Refugees by country of asylum — all countries

Refugees by country of asylum — Western Europe

Refugees by country of asylum in Western Europe in 2024 — 4,409,882 people. Since 1951, the indicator has risen by 380.4%.

2024 4.41M people +6.84% vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 4.41M people2024
Period minimum 284,729 people1978

Trend over time

1951–2024 · people

Refugees by country of asylum — Western Europe, 1951–202402M4M6M19511959196719751983199119992007201520231951: 918,000 people1953: 791,400 people1955: 749,815 people1957: 779,380 people1959: 728,901 people1961: 562,275 people1963: 464,457 people1965: 458,665 people1967: 376,200 people1969: 381,242 people1971: 359,444 people1973: 315,230 people1975: 311,520 people1977: 314,413 people1979: 303,489 people1981: 331,496 people1983: 398,223 people1985: 772,573 people1987: 894,441 people1989: 927,428 people1991: 1,120,169 people1993: 1,767,196 people1995: 1,652,808 people1997: 1,517,974 people1999: 1,425,651 people2001: 1,272,959 people2003: 1,312,262 people2005: 1,041,953 people2007: 914,233 people2009: 970,098 people2011: 979,261 people2013: 629,369 people2015: 860,011 people2017: 1,663,982 people2019: 1,959,462 people2021: 2,206,743 people2023: 4,127,621 people2024: 4,409,882 people
Change over the period: +3.49M (+380.38%) Average annual rate: 2.17 %

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Western Europe

Western Europe 4.41M people
World computed 30.92M people
Refugees by country of asylum — Western Europe, by year Western Europe All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2024 4.41M +282,261 +6.84%
2023 4.13M +597,598 +16.93%
2022 3.53M +1.32M +59.97%
2021 2.21M +136,321 +6.58%
2020 2.07M +110,960 +5.66%
2019 1.96M +148,324 +8.19%
2018 1.81M +147,156 +8.84%
2017 1.66M +368,011 +28.4%
2016 1.3M +435,960 +50.69%
2015 860,011 +154,641 +21.92%
2014 705,370 +76,001 +12.08%
2013 629,369 −377,595 −37.5%
2012 1.01M +27,703 +2.83%
2011 979,261 −3,281 −0.33%
2010 982,542 +12,444 +1.28%
2009 970,098 +34,689 +3.71%
2008 935,409 +21,176 +2.32%
2007 914,233 −30,931 −3.27%
2006 945,164 −96,789 −9.29%
2005 1.04M −181,995 −14.87%
2004 1.22M −88,314 −6.73%
2003 1.31M −30,360 −2.26%
2002 1.34M +69,663 +5.47%
2001 1.27M −4,490 −0.35%
2000 1.28M −148,202 −10.4%
1999 1.43M +26,387 +1.89%
1998 1.4M −118,710 −7.82%
1997 1.52M −212,219 −12.27%
1996 1.73M +77,385 +4.68%
1995 1.65M −95,027 −5.44%
1994 1.75M −19,361 −1.1%
1993 1.77M +204,178 +13.06%
1992 1.56M +442,849 +39.53%
1991 1.12M −8,647 −0.77%
1990 1.13M +201,388 +21.71%
1989 927,428 +12,423 +1.36%
1988 915,005 +20,564 +2.3%
1987 894,441 +41,864 +4.91%
1986 852,577 +80,004 +10.36%
1985 772,573 +354,410 +84.75%
1984 418,163 +19,940 +5.01%
1983 398,223 +42,633 +11.99%
1982 355,590 +24,094 +7.27%
1981 331,496 +23,013 +7.46%
1980 308,483 +4,994 +1.65%
1979 303,489 +18,760 +6.59%
1978 284,729 −29,684 −9.44%
1977 314,413 −7,121 −2.21%
1976 321,534 +10,014 +3.21%
1975 311,520 +3,867 +1.26%
1974 307,653 −7,577 −2.4%
1973 315,230 −6,500 −2.02%
1972 321,730 −37,714 −10.49%
1971 359,444 −10,423 −2.82%
1970 369,867 −11,375 −2.98%
1969 381,242 +3,506 +0.93%
1968 377,736 +1,536 +0.41%
1967 376,200 −36,768 −8.9%
1966 412,968 −45,697 −9.96%
1965 458,665 +1,304 +0.29%
1964 457,361 −7,096 −1.53%
1963 464,457 −93,183 −16.71%
1962 557,640 −4,635 −0.82%
1961 562,275 −8,560 −1.5%
1960 570,835 −158,066 −21.69%
1959 728,901 −15,151 −2.04%
1958 744,052 −35,328 −4.53%
1957 779,380 −46,110 −5.59%
1956 825,490 +75,675 +10.09%
1955 749,815 +35,215 +4.93%
1954 714,600 −76,800 −9.7%
1953 791,400 −46,000 −5.49%
1952 837,400 −80,600 −8.78%
1951 918,000

About the indicator

The number of refugees present in a country, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. A refugee is a person who has received protection outside their country of origin; the indicator covers both those recognized individually and those recognized on a group basis in situations of mass exodus. The series has been kept since 1951, that is since the adoption of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.

Important: This is the receiving side. It is not to be confused with the number of refugees FROM a country — that is a separate indicator, and the difference between the two shows whether a country hosts forced migration or produces it.

Source: UNHCR Refugee Statistics, license CC BY 4.0.