People with migrant background take up 5.4 pct of S. Korean population in 2025

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SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- The ratio of people with migrant backgrounds living in South Korea increased in 2025 from a year earlier to 5.4 percent, data showed Monday, with those in their 20s leading the overall gains.

The total migrant population came to 2.81 million in 2025, up from 2.71 million a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics. South Korea's total population stood at 51.82 million.

The data ministry defines people with a migrant background as those who are immigrants themselves or have at least one parent from overseas.

The category includes foreign nationals, naturalized South Koreans and second-generation immigrants.

Foreign nationals accounted for 75.1 percent of the population with a migrant background, followed by second-generation immigrants at 14.1 percent.

Another 9.1 percent acquired South Korean citizenship through naturalization or recognition of parentage, a legal process in which a parent recognizes a child born out of wedlock as their own.

By gender, males accounted for 52.5 percent and females made up 47.5 percent. There were 110.7 males for every 100 females.

The working-age population, comprising people aged 15 to 64, stood at 2.3 million in 2025.

By age group, people in their 30s accounted for the largest share at 23.7 percent, or 667,000, followed by those in their 20s at 21.6 percent, or 607,000. People in their 40s numbered 439,000, or 15.6 percent of the total.

The number of people in their 20s rose by 36,000 over the period, the largest increase among all age groups.

The report also showed 56 percent of people with a migrant background lived in the greater Seoul metropolitan area, with 17.1 percent residing in Seoul.

South Chungcheong Province had the highest proportion of residents with a migrant background at 8.3 percent, followed by North Chungcheong Province and Gyeonggi Province, both at 6.5 percent. The figure for Seoul stood at 5.1 percent.

The southeastern city of Daegu had the lowest proportion at 2.9 percent.

The number of people aged 24 and younger with a migrant background rose 6.6 percent from a year earlier to 790,000.

By their parents' nationality, those with Vietnamese parents accounted for 28.1 percent, followed by those with Chinese parents at 15.7 percent. Those with ethnic Korean parents of Chinese nationality accounted for a separate 11.4 percent.

Other major countries represented by their parents' nationalities included Uzbekistan, the Philippines, Cambodia, Mongolia and Nepal.

Participants from families with a migrant background take part in a traditional calligraphy event held in the southeastern city of Daegu, in this Oct. 7, 2026, file photo. (Yonhap)

colin@yna.co.kr (END)

People with migrant background take up 5.4 pct of S. Korean population in 2025

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首尔，10月26日（韩联社）——周一公布的数据显示，到2025年，居住在韩国的移民背景人口比例将比上年增加到5.4%，其中20多岁的人群增幅最大。

据韩国统计厅的数据，到2025年，韩国的移民总人口将达到281万人，高于前一年的271万人。韩国总人口为5182万人。

数据部将具有移民背景的人定义为本身是移民或至少有一位父母来自海外的人。

该类别包括外国公民、入籍韩国公民和第二代移民。

外籍人士占移民背景人口的 75.1%，其次是第二代移民，占 14.1%。

另有 9.1% 的人通过入籍或亲子关系认定获得了韩国国籍，亲子关系认定是一种法律程序，父母通过该程序承认非婚生子女是自己的孩子。

按性别划分，男性占52.5%，女性占47.5%。每100名女性对应110.7名男性。

到 2025 年，劳动年龄人口（15 至 64 岁）将达到 230 万。

按年龄组划分，30 多岁的人口占比最高，为 23.7%，即 667,000 人；其次是 20 多岁的人口，占比 21.6%，即 607,000 人；40 多岁的人口为 439,000 人，占总数的 15.6%。

在此期间，20多岁的人口数量增加了36000人，是所有年龄组中增幅最大的。

报告还显示，56% 的移民背景人士居住在首尔大都会区，其中 17.1% 居住在首尔市。

忠清南道居民中具有移民背景的比例最高，为8.3%，其次是忠清北道和京畿道，均为6.5%。首尔的这一比例为5.1%。

东南部城市大邱的比例最低，为2.9%。

24 岁及以下具有移民背景的人口数量比上年同期增长 6.6%，达到 79 万。

按父母国籍划分，父母为越南人者占28.1%，父母为中国人者占15.7%，父母为中国籍的朝鲜族者占11.4%。

其他主要国家（以其父母的国籍为代表）包括乌兹别克斯坦、菲律宾、柬埔寨、蒙古和尼泊尔。

这张摄于2026年10月7日的资料照片显示，来自移民家庭的参与者正在韩国东南部城市大邱参加一场传统书法活动。（韩联社）

colin@yna.co.kr (完)

到2025年，具有移民背景的人口将占韩国总人口的5.4%。