Refugee population by country or territory of origin in North Korea
North Korea: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 263 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in North Korea, 1996–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, refugee population by country or territory of origin in North Korea stood at 263.
The figure is down 7.1% on the previous year and down 76.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in North Korea peaked at 1,419 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 5, in 1998.
North Korea ranks 132nd of 205 countries on this measure, 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 origin in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 10 | — |
| 1998 | 5 | -50.0% |
| 1999 | 10 | +100.0% |
| 2000 | 15 | +50.0% |
| 2001 | 17 | +13.3% |
| 2002 | 256 | +1405.9% |
| 2003 | 306 | +19.5% |
| 2004 | 344 | +12.4% |
| 2005 | 287 | -16.6% |
| 2006 | 394 | +37.3% |
| 2007 | 602 | +52.8% |
| 2008 | 881 | +46.3% |
| 2009 | 878 | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 915 | +4.2% |
| 2011 | 1,046 | +14.3% |
| 2012 | 1,126 | +7.6% |
| 2013 | 1,163 | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 1,275 | +9.6% |
| 2015 | 1,094 | -14.2% |
| 2016 | 1,419 | +29.7% |
| 2017 | 1,176 | -17.1% |
| 2018 | 797 | -32.2% |
| 2019 | 758 | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 689 | -9.1% |
| 2021 | 528 | -23.4% |
| 2022 | 267 | -49.4% |
| 2023 | 239 | -10.5% |
| 2024 | 283 | +18.4% |
| 2025 | 263 | -7.1% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 263 is below the median for low income countries, which is 164,215, 0% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 263 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 73, 3.6× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin in North 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 | +1405.9% | 17 | 256 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.33 | 5 | 10 | 3 |
| 2000s | 398 | 15 | 881 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,077 | 758 | 1,419 | 10 |
| 2020s | 378.17 | 239 | 689 | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More population data for North Korea
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.6538 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.81 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.6538 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5276 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 25,807 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1188 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7483 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.656 (2100)
- Population density 162.05 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 794,407 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of origin in North Korea?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin in North Korea was 263 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1,419 in 2016.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 5 in 1998.
- How does North Korea rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- North Korea ranks 132nd out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 76.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 29 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).