Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Australia

Australia: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of was 13.23 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
13.23 % change on previous year
Change on year
up 191.4%
World rank
32nd
of 170 countries
All-time high
28.34 % change on previous year
in 2012
All-time low
-71.92 % change on previous year
in 1984
Years of data
52
1966–2025

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Australia, 1966–2025

-75-50-25025196619952025

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.

Analysis

Australia recorded 13.23 % change on previous year for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in 2025.

The figure is up 191.4% on the previous year and up 248.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Australia peaked at 28.34 % change on previous year in 2012 and was at its lowest, -71.92 % change on previous year, in 1984.

That places Australia 32nd out of 170 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Australia, year by year

Annual values for Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate in Australia, 1966 to 2025.
Year % change on previous year Change
1966 0 % change on previous year
1967 10 % change on previous year
1968 -2.27 % change on previous year -122.7%
1969 -2.33 % change on previous year +2.3%
1970 0 % change on previous year -100.0%
1979 0 % change on previous year
1980 0 % change on previous year
1981 4.28 % change on previous year
1982 0 % change on previous year -100.0%
1983 0 % change on previous year
1984 -71.92 % change on previous year
1985 0 % change on previous year -100.0%
1986 -3.48 % change on previous year
1987 1.98 % change on previous year -156.8%
1988 3.85 % change on previous year +94.4%
1989 7.63 % change on previous year +98.4%
1990 0 % change on previous year -100.0%
1991 -45.75 % change on previous year
1992 -0.9658 % change on previous year -97.9%
1993 1.71 % change on previous year -277.3%
1994 7.61 % change on previous year +344.1%
1995 7.94 % change on previous year +4.3%
1996 8.29 % change on previous year +4.5%
1997 -1.85 % change on previous year -122.3%
1998 5.54 % change on previous year -400.1%
1999 -6.94 % change on previous year -225.2%
2000 -7.18 % change on previous year +3.6%
2001 -3.88 % change on previous year -46.0%
2002 2.66 % change on previous year -168.5%
2003 -5.35 % change on previous year -301.5%
2004 12.87 % change on previous year -340.4%
2005 2.33 % change on previous year -81.9%
2006 6.14 % change on previous year +163.8%
2007 -67.86 % change on previous year -1205.5%
2008 -5.62 % change on previous year -91.7%
2009 7.78 % change on previous year -238.4%
2010 -3.34 % change on previous year -142.9%
2011 7.49 % change on previous year -324.4%
2012 28.34 % change on previous year +278.2%
2013 14.72 % change on previous year -48.1%
2014 3.13 % change on previous year -78.7%
2015 3.8 % change on previous year +21.4%
2016 14.28 % change on previous year +275.5%
2017 14.92 % change on previous year +4.5%
2018 17.44 % change on previous year +16.9%
2019 2.8 % change on previous year -83.9%
2020 -1.91 % change on previous year -168.2%
2021 -3.14 % change on previous year +64.6%
2022 -2.11 % change on previous year -32.7%
2023 -36.61 % change on previous year +1631.2%
2024 -14.47 % change on previous year -60.5%
2025 13.23 % change on previous year -191.5%

Australia compared with similar countries

  • Australia's 13.23 % change on previous year is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.44 % change on previous year, 9.2× the median. (62 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Australia 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.

YearChange FromTo
2023 -1631.2% -2.11 % change on previous year -36.61 % change on previous year
2007 -1205.5% 6.14 % change on previous year -67.86 % change on previous year

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 1.35 % change on previous year -2.33 % change on previous year 10 % change on previous year 4
1970s 0 % change on previous year 0 % change on previous year 0 % change on previous year 2
1980s -5.77 % change on previous year -71.92 % change on previous year 7.63 % change on previous year 10
1990s -2.44 % change on previous year -45.75 % change on previous year 8.29 % change on previous year 10
2000s -5.81 % change on previous year -67.86 % change on previous year 12.87 % change on previous year 10
2010s 10.36 % change on previous year -3.34 % change on previous year 28.34 % change on previous year 10
2020s -7.5 % change on previous year -36.61 % change on previous year 13.23 % change on previous year 6

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 29 Togo 14.05 % change on previous year compare
  2. 30 Ecuador 13.83 % change on previous year compare
  3. 31 Serbia 13.29 % change on previous year compare
  4. 33 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 12.68 % change on previous year compare
  5. 34 Colombia 12.1 % change on previous year compare
  6. 35 Argentina 12.07 % change on previous year compare

See the full ranking of 217 places →

More social development data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Australia?
Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Australia was 13.23 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 28.34 % change on previous year in 2012.
What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was -71.92 % change on previous year in 1984.
How does Australia rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of?
Australia ranks 32nd out of 170 countries with data for 2025.
Is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is up 248.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Australia data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/refugees-under-the-mandate-of-the-unhcr-by-country-or-territory-of-asylum-annual-growth/australia/

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How this figure is calculated

The year-on-year percentage change in Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate
Unit
% change on previous year
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
217 places, 9,779 data points, 1961–2025
Last refreshed

The year-on-year percentage change in Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.