Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in France
France: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum was 85,227 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in France, 2001–2025
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Analysis
France recorded 85,227 for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in 2025.
The figure is down 3.8% on the previous year and up 35.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in France peaked at 118,137 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 22,900, in 2003.
France ranks 18th of 179 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 34,551 | — |
| 2002 | 34,588 | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 22,900 | -33.8% |
| 2004 | 59,346 | +159.2% |
| 2005 | 41,279 | -30.4% |
| 2006 | 37,009 | -10.3% |
| 2007 | 32,275 | -12.8% |
| 2008 | 31,496 | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 40,517 | +28.6% |
| 2010 | 48,576 | +19.9% |
| 2011 | 49,240 | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 49,885 | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 51,691 | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 55,826 | +8.0% |
| 2015 | 63,043 | +12.9% |
| 2016 | 62,764 | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 63,115 | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 89,055 | +41.1% |
| 2019 | 102,140 | +14.7% |
| 2020 | 118,137 | +15.7% |
| 2021 | 75,708 | -35.9% |
| 2022 | 75,047 | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 79,642 | +6.1% |
| 2024 | 88,554 | +11.2% |
| 2025 | 85,227 | -3.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 37,107 | 22,900 | 59,346 | 9 |
| 2010s | 63,534 | 48,576 | 102,140 | 10 |
| 2020s | 87,052 | 75,047 | 118,137 | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
More social development data for France
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 788,419 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 166 (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 166 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0115 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 France?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in France was 85,227 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 118,137 in 2020.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 22,900 in 2003.
- How does France rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum?
- France ranks 18th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France 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 — 25 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.