How many multicultural marriages were recorded in Korea in 2024, and how did the number change?

Statistics Korea recorded 20,759 multicultural marriages in 2024, an increase of 1,042 from 19,717 in 2023. The number had previously fallen to around 13,000 in 2021 before rising to 16,666 in 2022.

How did the share of multicultural marriages and the number of divorces among multicultural couples change in Korea in 2024?

Multicultural marriages represented 9.3 percent of all marriages in Korea, compared with 10.1 percent in 2023. Divorces among multicultural couples decreased 1.4 percent year on year, to 6,022.

Marriages with foreign spouses in Korea rise for 3rd year in 2024

Q: Which nationalities accounted for the largest shares of foreign spouses in Korea’s 2024 multicultural marriages?

Vietnamese women were the largest group among foreign wives, at 32.1 percent, followed by Chinese women at 16.7 percent and Thai women at 13.7 percent. Among foreign husbands, U.S. nationals accounted for 28.9 percent, Chinese nationals 17.6 percent and Vietnamese nationals 15 percent.

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Summary

Multicultural marriages in Korea rose for a third consecutive year in 2024, reaching 20,759, according to Statistics Korea data released Thursday. The total was 1,042 higher than in 2023, after international marriages fell during the COVID-19 pandemic and rebounded in 2022. They made up 9.3 percent of all marriages, down from 10.1 percent the previous year. Divorces among multicultural couples fell 1.4 percent to 6,022.

Key Facts

The number of international marriages fell from about 24,000 in 2019 to around 15,000 in 2020 and around 13,000 in 2021, before reaching 16,666 in 2022.
Vietnamese women accounted for 32.1 percent of foreign wives, followed by Chinese women at 16.7 percent and Thai women at 13.7 percent.
Among foreign husbands, those from the United States made up 28.9 percent, followed by those from China at 17.6 percent and Vietnam at 15 percent.

By yonhap

Published Mar 20, 2025 12:34 pm KST
Updated Mar 20, 2025 12:34 pm KST

The number of marriages between Koreans and foreign spouses rose for the third consecutive year in 2024, data showed Thursday.

The number of multicultural marriages reached 20,759 last year, up 1,042 from the previous year's 19,717 cases, according to the data from Statistics Korea.

The number of international marriages sharply declined to around 15,000 in 2020 from about 24,000 the previous year, and slid further to around 13,000 in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the figure rebounded to 16,666 cases in 2022.

Of the total marriages in Korea last year, multicultural marriages accounted for 9.3 percent, down from 10.1 percent the previous year.

Vietnamese women made up the largest share of all foreign wives at 32.1 percent, followed by Chinese women at 16.7 percent and Thai women at 13.7 percent.

Among foreign husbands, those from the United States accounted for 28.9 percent, followed by those from China at 17.6 percent and Vietnam at 15 percent.

The number of divorces among multicultural couples decreased by 1.4 percent year-on-year, totaling 6,022 in 2024, according to the data. (Yonhap)

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