Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income): Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin was 794,616 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income), 2000–2025
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Analysis
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) recorded 794,616 for asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 23.0% on the previous year and down 13.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) peaked at 1.06 million in 2016 and was at its lowest, 79,970, in 2007.
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) ranks 24th of 47 groups 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 origin in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 120,641 | — |
| 2001 | 101,198 | -16.1% |
| 2002 | 95,821 | -5.3% |
| 2003 | 99,569 | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 85,391 | -14.2% |
| 2005 | 94,393 | +10.5% |
| 2006 | 100,780 | +6.8% |
| 2007 | 79,970 | -20.6% |
| 2008 | 83,341 | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 87,478 | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 124,206 | +42.0% |
| 2011 | 124,839 | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 179,720 | +44.0% |
| 2013 | 265,504 | +47.7% |
| 2014 | 384,807 | +44.9% |
| 2015 | 919,360 | +138.9% |
| 2016 | 1.06 million | +14.9% |
| 2017 | 990,327 | -6.3% |
| 2018 | 973,622 | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 925,325 | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 858,858 | -7.2% |
| 2021 | 893,712 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 939,272 | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 962,960 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 1.03 million | +7.2% |
| 2025 | 794,616 | -23.0% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +138.9% | 384,807 | 919,360 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 94,858 | 79,970 | 120,641 | 10 |
| 2010s | 594,436 | 124,206 | 1.06 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 913,621 | 794,616 | 1.03 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
- 21 El Salvador 108,289 compare
- 22 China 99,716 compare
- 23 Iraq 96,887 compare
- 24 Bangladesh 92,441 compare
- 25 Russian Federation 88,310 compare
- 26 Central African Republic 82,600 compare
- 27 Burkina Faso 69,817 compare
More social development data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 4.29 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8.24 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0109 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8.24 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0057 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 -42.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 4.29 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -33.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) was 794,616 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 origin recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 1.06 million in 2016.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 79,970 in 2007.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) ranks 24th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) 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 origin. 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.