Refugee population by country or territory of origin in South Korea
South Korea: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 117 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in South Korea, 1991–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 117 for refugee population by country or territory of origin in 2025.
The figure is down 17.6% on the previous year and down 66.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in South Korea peaked at 1,333 in 2006 and was at its lowest, 5, in 1991.
South Korea ranks 147th 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5 | — |
| 1992 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 17 | +240.0% |
| 1995 | 29 | +70.6% |
| 1996 | 40 | +37.9% |
| 1997 | 50 | +25.0% |
| 1998 | 63 | +26.0% |
| 1999 | 72 | +14.3% |
| 2000 | 69 | -4.2% |
| 2001 | 83 | +20.3% |
| 2002 | 244 | +194.0% |
| 2003 | 236 | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 269 | +14.0% |
| 2005 | 266 | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 1,333 | +401.1% |
| 2007 | 1,183 | -11.3% |
| 2008 | 1,099 | -7.1% |
| 2009 | 567 | -48.4% |
| 2010 | 578 | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 508 | -12.1% |
| 2012 | 555 | +9.3% |
| 2013 | 495 | -10.8% |
| 2014 | 478 | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 346 | -27.6% |
| 2016 | 243 | -29.8% |
| 2017 | 239 | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 274 | +14.6% |
| 2019 | 180 | -34.3% |
| 2020 | 146 | -18.9% |
| 2021 | 117 | -19.9% |
| 2022 | 132 | +12.8% |
| 2023 | 107 | -18.9% |
| 2024 | 142 | +32.7% |
| 2025 | 117 | -17.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 117 is above the median for high income countries, which is 111, 1.1× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 117 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 73, 1.6× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +401.1% | 266 | 1,333 |
| 1994 | +240.0% | 5 | 17 |
| 2002 | +194.0% | 83 | 244 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31.78 | 5 | 72 | 9 |
| 2000s | 534.9 | 69 | 1,333 | 10 |
| 2010s | 389.6 | 180 | 578 | 10 |
| 2020s | 126.83 | 107 | 146 | 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 origin in South Korea?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin in South Korea was 117 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1,333 in 2006.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 5 in 1991.
- How does South Korea rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- South Korea ranks 147th out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 66.2%. 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 origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).