More than 3,000 People Left Seoul Last Month... Net Outflow for 11 Consecutive Months

Statistics Korea, Domestic Population Movement Statistics for January 2023

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Joo Sang-don] More than 3,000 people left Seoul for other regions even in the first month of the new year.

On the 22nd, Statistics Korea released the "January 2023 Domestic Population Movement Statistics" containing this information.

The number of movers in January this year was 506,000, a decrease of 8.4% (46,000 people) compared to the same month last year. Intra-provincial moves accounted for 61.3%, and inter-provincial moves accounted for 38.7%. Compared to the same month last year, intra-provincial moves decreased by 12.6%, and inter-provincial moves decreased by 0.7%.

The net migration by province, calculated as in-migration minus out-migration, showed net inflows in five provinces including Gyeonggi (6,538 people), Incheon (2,395 people), and Sejong (762 people). On the other hand, 12 provinces including Seoul (-3,023 people), Gyeongbuk (-1,650 people), and Gyeongnam (-1,542 people) experienced net outflows.

Seoul's net population outflow has continued for 11 consecutive months since February last year (net inflow of 3,265 people). Looking at it by year, Seoul's net population outflow trend is even more evident. The total net outflow population of Seoul last year was 35,340 people, continuing the net outflow trend that began in 1990.

The net migration rate by province in January (the ratio of net migrants to the total population) recorded net inflows in Sejong (2.3%), Incheon (1.0%), and Gyeonggi (0.6%), and net outflows in Jeju (-1.0%), Gwangju (-0.8%), and Gyeongbuk (-0.7%).

Net Migration Rate by Province in January 2023