Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in North America
North America: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum was 4.03 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in North America, 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 North America is 4.03 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is up 16.0% on the previous year and up 1,218.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in North America peaked at 4.03 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 51,593, in 2012.
That places North America 5th 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 North America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 416,473 | — |
| 2001 | 441,644 | +6.0% |
| 2002 | 448,113 | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 392,430 | -12.4% |
| 2004 | 290,951 | -25.9% |
| 2005 | 190,239 | -34.6% |
| 2006 | 147,769 | -22.3% |
| 2007 | 121,364 | -17.9% |
| 2008 | 123,375 | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 124,925 | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 57,274 | -54.2% |
| 2011 | 53,535 | -6.5% |
| 2012 | 51,593 | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 106,462 | +106.3% |
| 2014 | 204,514 | +92.1% |
| 2015 | 305,808 | +49.5% |
| 2016 | 463,810 | +51.7% |
| 2017 | 694,578 | +49.8% |
| 2018 | 797,758 | +14.9% |
| 2019 | 944,625 | +18.4% |
| 2020 | 1.08 million | +14.7% |
| 2021 | 1.37 million | +26.1% |
| 2022 | 1.91 million | +39.9% |
| 2023 | 2.80 million | +46.4% |
| 2024 | 3.48 million | +24.2% |
| 2025 | 4.03 million | +16.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 269,728 | 121,364 | 448,113 | 10 |
| 2010s | 367,996 | 51,593 | 944,625 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.45 million | 1.08 million | 4.03 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near North America
More social development data for North America
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 873,675 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 873,675 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 4,033 (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 23.96 % 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 0.0023 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 4,033 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -6.6 % 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 North America?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in North America was 4.03 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 North America?
- The highest recorded value was 4.03 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 51,593 in 2012.
- How does North America rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum?
- North America ranks 5th out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,218.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North America 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 — 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.