations. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).