Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Australia
Australia: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum was 82,925 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Australia, 2000–2025
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Analysis
In 2025, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Australia stood at 82,925.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.2% on the previous year and up 299.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Australia peaked at 91,278 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1,366, in 2006.
Australia ranks 19th of 179 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 10,877 | — |
| 2001 | 11,558 | +6.3% |
| 2002 | 7,271 | -37.1% |
| 2003 | 2,978 | -59.0% |
| 2004 | 5,017 | +68.5% |
| 2005 | 1,756 | -65.0% |
| 2006 | 1,366 | -22.2% |
| 2007 | 1,459 | +6.8% |
| 2008 | 2,140 | +46.7% |
| 2009 | 2,306 | +7.8% |
| 2010 | 3,714 | +61.1% |
| 2011 | 5,210 | +40.3% |
| 2012 | 10,991 | +111.0% |
| 2013 | 13,509 | +22.9% |
| 2014 | 21,462 | +58.9% |
| 2015 | 20,752 | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 29,633 | +42.8% |
| 2017 | 48,029 | +62.1% |
| 2018 | 60,645 | +26.3% |
| 2019 | 77,362 | +27.6% |
| 2020 | 80,801 | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 82,810 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 90,549 | +9.3% |
| 2023 | 82,625 | -8.8% |
| 2024 | 91,278 | +10.5% |
| 2025 | 82,925 | -9.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4,673 | 1,366 | 11,558 | 10 |
| 2010s | 29,131 | 3,714 | 77,362 | 10 |
| 2020s | 85,165 | 80,801 | 91,278 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More social development data for Australia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 33,415 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 41 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh 1 (2025)
- Democracy lexical 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 41 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0012 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Australia?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Australia was 82,925 in 2025, according to Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
- What is the highest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 91,278 in 2024.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,366 in 2006.
- How does Australia rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum?
- Australia ranks 19th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 299.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published as part of Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Asylum-seekers are individuals who have sought international protection and whose claims for refugee status have not yet been determined. This includes those who are in various stages of the asylum process, such as initial application, appeal, or awaiting final decision. In specific contexts, asylum-seekers may also include those who are seeking protection under complementary forms of protection, and those enjoying temporary protection, but whose claims are still under consideration.