Refugees by country of asylum in South Korea
South Korea: Refugees by country of asylum was 4,241 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in South Korea, 1978–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of asylum in South Korea is 4,241 people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is up 4.6% on the previous year and up 264.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in South Korea peaked at 4,241 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 5 people, in 1995.
That places South Korea 109th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in South Korea, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 70 people | — |
| 1979 | 170 people | +142.9% |
| 1981 | 60 people | -64.7% |
| 1982 | 70 people | +16.7% |
| 1987 | 60 people | -14.3% |
| 1988 | 120 people | +100.0% |
| 1989 | 230 people | +91.7% |
| 1990 | 230 people | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 162 people | -29.6% |
| 1992 | 149 people | -8.0% |
| 1995 | 5 people | -96.6% |
| 1996 | 5 people | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 5 people | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 5 people | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 5 people | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 5 people | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 15 people | +200.0% |
| 2003 | 20 people | +33.3% |
| 2004 | 37 people | +85.0% |
| 2005 | 61 people | +64.9% |
| 2006 | 90 people | +47.5% |
| 2007 | 108 people | +20.0% |
| 2008 | 162 people | +50.0% |
| 2009 | 253 people | +56.2% |
| 2010 | 352 people | +39.1% |
| 2011 | 389 people | +10.5% |
| 2012 | 488 people | +25.4% |
| 2013 | 548 people | +12.3% |
| 2014 | 1,164 people | +112.4% |
| 2015 | 1,455 people | +25.0% |
| 2016 | 1,798 people | +23.6% |
| 2017 | 2,238 people | +24.5% |
| 2018 | 2,890 people | +29.1% |
| 2019 | 3,196 people | +10.6% |
| 2020 | 3,443 people | +7.7% |
| 2021 | 3,559 people | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 3,825 people | +7.5% |
| 2023 | 4,053 people | +6.0% |
| 2024 | 4,241 people | +4.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 120 people | 70 people | 170 people | 2 |
| 1980s | 108 people | 60 people | 230 people | 5 |
| 1990s | 80.14 people | 5 people | 230 people | 7 |
| 2000s | 75.6 people | 5 people | 253 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,452 people | 352 people | 3,196 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,824 people | 3,443 people | 4,241 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 106 Mozambique 5,370 people compare
- 107 Namibia 5,258 people compare
- 108 Argentina 4,409 people compare
- 110 Gambia 3,964 people compare
- 111 Turkmenistan 3,409 people compare
- 112 Trinidad and Tobago 3,328 people compare
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)
- World population growth -1.4% (2100)
- Population density 223.86 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 599,530 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.4% (2100)
- Total population (thousands), annual growth rate -0.0792 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in South Korea?
- Refugees by country of asylum in South Korea was 4,241 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 4,241 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 5 people in 1995.
- How does South Korea rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- South Korea ranks 109th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 264.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 39 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees who live in this country, not just those who arrived that year.