Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in World
World: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum was 9.00 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in World, 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 World is 9.00 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is up 7.7% on the previous year and up 179.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in World peaked at 9.00 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 739,958, in 2007.
World ranks 1st of 45 groups on this measure, 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 World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 947,322 | — |
| 2001 | 943,383 | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 1.09 million | +15.9% |
| 2003 | 995,567 | -8.9% |
| 2004 | 884,285 | -11.2% |
| 2005 | 801,119 | -9.4% |
| 2006 | 740,253 | -7.6% |
| 2007 | 739,958 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 823,931 | +11.3% |
| 2009 | 988,030 | +19.9% |
| 2010 | 835,955 | -15.4% |
| 2011 | 895,686 | +7.1% |
| 2012 | 941,492 | +5.1% |
| 2013 | 1.16 million | +23.5% |
| 2014 | 1.79 million | +54.3% |
| 2015 | 3.22 million | +79.6% |
| 2016 | 2.73 million | -15.3% |
| 2017 | 3.09 million | +13.2% |
| 2018 | 3.50 million | +13.3% |
| 2019 | 4.15 million | +18.5% |
| 2020 | 4.18 million | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 4.62 million | +10.3% |
| 2022 | 5.44 million | +17.9% |
| 2023 | 6.86 million | +26.0% |
| 2024 | 8.35 million | +21.8% |
| 2025 | 9.00 million | +7.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 895,697 | 739,958 | 1.09 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.23 million | 835,955 | 4.15 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.41 million | 4.18 million | 9.00 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near World
More social development data for World
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 28.46 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 28.11 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0034 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 28.11 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0035 units per person (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 -8.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 28.46 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -7.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in World?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in World was 9.00 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 World?
- The highest recorded value was 9.00 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 739,958 in 2007.
- How does World rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum?
- World ranks 1st out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 179.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this World 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.