Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Europe & Central Asia
Europe & Central Asia: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of was 11.50 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Europe & Central Asia, 1960–2025
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Analysis
In 2025, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Europe & Central Asia stood at 11.50 million.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.1% on the previous year and up 162.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Europe & Central Asia peaked at 13.14 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 503,289, in 1978.
That places Europe & Central Asia 6th out of 47 groups 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 Europe & Central Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 802,335 | — |
| 1961 | 791,475 | -1.4% |
| 1962 | 783,140 | -1.1% |
| 1963 | 686,957 | -12.3% |
| 1964 | 687,661 | +0.1% |
| 1965 | 723,045 | +5.1% |
| 1966 | 674,268 | -6.7% |
| 1967 | 631,530 | -6.3% |
| 1968 | 625,446 | -1.0% |
| 1969 | 631,292 | +0.9% |
| 1970 | 631,567 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 618,674 | -2.0% |
| 1972 | 582,427 | -5.9% |
| 1973 | 560,907 | -3.7% |
| 1974 | 550,123 | -1.9% |
| 1975 | 547,655 | -0.4% |
| 1976 | 555,654 | +1.5% |
| 1977 | 531,737 | -4.3% |
| 1978 | 503,289 | -5.4% |
| 1979 | 532,789 | +5.9% |
| 1980 | 547,734 | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 565,087 | +3.2% |
| 1982 | 589,005 | +4.2% |
| 1983 | 649,715 | +10.3% |
| 1984 | 706,315 | +8.7% |
| 1985 | 1.06 million | +50.3% |
| 1986 | 1.15 million | +8.3% |
| 1987 | 1.21 million | +5.2% |
| 1988 | 1.18 million | -2.7% |
| 1989 | 1.26 million | +6.8% |
| 1990 | 1.44 million | +14.6% |
| 1991 | 1.49 million | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 3.51 million | +135.7% |
| 1993 | 3.65 million | +4.1% |
| 1994 | 3.53 million | -3.4% |
| 1995 | 3.61 million | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 3.78 million | +4.7% |
| 1997 | 3.45 million | -8.8% |
| 1998 | 3.16 million | -8.2% |
| 1999 | 3.17 million | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 2.77 million | -12.9% |
| 2001 | 2.69 million | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 2.68 million | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 2.54 million | -5.4% |
| 2004 | 2.40 million | -5.2% |
| 2005 | 2.04 million | -15.2% |
| 2006 | 1.74 million | -14.8% |
| 2007 | 1.59 million | -8.6% |
| 2008 | 1.64 million | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 1.65 million | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 1.61 million | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 1.56 million | -3.1% |
| 2012 | 1.80 million | +15.2% |
| 2013 | 1.78 million | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 3.11 million | +75.1% |
| 2015 | 4.38 million | +40.9% |
| 2016 | 5.20 million | +18.6% |
| 2017 | 6.11 million | +17.6% |
| 2018 | 6.47 million | +5.9% |
| 2019 | 6.57 million | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 6.79 million | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 7.02 million | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 12.43 million | +77.1% |
| 2023 | 13.14 million | +5.8% |
| 2024 | 12.12 million | -7.8% |
| 2025 | 11.50 million | -5.1% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Europe & Central Asia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +135.7% | 1.49 million | 3.51 million |
| 2022 | +77.1% | 7.02 million | 12.43 million |
| 2014 | +75.1% | 1.78 million | 3.11 million |
| 1985 | +50.3% | 706,315 | 1.06 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 703,715 | 625,446 | 802,335 | 10 |
| 1970s | 561,482 | 503,289 | 631,567 | 10 |
| 1980s | 891,200 | 547,734 | 1.26 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.08 million | 1.44 million | 3.78 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.17 million | 1.59 million | 2.77 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.86 million | 1.56 million | 6.57 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.50 million | 6.79 million | 13.14 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia
More social development data for Europe & Central Asia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 5.79 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0062 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 5.79 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0123 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 -5.15 % change on previous year (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 11.50 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1.58 % change on previous year (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 0.4791 units per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Europe & Central Asia?
- Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Europe & Central Asia was 11.50 million in 2025, according to Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
- What is the highest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 13.14 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 503,289 in 1978.
- How does Europe & Central Asia rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of?
- Europe & Central Asia ranks 6th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 162.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia data come from?
- The figures come from Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published as part of Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Refugees under the mandate of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) include individuals recognized under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 Organization of African Unity (OAU) Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, the refugee definition contained in the 1984 Cartagena Declaration on Refugees as incorporated into national laws, those recognized in accordance with the UNHCR Statute, individuals granted complementary forms of protection, and those enjoying temporary protection. The refugee population also includes people in a refugee-like situation, which is a category that is descriptive in nature and includes groups of people who are outside their country or territory of origin and who face protection risks similar to those of refugees, but for whom refugee status has, for practical or other reasons, not been ascertained. Refugees under the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Palestine Refugees, are not typically included in the statistics on refugees (and people in a refugee-like situation) under the mandate of the UNHCR.