MigrantoImmigrants in South Korea
1.6M foreign-born residents — the #43 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 75% of all immigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| China | 756684 |
| Vietnam | 260609 |
| Thailand | 199861 |
| Uzbekistan | 59361 |
| USA | 53226 |
| Mongolia | 45698 |
| Nepal | 43743 |
| Philippines | 37555 |
| Cambodia | 33452 |
| Kazakhstan | 30061 |
| Russia | 28324 |
| Indonesia | 27807 |
| Myanmar | 25739 |
| Sri Lanka | 16851 |
By region of origin
Asia is the leading region of origin at 95%
1.5M
53.2K
28.3K
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in South Korea.
Thailand is the fastest-growing major source
Immigration from Thailand has increased by 171% since 2015, rising from 73.9K to 199.9K in 9 years.
China is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
China accounts for 47% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 16%.
South Korea is a primary destination for emigrants from Mongolia
South Korea attracts 26% of all emigrants from Mongolia, making it the leading destination for those leaving the country.
The share of immigrants from North America has declined since 1990
The share of immigrants from North America has shifted from 21.4% to 3.3% since 1990.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 18491 |
| 1995 | 52713 |
| 2000 | 144417 |
| 2005 | 231739 |
| 2010 | 552277 |
| 2015 | 1182349 |
| 2020 | 1546845 |
| 2024 | 1618971 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | China | Vietnam | Thailand | Uzbekistan | USA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 9546 | 61 | 15 | 222 | 3953 |
| 1995 | 13384 | 3162 | 548 | 1018 | 6818 |
| 2000 | 53430 | 8368 | 3879 | 2127 | 11611 |
| 2005 | 97854 | 16275 | 9883 | 5261 | 13495 |
| 2010 | 296477 | 56508 | 15278 | 10823 | 39891 |
| 2015 | 662499 | 122422 | 73878 | 36989 | 54293 |
| 2020 | 751745 | 199080 | 171058 | 59358 | 65941 |
| 2024 | 756684 | 260609 | 199861 | 59361 | 53226 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
South Korea as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in South Korea
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in South Korea?
Around 1.6M foreign-born residents live in South Korea, making it the #43-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in South Korea come from?
Most immigrants in South Korea come from China, Vietnam and Thailand — these three countries account for about 75% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of South Korea are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 3% of the population of South Korea — that's 1.6M out of a total population of 51.8M.
How has immigration to South Korea changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in South Korea has grown from 1.2M to 1.6M people, a growth of about 37%.
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