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

France: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of was 788,419 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
788,419
Change on year
up 9.2%
World rank
10th
of 179 countries
All-time high
788,419
in 2025
All-time low
98,900
in 1972
Years of data
66
1960–2025

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in France, 1960–2025

0200.0k400.0k600.0k800.0k196019922025

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

In 2025, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in France stood at 788,419. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.

The figure is up 9.2% on the previous year and up 188.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in France peaked at 788,419 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 98,900, in 1972.

That places France 10th out of 179 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.

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 France, year by year

Annual values for Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum, gaps filled in France, 1960 to 2025.
Year Value Change
1960 245,935
1961 253,375 +3.0%
1962 259,740 +2.5%
1963 174,057 -33.0%
1964 175,861 +1.0%
1965 177,665 +1.0%
1966 179,468 +1.0%
1967 177,200 -1.3%
1968 176,736 -0.3%
1969 175,242 -0.8%
1970 158,543 -9.5%
1971 141,844 -10.5%
1972 98,900 -30.3%
1973 101,830 +3.0%
1974 105,538 +3.6%
1975 109,882 +4.1%
1976 114,634 +4.3%
1977 119,413 +4.2%
1978 126,229 +5.7%
1979 119,489 -5.3%
1980 121,958 +2.1%
1981 125,597 +3.0%
1982 152,223 +21.2%
1983 164,113 +7.8%
1984 169,863 +3.5%
1985 174,213 +2.6%
1986 180,258 +3.5%
1987 179,306 -0.5%
1988 183,946 +2.6%
1989 180,258 -2.0%
1990 193,000 +7.1%
1991 174,756 -9.5%
1992 156,512 -10.4%
1993 166,269 +6.2%
1994 195,288 +17.5%
1995 155,240 -20.5%
1996 151,331 -2.5%
1997 146,558 -3.2%
1998 140,213 -4.3%
1999 129,722 -7.5%
2000 132,508 +2.1%
2001 131,601 -0.7%
2002 132,182 +0.4%
2003 130,838 -1.0%
2004 139,852 +6.9%
2005 137,316 -1.8%
2006 145,996 +6.3%
2007 151,789 +4.0%
2008 171,206 +12.8%
2009 196,364 +14.7%
2010 200,687 +2.2%
2011 210,207 +4.7%
2012 217,865 +3.6%
2013 232,487 +6.7%
2014 252,248 +8.5%
2015 273,117 +8.3%
2016 304,527 +11.5%
2017 337,158 +10.7%
2018 368,345 +9.2%
2019 407,915 +10.7%
2020 436,055 +6.9%
2021 499,914 +14.6%
2022 612,934 +22.6%
2023 664,366 +8.4%
2024 721,771 +8.6%
2025 788,419 +9.2%

France compared with similar countries

  • France's 788,419 is above the median for high income countries, which is 12,513, 63.0× the median. (65 countries reporting)
  • France's 788,419 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 62,365, 12.6× the median. (50 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in France 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
1963 -33.0% 259,740 174,057

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 199,528 174,057 259,740 10
1970s 119,630 98,900 158,543 10
1980s 163,174 121,958 183,946 10
1990s 160,889 129,722 195,288 10
2000s 146,965 130,838 196,364 10
2010s 280,456 200,687 407,915 10
2020s 620,576 436,055 788,419 6

Countries ranked near France

  1. 7 Ethiopia 1.01 million compare
  2. 8 Poland 990,469 compare
  3. 9 Sudan 809,816 compare
  4. 11 Iran, Islamic Republic of 770,514 compare
  5. 12 Kenya 617,125 compare
  6. 13 South Sudan 601,818 compare

See the full ranking of 226 places →

More social development data for France

All data for France →

Frequently asked questions

What is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in France?
Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in France was 788,419 in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in France?
The highest recorded value was 788,419 in 2025.
What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in France?
The lowest recorded value was 98,900 in 1972.
How does France rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of?
France ranks 10th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
Is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of rising or falling in France?
Over the last ten years it is up 188.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this France 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, gaps filled. 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 France. 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-gaps-filled/france/

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How this figure is calculated

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum with 148 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.

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, gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
226 places, 10,579 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum with 148 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.