Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori in North Korea
North Korea: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori was 263 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori in North Korea, 1996–2025
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Analysis
In 2025, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of ori in North Korea stood at 263.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.1% on the previous year and down 76.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of ori in North Korea peaked at 1,419 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 5, in 1998.
North Korea ranks 132nd of 199 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.33 | 5 | 10 | 3 |
| 2000s | 398 | 15 | 881 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,077 | 758 | 1,419 | 10 |
| 2020s | 378.17 | 239 | 689 | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More social development data for North Korea
- Physical Integrity Rights Score -1.99 (2019)
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin 45 (2025)
- Press freedom 0 (2016)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of ori in North Korea?
- Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of ori in North Korea was 263 in 2025, according to Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
- What is the highest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of ori recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1,419 in 2016.
- What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of ori recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 5 in 1998.
- How does North Korea rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of ori?
- North Korea ranks 132nd out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of ori rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 76.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published as part of Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Refugees under the mandate of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) include individuals recognized under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 Organization of African Unity (OAU) Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, the refugee definition contained in the 1984 Cartagena Declaration on Refugees as incorporated into national laws, those recognized in accordance with the UNHCR Statute, individuals granted complementary forms of protection, and those enjoying temporary protection. The refugee population also includes people in a refugee-like situation, which is a category that is descriptive in nature and includes groups of people who are outside their country or territory of origin and who face protection risks similar to those of refugees, but for whom refugee status has, for practical or other reasons, not been ascertained. Refugees under the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Palestine Refugees, are not typically included in the statistics on refugees (and people in a refugee-like situation) under the mandate of the UNHCR.