Key facts
- Migrant background population in South Korea reached 5.4% of the total population in 2025.
- The total migrant population was 2.81 million in 2025, an increase from 2.71 million a year prior.
- People in their 20s showed the largest increase in population share among all age groups.
The proportion of people with a migrant background in South Korea rose to 5.4% in 2025, with those in their 20s showing the largest increase among age groups. The total migrant population reached 2.81 million out of a total national population of 51.82 million. The Ministry of Data and Statistics defines this group as immigrants or individuals with at least one parent from overseas, including foreign nationals, naturalized citizens, and second-generation immigrants. Foreign nationals comprised the largest segment at 75.1%. The working-age migrant population stood at 2.3 million, with individuals in their 30s forming the largest share at 23.7%, followed closely by those in their 20s at 21.6%. A significant portion, 56%, resided in the greater Seoul metropolitan area, while South Chungcheong Province recorded the highest regional proportion at 8.3%. By parents' nationality, Vietnamese and Chinese backgrounds were most common.