Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD): Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin was 777,890 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD), 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 origin in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) is 777,890, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 23.5% on the previous year and down 15.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) peaked at 1.05 million in 2016 and was at its lowest, 77,554, in 2007.
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) ranks 26th 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 (IDA & IBRD), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 120,103 | — |
| 2001 | 100,309 | -16.5% |
| 2002 | 94,822 | -5.5% |
| 2003 | 98,495 | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 84,367 | -14.3% |
| 2005 | 93,340 | +10.6% |
| 2006 | 99,394 | +6.5% |
| 2007 | 77,554 | -22.0% |
| 2008 | 80,693 | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 84,990 | +5.3% |
| 2010 | 121,012 | +42.4% |
| 2011 | 123,079 | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 177,297 | +44.1% |
| 2013 | 262,168 | +47.9% |
| 2014 | 381,171 | +45.4% |
| 2015 | 915,045 | +140.1% |
| 2016 | 1.05 million | +14.8% |
| 2017 | 981,468 | -6.6% |
| 2018 | 960,161 | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 913,788 | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 846,402 | -7.4% |
| 2021 | 884,067 | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 927,977 | +5.0% |
| 2023 | 950,573 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 1.02 million | +6.9% |
| 2025 | 777,890 | -23.5% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 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 | +140.1% | 381,171 | 915,045 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 93,407 | 77,554 | 120,103 | 10 |
| 2010s | 588,586 | 121,012 | 1.05 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 900,583 | 777,890 | 1.02 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
- 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
- 28 Myanmar 67,824 compare
- 29 Brazil 66,672 compare
More social development data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
- 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 8.20 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 8.20 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 -33.91 % 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 (IDA & IBRD) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) was 777,890 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 (IDA & IBRD)?
- The highest recorded value was 1.05 million in 2016.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- The lowest recorded value was 77,554 in 2007.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) ranks 26th 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 (IDA & IBRD)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 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.
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.