Korean Diaspora & Immigrants By Country

Map created by Maps.Interlude

The map above shows the number of Korean immigrants and/or people having Korean ancestry by country around the world.

Interestingly, there are more Koreans living in the United States than there are in either neighbouring China or Korea’s previous colonial ruler Japan.

As of 2023 there were an estimated 7,081,510 Koreans living abroad compared to 26.3 million living in North Korea and 51.4 million living in South Korea.

Here are the full stats by country (differs slight from the map above):

1. United States: 2,615,419
2. China: 2,109,727
3. Japan: 802,118
4. Canada: 247,362
5. Vietnam: 178,122
6. Uzbekistan: 174,490
7. Australia: 159,771
8. Russia: 124,811
9. Kazakhstan: 121,130
10. Germany: 49,683
11. Brazil: 47,544
12. United Kingdom: 39,097
13. Philippines: 34,148
14. New Zealand: 31,810
15. France: 27,055
16. Indonesia: 25,153
17. Argentina: 23,089
18. Singapore: 21,203
19. Thailand: 20,353
20. Kyrgyzstan: 20,229
21. Hong Kong: 13,288
22. Mexico: 13,158
23. Malaysia: 13,152
24. Sweden: 12,986
25. Guatemala: 12,918
26. Ukraine: 12,765
27. India: 11,360
28. Netherlands 9,398
29. United Arab Emirates: 9,227
30. Denmark: 8,844
31. Cambodia: 7,800
32. Norway: 6,670
33. Paraguay: 5,205
34. Saudi Arabia 5,189
35. Taiwan 5,132
36. Guam 5,016
37. Italy 5,000
38. Belgium 5,000
39. Spain 4,080
40. Switzerland 4,000
41. Brunei 3,771
42. South Africa 3,300
43. Qatar: 3,000
44. Austria 3,000
45. Czech Republic 3,000
46. Chile 2,510
47. Mongolia 2,284
48. Northern Marianas 2,281
49. Hungary 2,000
50. Peru 1,305

The vast majority of these are South Koreans, or the descendants of Koreans who emigrated before the division of Korea.

In North Korea, Korean nationals living outside Korea are called haeoe gungmin (해외국민), whereas South Korea uses the term jaeoe gungmin (재외국민) to refer to entire Korean diaspora. Both terms translate to “overseas national(s)”

That said, an estimated 31,000 North Koreans have defected to South Korea since the 1950s.

Moreover, the following countries also have an estimated popualtion of North Koreans living in them:

Country	Number of North Korean citizens
Japan	24,305
Guinea	1605
Germany	668
Philippines	411
Russia	143
Brazil	136
Italy	74
Switzerland	55
Austria	45
Greece	45
Namibia	43
Belgium	42
Canada	40
Spain	29
Poland	27
Belarus	19
Norway	12
Sweden	11
Ukraine	11
Azerbaijan	10
Portugal	9
Hungary	8
Mongolia	7
Luxemburg	3
Czech Republic	2
Finland	2
Malta	1
Serbia	1

Korean Diaspora in the United States

• Population: Over 2.6 million ethnic Koreans in the U.S.
• History & Immigration Waves:
  • Early 1900s: The first Korean immigrants arrived as agricultural workers, particularly in Hawaii.
  • Post-Korean War (1950s-1960s): A small wave consisting of war brides, adoptees, and students.
  • 1965 onwards: Following the Immigration Act of 1965, large-scale migration occurred, driven by economic opportunities, political stability, and educational prospects.
• Current Status:
  • Korean-Americans have a significant presence in major urban areas such as Los Angeles (Koreatown), New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, and Northern Virginia.
  • Economically diverse, with substantial representation in small businesses, professional careers, academia, and politics.
  • Maintain a strong ethnic identity through churches, schools, and community organizations.

Korean Diaspora in China

• Population: Approximately 2.1 million ethnic Koreans, primarily concentrated in northeastern China, notably in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture (Jilin Province).
• History & Immigration Waves:
  • Korean migration to China dates back several centuries but accelerated significantly during Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945) and following the Korean War (1950-1953).
  • Korean-Chinese (known as “Joseonjok”) have traditionally maintained close cultural ties to Korea but developed their unique cultural and linguistic identity.
• Current Status:
  • Ethnic Koreans in China often speak both Mandarin and Korean, maintaining Korean cultural traditions, education, and cuisine.
  • They are economically integrated, often involved in agriculture, trade, and cross-border businesses between China and Korea.
  • Recent decades saw substantial labor migration from Korean-Chinese communities to South Korea for employment opportunities, shaping economic interdependence.

Korean Diaspora in Japan

• Population: Around 800,000, often referred to as “Zainichi Koreans.”
• History & Immigration Waves:
  • Primarily descendants of Koreans who migrated or were forcibly relocated to Japan during Japanese colonial rule (1910–1945) for labor, military conscription, and economic reasons.
  • Post-World War II, many Koreans remained in Japan, facing discrimination, legal ambiguities regarding citizenship, and socioeconomic marginalization.
• Current Status:
  • Zainichi Koreans hold various residency statuses: some are naturalized Japanese citizens, others maintain South Korean nationality or identify with North Korea through organizations like Chongryon (pro-North Korea) or Mindan (pro-South Korea).
  • Despite integration into Japanese society, discrimination persists in areas such as employment and social acceptance, prompting ongoing struggles for equal rights and recognition.
  • Younger generations increasingly embrace hybrid cultural identities, navigating between Korean heritage and Japanese social life.

For more see other Diaspora Maps in the series:

• Map Showing The Italian Diaspora & Immigrants By Country
• Japanese Diaspora & Immigrants By Country
• Map Of The Irish Diaspora In The World
• Map Of The Mongolian Diaspora In The World
• British Diaspora: Absolute Numbers & Share Of The Population
• Brazilian Diaspora & Immigrants By Country