Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Ireland
Ireland: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum was 33,728 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Ireland, 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 Ireland stood at 33,728. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is up 6.4% on the previous year and up 577.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Ireland peaked at 33,728 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2,414, in 2005.
That places Ireland 29th out of 179 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 12,067 | — |
| 2001 | 10,841 | -10.2% |
| 2002 | 6,967 | -35.7% |
| 2003 | 7,366 | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 3,667 | -50.2% |
| 2005 | 2,414 | -34.2% |
| 2006 | 3,406 | +41.1% |
| 2007 | 4,364 | +28.1% |
| 2008 | 4,583 | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 2,725 | -40.5% |
| 2010 | 5,088 | +86.7% |
| 2011 | 5,380 | +5.7% |
| 2012 | 5,423 | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 5,464 | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 4,576 | -16.3% |
| 2015 | 4,982 | +8.9% |
| 2016 | 4,221 | -15.3% |
| 2017 | 5,991 | +41.9% |
| 2018 | 7,159 | +19.5% |
| 2019 | 7,853 | +9.7% |
| 2020 | 7,393 | -5.9% |
| 2021 | 6,904 | -6.6% |
| 2022 | 15,108 | +118.8% |
| 2023 | 22,250 | +47.3% |
| 2024 | 31,711 | +42.5% |
| 2025 | 33,728 | +6.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5,840 | 2,414 | 12,067 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,614 | 4,221 | 7,853 | 10 |
| 2020s | 19,516 | 6,904 | 33,728 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More social development data for Ireland
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 137,869 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 69 (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 69 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0251 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 Ireland?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Ireland was 33,728 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 33,728 in 2025.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,414 in 2005.
- How does Ireland rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum?
- Ireland ranks 29th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 577.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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.