Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in South Korea
South Korea: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 4,407 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in South Korea, 1978–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in South Korea is 4,407, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
The figure is up 3.9% on the previous year and up 202.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in South Korea peaked at 4,407 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5, in 1995.
That places South Korea 106th out of 183 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 70 | — |
| 1979 | 170 | +142.9% |
| 1981 | 60 | -64.7% |
| 1982 | 70 | +16.7% |
| 1987 | 60 | -14.3% |
| 1988 | 120 | +100.0% |
| 1989 | 230 | +91.7% |
| 1990 | 230 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 162 | -29.6% |
| 1992 | 149 | -8.0% |
| 1995 | 5 | -96.6% |
| 1996 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 15 | +200.0% |
| 2003 | 20 | +33.3% |
| 2004 | 37 | +85.0% |
| 2005 | 61 | +64.9% |
| 2006 | 90 | +47.5% |
| 2007 | 108 | +20.0% |
| 2008 | 162 | +50.0% |
| 2009 | 253 | +56.2% |
| 2010 | 352 | +39.1% |
| 2011 | 389 | +10.5% |
| 2012 | 488 | +25.4% |
| 2013 | 548 | +12.3% |
| 2014 | 1,164 | +112.4% |
| 2015 | 1,455 | +25.0% |
| 2016 | 1,798 | +23.6% |
| 2017 | 2,238 | +24.5% |
| 2018 | 2,890 | +29.1% |
| 2019 | 3,196 | +10.6% |
| 2020 | 3,443 | +7.7% |
| 2021 | 3,559 | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 3,825 | +7.5% |
| 2023 | 4,053 | +6.0% |
| 2024 | 4,241 | +4.6% |
| 2025 | 4,407 | +3.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 4,407 is below the median for high income countries, which is 11,811, 37% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 4,407 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 51.5, 85.6× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +200.0% | 5 | 15 |
| 1979 | +142.9% | 70 | 170 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 120 | 70 | 170 | 2 |
| 1980s | 108 | 60 | 230 | 5 |
| 1990s | 80.14 | 5 | 230 | 7 |
| 2000s | 75.6 | 5 | 253 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,452 | 352 | 3,196 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,921 | 3,443 | 4,407 | 6 |
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 refugee population by country or territory of asylum in South Korea?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in South Korea was 4,407 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 4,407 in 2025.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 5 in 1995.
- How does South Korea rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- South Korea ranks 106th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 202.9%. 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 Refugee population by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 40 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).