Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum was 3,121 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Papua New Guinea, 2002–2025
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Analysis
Papua New Guinea recorded 3,121 for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in 2025.
That represents a change of down 4.0% on the previous year and up 596.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Papua New Guinea peaked at 3,303 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0, in 2006.
That places Papua New Guinea 82nd out of 179 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 312 | — |
| 2003 | 305 | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 199 | -34.8% |
| 2005 | 5 | -97.5% |
| 2006 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 2007 | 10 | — |
| 2008 | 5 | -50.0% |
| 2009 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 2011 | 0 | — |
| 2012 | 156 | — |
| 2013 | 404 | +159.0% |
| 2014 | 398 | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 448 | +12.6% |
| 2016 | 16 | -96.4% |
| 2017 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 2018 | 151 | — |
| 2019 | 132 | -12.6% |
| 2020 | 108 | -18.2% |
| 2021 | 125 | +15.7% |
| 2022 | 3,303 | +2542.4% |
| 2023 | 3,298 | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 3,251 | -1.4% |
| 2025 | 3,121 | -4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 105.12 | 0 | 312 | 8 |
| 2010s | 170.5 | 0 | 448 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,201 | 108 | 3,303 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
- 79 South Sudan 3,246 compare
- 80 Tajikistan 3,238 compare
- 81 Suriname 3,191 compare
- 83 Luxembourg 3,050 compare
- 84 Thailand 2,880 compare
- 85 Denmark 2,738 compare
More social development data for Papua New Guinea
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 7,727 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 644 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 644 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0007 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 Papua New Guinea?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Papua New Guinea was 3,121 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 Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 3,303 in 2022.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 2006.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 82nd out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 596.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea 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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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.