Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in High income

High income: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum was 5.76 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
5.76 million
Change on year
up 9.0%
Rank
3rd
of 45 groups
All-time high
5.76 million
in 2025
All-time low
379,610
in 2010
Years of data
26
2000–2025

Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in High income, 2000–2025

02.0M4.0M6.0M2000201220252000: 810.2k2001: 800.9k2002: 901.1k2003: 768.0k2004: 622.1k2005: 458.9k2006: 408.1k2007: 380.7k2008: 401.0k2009: 431.1k2010: 379.6k2011: 386.4k2012: 407.8k2013: 534.5k2014: 825.6k2015: 1.4M2016: 1.7M2017: 1.8M2018: 2.0M2019: 2.2M2020: 2.2M2021: 2.5M2022: 3.4M2023: 4.5M2024: 5.3M2025: 5.8M

Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Analysis

In 2025, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in High income stood at 5.76 million. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.

That represents a change of up 9.0% on the previous year and up 298.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in High income peaked at 5.76 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 379,610, in 2010.

That places High income 3rd out of 45 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.

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 High income, year by year

Annual values for Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in High income, 2000 to 2025.
Year Value Change
2000 810,248
2001 800,947 -1.1%
2002 901,139 +12.5%
2003 767,959 -14.8%
2004 622,078 -19.0%
2005 458,873 -26.2%
2006 408,098 -11.1%
2007 380,727 -6.7%
2008 400,991 +5.3%
2009 431,103 +7.5%
2010 379,610 -11.9%
2011 386,409 +1.8%
2012 407,797 +5.5%
2013 534,516 +31.1%
2014 825,640 +54.5%
2015 1.45 million +75.2%
2016 1.69 million +17.0%
2017 1.84 million +8.5%
2018 1.95 million +6.4%
2019 2.18 million +11.5%
2020 2.20 million +0.9%
2021 2.52 million +14.6%
2022 3.35 million +33.0%
2023 4.46 million +33.1%
2024 5.28 million +18.4%
2025 5.76 million +9.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 598,216 380,727 901,139 10
2010s 1.16 million 379,610 2.18 million 10
2020s 3.93 million 2.20 million 5.76 million 6

Countries ranked near High income

  1. 1 United States 3.72 million compare
  2. 2 Egypt 878,268 compare
  3. 3 Peru 556,770 compare
  4. 4 Canada 314,469 compare
  5. 5 Germany 297,503 compare
  6. 6 Spain 248,715 compare

See the full ranking of 226 places →

More social development data for High income

All data for High income →

Frequently asked questions

What is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in High income?
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in High income was 5.76 million 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 High income?
The highest recorded value was 5.76 million in 2025.
What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in High income?
The lowest recorded value was 379,610 in 2010.
How does High income rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum?
High income ranks 3rd out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in High income?
Over the last ten years it is up 298.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this High income 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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Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in High income. Statizoid, drawing on Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/asylum-seekers-by-country-or-territory-of-asylum/high-income/

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About this data

Indicator
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum
Source
Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
226 places, 5,379 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed

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.