Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum was 39,106 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Republic of Korea, 2000–2025
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Analysis
In 2025, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Republic of Korea stood at 39,106. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is up 9.1% on the previous year and up 620.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Republic of Korea peaked at 39,106 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 37, in 2000.
That places Republic of Korea 27th out of 179 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 37 | — |
| 2001 | 66 | +78.4% |
| 2002 | 62 | -6.1% |
| 2003 | 126 | +103.2% |
| 2004 | 238 | +88.9% |
| 2005 | 509 | +113.9% |
| 2006 | 617 | +21.2% |
| 2007 | 1,152 | +86.7% |
| 2008 | 1,287 | +11.7% |
| 2009 | 643 | -50.0% |
| 2010 | 694 | +7.9% |
| 2011 | 1,159 | +67.0% |
| 2012 | 1,526 | +31.7% |
| 2013 | 2,387 | +56.4% |
| 2014 | 3,470 | +45.4% |
| 2015 | 5,426 | +56.4% |
| 2016 | 6,835 | +26.0% |
| 2017 | 9,559 | +39.9% |
| 2018 | 19,827 | +107.4% |
| 2019 | 25,562 | +28.9% |
| 2020 | 20,073 | -21.5% |
| 2021 | 12,146 | -39.5% |
| 2022 | 15,952 | +31.3% |
| 2023 | 26,738 | +67.6% |
| 2024 | 35,843 | +34.1% |
| 2025 | 39,106 | +9.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 473.7 | 37 | 1,287 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7,644 | 694 | 25,562 | 10 |
| 2020s | 24,976 | 12,146 | 39,106 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
More social development data for Republic of Korea
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 4,407 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 117 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh 2 (2025)
- Democracy lexical 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 117 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Republic of Korea?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Republic of Korea was 39,106 in 2025, according to Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
- What is the highest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 39,106 in 2025.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 37 in 2000.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum?
- Republic of Korea ranks 27th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 620.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published as part of Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Asylum-seekers are individuals who have sought international protection and whose claims for refugee status have not yet been determined. This includes those who are in various stages of the asylum process, such as initial application, appeal, or awaiting final decision. In specific contexts, asylum-seekers may also include those who are seeking protection under complementary forms of protection, and those enjoying temporary protection, but whose claims are still under consideration.