Net migration (World Population) in North Korea
North Korea: Net migration (World Population) was -2,787 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in North Korea, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in North Korea stood at -2,787.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.7% on the previous year and up 13.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in North Korea peaked at 0 in 1960 and was at its lowest, -3,745, in 1997.
North Korea ranks 124th of 218 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.
Net migration (World Population) in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0 | — |
| 1961 | 0 | — |
| 1962 | 0 | — |
| 1963 | 0 | — |
| 1964 | 0 | — |
| 1965 | 0 | — |
| 1966 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 0 | — |
| 1968 | 0 | — |
| 1969 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | -517 | — |
| 1995 | -3,094 | +498.5% |
| 1996 | -3,512 | +13.5% |
| 1997 | -3,745 | +6.6% |
| 1998 | -3,706 | -1.0% |
| 1999 | -3,443 | -7.1% |
| 2000 | -3,142 | -8.7% |
| 2001 | -2,884 | -8.2% |
| 2002 | -2,763 | -4.2% |
| 2003 | -2,717 | -1.7% |
| 2004 | -2,758 | +1.5% |
| 2005 | -2,861 | +3.7% |
| 2006 | -2,948 | +3.0% |
| 2007 | -3,021 | +2.5% |
| 2008 | -3,051 | +1.0% |
| 2009 | -3,058 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | -3,053 | -0.2% |
| 2011 | -2,957 | -3.1% |
| 2012 | -2,919 | -1.3% |
| 2013 | -2,933 | +0.5% |
| 2014 | -3,042 | +3.7% |
| 2015 | -3,208 | +5.5% |
| 2016 | -3,222 | +0.4% |
| 2017 | -3,224 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | -3,225 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | -3,142 | -2.6% |
| 2020 | -1,585 | -49.6% |
| 2021 | -1,585 | -0.0% |
| 2022 | -1,997 | +26.0% |
| 2023 | -1,997 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | -2,473 | +23.8% |
| 2025 | -2,787 | +12.7% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's -2,787 is above the median for low income countries, which is -7,704, 36% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's -2,787 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -462, 6.0× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration (World Population) in North Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | -498.5% | -517 | -3,094 |
| 2020 | +49.6% | -3,142 | -1,585 |
| 2022 | -26.0% | -1,585 | -1,997 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | -1,802 | -3,745 | 0 | 10 |
| 2000s | -2,920 | -3,142 | -2,717 | 10 |
| 2010s | -3,092 | -3,225 | -2,919 | 10 |
| 2020s | -2,071 | -2,787 | -1,585 | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More financial sector data for North Korea
- Net migration, annual growth rate -12.7 % change on previous year (2025)
- Banking crisis dummy 0 1=banking crisis, 0=none (2017)
- Outward Direct investment, Assets (gross), All financial instruments 533,592 (2024)
- Inward Direct investment, Assets (gross), All financial instruments 0 (2024)
- Rate 0 (2024)
- International migrant stock 0.2% (2024)
- International migrant stock, total 50,439 (2024)
- Deaths age 10 to 19 - High-income country average rate matched 904 (2030)
- Under-five deaths - High-income country average rate matched 1,562 (2030)
- Neonatal deaths - High-income country average rate matched 842 (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in North Korea?
- Net migration in North Korea was -2,787 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 0 in 1960.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -3,745 in 1997.
- How does North Korea rank for net migration?
- North Korea ranks 124th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.