Net migration metrics in South Korea
South Korea: Net migration metrics was 87,800 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
87,800
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
22nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
308,037
in 2014
All-time low
-270,754
in 1991
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Net migration metrics in South Korea, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, net migration metrics in South Korea stood at 87,800.
That represents a change of down 70.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration metrics in South Korea peaked at 308,037 in 2014 and was at its lowest, -270,754, in 1991.
South Korea ranks 22nd of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration metrics in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 146,698 | — |
| 1951 | 165,917 | +13.1% |
| 1952 | 173,145 | +4.4% |
| 1953 | 171,248 | -1.1% |
| 1954 | 162,989 | -4.8% |
| 1955 | 151,123 | -7.3% |
| 1956 | 138,492 | -8.4% |
| 1957 | 127,856 | -7.7% |
| 1958 | 117,675 | -8.0% |
| 1959 | 88,341 | -24.9% |
| 1960 | 47,245 | -46.5% |
| 1961 | -93,179 | -297.2% |
| 1962 | -94,606 | +1.5% |
| 1963 | -80,226 | -15.2% |
| 1964 | -102,284 | +27.5% |
| 1965 | -146,386 | +43.1% |
| 1966 | -16,688 | -88.6% |
| 1967 | -16,484 | -1.2% |
| 1968 | -16,868 | +2.3% |
| 1969 | -21,175 | +25.5% |
| 1970 | -27,999 | +32.2% |
| 1971 | -6,326 | -77.4% |
| 1972 | 25,382 | -501.2% |
| 1973 | 35,779 | +41.0% |
| 1974 | 27,005 | -24.5% |
| 1975 | -52,332 | -293.8% |
| 1976 | -92,314 | +76.4% |
| 1977 | -90,737 | -1.7% |
| 1978 | -85,721 | -5.5% |
| 1979 | -139,566 | +62.8% |
| 1980 | -148,341 | +6.3% |
| 1981 | 18,442 | -112.4% |
| 1982 | 48,638 | +163.7% |
| 1983 | 102,167 | +110.1% |
| 1984 | 101,394 | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 97,949 | -3.4% |
| 1986 | 189,782 | +93.8% |
| 1987 | 198,057 | +4.4% |
| 1988 | 192,534 | -2.8% |
| 1989 | 186,120 | -3.3% |
| 1990 | 79,294 | -57.4% |
| 1991 | -270,754 | -441.5% |
| 1992 | -265,849 | -1.8% |
| 1993 | -222,802 | -16.2% |
| 1994 | -208,309 | -6.5% |
| 1995 | -208,491 | +0.1% |
| 1996 | -115,705 | -44.5% |
| 1997 | -109,130 | -5.7% |
| 1998 | -98,044 | -10.2% |
| 1999 | -107,448 | +9.6% |
| 2000 | -84,960 | -20.9% |
| 2001 | -28,006 | -67.0% |
| 2002 | -18,105 | -35.4% |
| 2003 | -31,994 | +76.7% |
| 2004 | -42,549 | +33.0% |
| 2005 | -47,821 | +12.4% |
| 2006 | -28,434 | -40.5% |
| 2007 | -42,293 | +48.7% |
| 2008 | -19,630 | -53.6% |
| 2009 | 5,308 | -127.0% |
| 2010 | 52,042 | +880.4% |
| 2011 | 269,958 | +418.7% |
| 2012 | 281,866 | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 301,926 | +7.1% |
| 2014 | 308,037 | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 276,427 | -10.3% |
| 2016 | 91,568 | -66.9% |
| 2017 | 104,029 | +13.6% |
| 2018 | 118,220 | +13.6% |
| 2019 | 128,622 | +8.8% |
| 2020 | 112,631 | -12.4% |
| 2021 | -16,778 | -114.9% |
| 2022 | 87,800 | -623.3% |
| 2023 | 87,800 | +0.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 87,800 is above the median for high income countries, which is 5,173, 17.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 87,800 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -787. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration metrics in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +880.4% | 5,308 | 52,042 |
| 2022 | +623.3% | -16,778 | 87,800 |
| 1972 | +501.2% | -6,326 | 25,382 |
| 1991 | -441.5% | 79,294 | -270,754 |
| 2011 | +418.7% | 52,042 | 269,958 |
| 1961 | -297.2% | 47,245 | -93,179 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 144,348 | 88,341 | 173,145 | 10 |
| 1960s | -54,065 | -146,386 | 47,245 | 10 |
| 1970s | -40,683 | -139,566 | 35,779 | 10 |
| 1980s | 98,674 | -148,341 | 198,057 | 10 |
| 1990s | -152,724 | -270,754 | 79,294 | 10 |
| 2000s | -33,848 | -84,960 | 5,308 | 10 |
| 2010s | 193,270 | 52,042 | 308,037 | 10 |
| 2020s | 67,863 | -16,778 | 112,631 | 4 |
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 net migration metrics in South Korea?
- Net migration metrics in South Korea was 87,800 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest net migration metrics recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 308,037 in 2014.
- What is the lowest net migration metrics recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -270,754 in 1991.
- How does South Korea rank for net migration metrics?
- South Korea ranks 22nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is net migration metrics rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 70.9%. 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 Net migration metrics. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).