Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in China
China: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum was 482 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in China, 2000–2025
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Analysis
The most recent figure for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in China is 482, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 12.8% on the previous year and down 28.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in China peaked at 785 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0, in 2001.
China ranks 111th of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 10 | — |
| 2001 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 2002 | 5 | — |
| 2003 | 39 | +680.0% |
| 2004 | 35 | -10.3% |
| 2005 | 68 | +94.3% |
| 2006 | 72 | +5.9% |
| 2007 | 59 | -18.1% |
| 2008 | 12 | -79.7% |
| 2009 | 39 | +225.0% |
| 2010 | 120 | +207.7% |
| 2011 | 26 | -78.3% |
| 2012 | 253 | +873.1% |
| 2013 | 374 | +47.8% |
| 2014 | 447 | +19.5% |
| 2015 | 672 | +50.3% |
| 2016 | 647 | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 691 | +6.8% |
| 2018 | 583 | -15.6% |
| 2019 | 644 | +10.5% |
| 2020 | 743 | +15.4% |
| 2021 | 785 | +5.7% |
| 2022 | 785 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 699 | -11.0% |
| 2024 | 553 | -20.9% |
| 2025 | 482 | -12.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 33.9 | 0 | 72 | 10 |
| 2010s | 445.7 | 26 | 691 | 10 |
| 2020s | 674.5 | 482 | 785 | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More social development data for China
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 230 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 153,962 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh 7 (2025)
- Democracy lexical 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 153,962 (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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in China?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in China was 482 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 785 in 2021.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 2001.
- How does China rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum?
- China ranks 111th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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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CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.