MigrantoImmigrants in North Korea
48.2K foreign-born residents — the #160 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 80% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| China | 29771 |
| South Korea | 5574 |
| Philippines | 3044 |
| Brazil | 2892 |
| Indonesia | 1470 |
| USA | 1068 |
| Vietnam | 780 |
| Thailand | 584 |
| Peru | 543 |
| India | 377 |
| Canada | 343 |
| United Kingdom | 315 |
| Japan | 218 |
| Australia | 208 |
| Malaysia | 202 |
| Pakistan | 175 |
| Hong Kong | 169 |
| Sri Lanka | 157 |
| Bangladesh | 156 |
| Russia | 149 |
By region of origin
Asia is the leading region of origin at 89%
42.7K
3.4K
1.4K
464
208
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in North Korea.
China is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
China accounts for 62% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 12%.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 31012 |
| 1995 | 31613 |
| 2000 | 32202 |
| 2005 | 37144 |
| 2010 | 42072 |
| 2015 | 46325 |
| 2020 | 47345 |
| 2024 | 48195 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | China | South Korea | Philippines | Brazil | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 19668 | 5873 | 1116 | 479 | 845 |
| 1995 | 19590 | 5201 | 1444 | 1140 | 904 |
| 2000 | 19511 | 4528 | 1771 | 1801 | 963 |
| 2005 | 22740 | 4697 | 2214 | 2163 | 1124 |
| 2010 | 25969 | 4866 | 2656 | 2525 | 1284 |
| 2015 | 28594 | 5358 | 2925 | 2780 | 1414 |
| 2020 | 29248 | 5477 | 2990 | 2841 | 1444 |
| 2024 | 29771 | 5574 | 3044 | 2892 | 1470 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in North Korea?
Around 48.2K foreign-born residents live in North Korea, making it the #160-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in North Korea come from?
Most immigrants in North Korea come from China, South Korea and Philippines — these three countries account for about 80% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of North Korea are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 0% of the population of North Korea — that's 48.2K out of a total population of 26.5M.
How has immigration to North Korea changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in North Korea has changed from 46.3K to 48.2K people, a change of about 4%.
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