Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum was 598,535 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Least developed countries, 2000–2025
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Analysis
Least developed countries recorded 598,535 for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in 2025. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 42.3% on the previous year and up 296.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Least developed countries peaked at 598,535 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 46,979, in 2000.
Least developed countries ranks 27th of 45 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 Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 46,979 | — |
| 2001 | 53,135 | +13.1% |
| 2002 | 68,274 | +28.5% |
| 2003 | 48,665 | -28.7% |
| 2004 | 48,355 | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 59,582 | +23.2% |
| 2006 | 53,405 | -10.4% |
| 2007 | 62,060 | +16.2% |
| 2008 | 57,283 | -7.7% |
| 2009 | 77,909 | +36.0% |
| 2010 | 98,315 | +26.2% |
| 2011 | 93,587 | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 112,692 | +20.4% |
| 2013 | 118,756 | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 145,120 | +22.2% |
| 2015 | 151,019 | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 181,025 | +19.9% |
| 2017 | 237,704 | +31.3% |
| 2018 | 227,095 | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 261,104 | +15.0% |
| 2020 | 236,599 | -9.4% |
| 2021 | 291,607 | +23.2% |
| 2022 | 288,029 | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 418,760 | +45.4% |
| 2024 | 420,720 | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 598,535 | +42.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 57,565 | 46,979 | 77,909 | 10 |
| 2010s | 162,642 | 93,587 | 261,104 | 10 |
| 2020s | 375,708 | 236,599 | 598,535 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 24 Niger 50,004 compare
- 25 Netherlands 49,662 compare
- 26 Tanzania, United Republic of 43,262 compare
- 27 Republic of Korea 39,106 compare
- 28 Uganda 35,249 compare
- 29 Ireland 33,728 compare
- 30 Greece 31,928 compare
More social development data for Least developed countries
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 12.29 % change on previous year (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 0.0077 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 14.87 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0122 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 9.39 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 9.39 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 14.87 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -9.25 % 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 Least developed countries?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Least developed countries was 598,535 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 Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 598,535 in 2025.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 46,979 in 2000.
- How does Least developed countries rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum?
- Least developed countries ranks 27th out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 296.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.