Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in East Asia & Pacific
East Asia & Pacific: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum was 224,545 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in East Asia & Pacific, 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 East Asia & Pacific is 224,545, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and up 86.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in East Asia & Pacific peaked at 226,972 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 12,427, in 2002.
East Asia & Pacific ranks 35th of 47 groups 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 East Asia & Pacific, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 14,504 | — |
| 2001 | 16,780 | +15.7% |
| 2002 | 12,427 | -25.9% |
| 2003 | 17,058 | +37.3% |
| 2004 | 19,093 | +11.9% |
| 2005 | 47,415 | +148.3% |
| 2006 | 33,859 | -28.6% |
| 2007 | 27,001 | -20.3% |
| 2008 | 29,322 | +8.6% |
| 2009 | 29,235 | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 31,889 | +9.1% |
| 2011 | 38,431 | +20.5% |
| 2012 | 51,407 | +33.8% |
| 2013 | 80,951 | +57.5% |
| 2014 | 104,442 | +29.0% |
| 2015 | 120,314 | +15.2% |
| 2016 | 124,776 | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 143,850 | +15.3% |
| 2018 | 157,299 | +9.3% |
| 2019 | 188,956 | +20.1% |
| 2020 | 180,966 | -4.2% |
| 2021 | 167,135 | -7.6% |
| 2022 | 175,710 | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 194,205 | +10.5% |
| 2024 | 226,972 | +16.9% |
| 2025 | 224,545 | -1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 24,669 | 12,427 | 47,415 | 10 |
| 2010s | 104,232 | 31,889 | 188,956 | 10 |
| 2020s | 194,922 | 167,135 | 226,972 | 6 |
Countries ranked near East Asia & Pacific
More social development data for East Asia & Pacific
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 333,267 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1.73 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0007 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1.73 million (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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 9.33 % change on previous year (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 333,267 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 13.36 % change on previous year (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 East Asia & Pacific?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in East Asia & Pacific was 224,545 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 East Asia & Pacific?
- The highest recorded value was 226,972 in 2024.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in East Asia & Pacific?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,427 in 2002.
- How does East Asia & Pacific rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum?
- East Asia & Pacific ranks 35th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific?
- Over the last ten years it is up 86.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this East Asia & Pacific 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.
Download this data
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.