Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Switzerland
Switzerland: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum was 17,039 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Switzerland, 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 Switzerland is 17,039, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 47.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Switzerland peaked at 32,691 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 6,547, in 2020.
Switzerland ranks 45th of 179 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 27,454 | — |
| 2001 | 25,637 | -6.6% |
| 2002 | 28,080 | +9.5% |
| 2003 | 24,529 | -12.6% |
| 2004 | 18,616 | -24.1% |
| 2005 | 14,405 | -22.6% |
| 2006 | 12,374 | -14.1% |
| 2007 | 10,729 | -13.3% |
| 2008 | 17,155 | +59.9% |
| 2009 | 17,127 | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 12,884 | -24.8% |
| 2011 | 16,893 | +31.1% |
| 2012 | 21,670 | +28.3% |
| 2013 | 22,087 | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 20,805 | -5.8% |
| 2015 | 32,691 | +57.1% |
| 2016 | 30,778 | -5.9% |
| 2017 | 23,728 | -22.9% |
| 2018 | 14,776 | -37.7% |
| 2019 | 11,200 | -24.2% |
| 2020 | 6,547 | -41.5% |
| 2021 | 7,109 | +8.6% |
| 2022 | 14,904 | +109.6% |
| 2023 | 18,884 | +26.7% |
| 2024 | 17,010 | -9.9% |
| 2025 | 17,039 | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 19,611 | 10,729 | 28,080 | 10 |
| 2010s | 20,751 | 11,200 | 32,691 | 10 |
| 2020s | 13,582 | 6,547 | 18,884 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More social development data for Switzerland
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 208,287 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 6 (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 6 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0229 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 Switzerland?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Switzerland was 17,039 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 32,691 in 2015.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,547 in 2020.
- How does Switzerland rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum?
- Switzerland ranks 45th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 47.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.