Refugees by country of asylum — all countries

Refugees by country of asylum — World

Refugees by country of asylum in the world in 2024 — 30,921,871 people. Since 1994, the indicator has risen by 102.1%.

2024 30.92M people −2.17% vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 31.61M people2023
Period minimum 8.51M people2005

Trend over time

1994–2024 · people

Refugees by country of asylum — World, 1994–2024010M20M30M40M199419972000200320062009201220152018202120241994: 15,302,789 people1995: 14,245,221 people1996: 12,793,651 people1997: 11,464,903 people1998: 10,978,403 people1999: 11,185,497 people2000: 11,644,689 people2001: 11,715,995 people2002: 10,239,126 people2003: 9,300,845 people2004: 9,296,042 people2005: 8,513,034 people2006: 9,777,884 people2007: 11,292,062 people2008: 10,392,175 people2009: 10,309,360 people2010: 10,475,226 people2011: 10,333,230 people2012: 10,430,632 people2013: 11,641,154 people2014: 14,340,540 people2015: 16,074,950 people2016: 17,147,769 people2017: 19,908,361 people2018: 20,328,609 people2019: 20,388,242 people2020: 20,635,756 people2021: 20,998,199 people2022: 29,402,237 people2023: 31,607,747 people2024: 30,921,871 people
Change over the period: +15.62M (+102.07%) Average annual rate: 2.37 %

Comparison, 2024

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

World 30.92M people
World computed 30.92M people
Refugees by country of asylum — World, by year World All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2024 30.92M −685,876 −2.17%
2023 31.61M +2.21M +7.5%
2022 29.4M +8.4M +40.02%
2021 21M +362,443 +1.76%
2020 20.64M +247,514 +1.21%
2019 20.39M +59,633 +0.29%
2018 20.33M +420,248 +2.11%
2017 19.91M +2.76M +16.1%
2016 17.15M +1.07M +6.67%
2015 16.07M +1.73M +12.09%
2014 14.34M +2.7M +23.19%
2013 11.64M +1.21M +11.61%
2012 10.43M +97,402 +0.94%
2011 10.33M −141,996 −1.36%
2010 10.48M +165,866 +1.61%
2009 10.31M −82,815 −0.8%
2008 10.39M −899,887 −7.97%
2007 11.29M +1.51M +15.49%
2006 9.78M +1.26M +14.86%
2005 8.51M −783,008 −8.42%
2004 9.3M −4,803 −0.05%
2003 9.3M −938,281 −9.16%
2002 10.24M −1.48M −12.61%
2001 11.72M +71,306 +0.61%
2000 11.64M +459,192 +4.11%
1999 11.19M +207,094 +1.89%
1998 10.98M −486,500 −4.24%
1997 11.46M −1.33M −10.39%
1996 12.79M −1.45M −10.19%
1995 14.25M −1.06M −6.91%
1994 15.3M

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.