International migrant stock, total in South Korea

South Korea: International migrant stock, total was 1.81 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
1.81 million
World rank
41st
of 214 countries
All-time high
1.81 million
in 2024
All-time low
18,499
in 1990
Years of data
8
1990–2024

International migrant stock, total in South Korea, 1990–2024

0500.0k1.0M1.5M2.0M1990200720241990: 18.5k1995: 52.7k2000: 144.4k2005: 231.7k2010: 566.1k2015: 1.3M2020: 1.7M2024: 1.8M

Source: International Migrant Stock, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.

Analysis

South Korea recorded 1.81 million for international migrant stock, total in 2024. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 38.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, international migrant stock, total in South Korea peaked at 1.81 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 18,499, in 1990.

That places South Korea 41st out of 214 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 35,609 18,499 52,719 2
2000s 188,085 144,426 231,744 2
2010s 939,134 566,098 1.31 million 2
2020s 1.77 million 1.72 million 1.81 million 2

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 38 Uganda 2.06 million compare
  2. 39 Argentina 1.96 million compare
  3. 40 Peru 1.84 million compare
  4. 42 Poland 1.74 million compare
  5. 43 Mexico 1.73 million compare
  6. 44 China 1.64 million compare

See the full ranking of 262 places →

More financial sector data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is international migrant stock, total in South Korea?
International migrant stock, total in South Korea was 1.81 million in 2024, according to International Migrant Stock, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
What is the highest international migrant stock, total recorded in South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 1.81 million in 2024.
What is the lowest international migrant stock, total recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 18,499 in 1990.
How does South Korea rank for international migrant stock, total?
South Korea ranks 41st out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
Is international migrant stock, total rising or falling in South Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 38.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Korea data come from?
The figures come from International Migrant Stock, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of International migrant stock, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).

About this data

Indicator
International migrant stock, total
Source
International Migrant Stock, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
262 places, 2,096 data points, 1990–2024
Last refreshed

International migrant stock, total is the number of people at mid-year born in a country other than that in which they live. It also includes refugees.