How many multicultural marriages were recorded in Korea in 2025, and how did they compare with 2024?

There were 21,399 multicultural marriages in 2025, down by 51 from 21,450 in 2024. They made up 8.9 percent of all marriages.

Which nationalities accounted for the largest shares of foreign spouses in Korea’s multicultural marriages in 2025?

Vietnamese wives made up the largest share at 25.3 percent, followed by Chinese wives at 15.1 percent and Thai wives at 9.2 percent. Among husbands, the largest listed shares were from the United States at 6.8 percent, China at 5.6 percent and Vietnam at 3.6 percent.

How did divorces and births among multicultural families in Korea change in 2025?

Divorces among multicultural couples increased 1.4 percent year on year to 8,104. The number of babies born to multicultural families declined 0.5 percent to 13,347.

Multicultural marriages in Korea edge down in 2025

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Summary

Multicultural marriages in Korea edged down 0.2 percent to 21,399 in 2025, data showed Thursday, accounting for 8.9 percent of all marriages. Foreign wives were involved in 71.4 percent of these marriages, while foreign husbands accounted for 18.9 percent and naturalized citizens for 9.7 percent. Divorces among multicultural couples rose 1.4 percent to 8,104, while births to multicultural families fell 0.5 percent to 13,347.

Key Facts

The Ministry of Data and Statistics reported 21,399 multicultural marriages in 2025, 51 fewer than the 21,450 recorded in 2024.
The average age at first marriage was 37.1 for husbands and 29.7 for wives.
Husbands were older than their wives in 75.2 percent of multicultural marriages, and at least 10 years older in 36.1 percent.
Vietnamese wives accounted for 25.3 percent of multicultural marriages, followed by Chinese wives at 15.1 percent and Thai wives at 9.2 percent.
Among husbands, those from the United States accounted for 6.8 percent of multicultural marriages, followed by those from China at 5.6 percent and Vietnam at 3.6 percent.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 5, 2026 1:30 pm KST
Updated Nov 5, 2026 2:08 pm KST

The number of multicultural marriages in Korea edged down in 2025 from a year earlier, data showed Thursday, taking up 8.9 percent of all marriages.

The country recorded 21,399 multicultural marriages last year, down 0.2 percent, or 51, from 21,450 in 2024, according to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics.

Marriages involving foreign wives accounted for 71.4 percent of multicultural marriages, followed by those with foreign husbands at 18.9 percent and those with naturalized citizens at 9.7 percent.

The average age for first marriages was 37.1 years for husbands and 29.7 years for wives.

Husbands were older than their wives in 75.2 percent of multicultural marriages. In 36.1 percent of all multicultural marriages, the husband was at least 10 years older than his wife.

Vietnamese wives accounted for 25.3 percent of all multicultural marriages, followed by Chinese wives at 15.1 percent and Thai wives at 9.2 percent.

The corresponding figures for husbands from the United States, China and Vietnam were 6.8 percent, 5.6 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively.

Meanwhile, the number of divorces among multicultural couples rose 1.4 percent on-year to 8,104 in 2025.

The number of babies born to multicultural families fell 0.5 percent on-year to 13,347, the latest findings showed.

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