MigrantoMigration trends in North Korea
Asia
48.2K people from around the world have made North Korea their home. That's 0.2% of the country population, arriving from 20 different countries
26.5M
Population
48.2K
Immigrants
46.4K
Emigrants
+1.8K
Inflow
Immigrants make up 0.2% of the population in North Korea
The #160 largest immigrant destination worldwide
Top corridors
The largest migration routes in North Korea
Key moments
How migration has changed since 1990
1990
31K immigrants · 31.5K emigrants
1995
- Japan replaced Russia as the main destination for those leaving
- The outflow deepened — net losses doubled to 1.5K
2010
- The outflow deepened — net losses doubled to 7.5K
2020
- The gap between arrivals and departures was cut in half
Today
- The country became a destination — more people arriving than leaving
- Since 1990: roughly the same number of foreign-born residents and roughly the same number of citizens living abroad
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
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