Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Portugal
Portugal: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum was 8,595 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Portugal, 2009–2025
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 Portugal is 8,595, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 17 years on record.
That represents a change of up 235.3% on the previous year and up 1,405.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Portugal peaked at 8,595 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10, in 2009.
Portugal ranks 57th of 179 countries 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 Portugal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 10 | — |
| 2010 | 61 | +510.0% |
| 2011 | 212 | +247.5% |
| 2012 | 192 | -9.4% |
| 2013 | 198 | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 327 | +65.2% |
| 2015 | 571 | +74.6% |
| 2016 | 850 | +48.9% |
| 2017 | 45 | -94.7% |
| 2018 | 85 | +88.9% |
| 2019 | 1,057 | +1143.5% |
| 2020 | 1,154 | +9.2% |
| 2021 | 2,162 | +87.3% |
| 2022 | 968 | -55.2% |
| 2023 | 1,267 | +30.9% |
| 2024 | 2,563 | +102.3% |
| 2025 | 8,595 | +235.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10 | 10 | 10 | 1 |
| 2010s | 359.8 | 45 | 1,057 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,785 | 968 | 8,595 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More social development data for Portugal
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 70,349 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 109 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 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 109 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0065 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 Portugal?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Portugal was 8,595 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 8,595 in 2025.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 10 in 2009.
- How does Portugal rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum?
- Portugal ranks 57th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,405.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal 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 — 17 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.