Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in North Macedonia
North Macedonia: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of was 20,822 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in North Macedonia, 1992–2025
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 North Macedonia stood at 20,822.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and up 2,887.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in North Macedonia peaked at 32,000 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 191, in 2003.
North Macedonia ranks 83rd of 179 countries 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.
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in North Macedonia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 32,000 | — |
| 1993 | 31,452 | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 14,891 | -52.7% |
| 1995 | 9,048 | -39.2% |
| 1996 | 5,089 | -43.8% |
| 1997 | 3,500 | -31.2% |
| 1998 | 1,700 | -51.4% |
| 1999 | 21,200 | +1147.1% |
| 2000 | 9,048 | -57.3% |
| 2001 | 4,362 | -51.8% |
| 2002 | 2,815 | -35.5% |
| 2003 | 191 | -93.2% |
| 2004 | 1,003 | +425.1% |
| 2005 | 1,273 | +26.9% |
| 2006 | 1,239 | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 1,234 | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 1,671 | +35.4% |
| 2009 | 1,541 | -7.8% |
| 2010 | 1,397 | -9.3% |
| 2011 | 1,129 | -19.2% |
| 2012 | 1,076 | -4.7% |
| 2013 | 980 | -8.9% |
| 2014 | 880 | -10.2% |
| 2015 | 697 | -20.8% |
| 2016 | 634 | -9.0% |
| 2017 | 414 | -34.7% |
| 2018 | 413 | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 354 | -14.3% |
| 2020 | 303 | -14.4% |
| 2021 | 292 | -3.6% |
| 2022 | 7,065 | +2319.5% |
| 2023 | 18,898 | +167.5% |
| 2024 | 20,911 | +10.7% |
| 2025 | 20,822 | -0.4% |
North Macedonia compared with similar countries
- North Macedonia's 20,822 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4,647, 4.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- North Macedonia's 20,822 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 62,365, 33% of 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 North Macedonia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +2319.5% | 292 | 7,065 |
| 1999 | +1147.1% | 1,700 | 21,200 |
| 2004 | +425.1% | 191 | 1,003 |
| 2023 | +167.5% | 7,065 | 18,898 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14,860 | 1,700 | 32,000 | 8 |
| 2000s | 2,438 | 191 | 9,048 | 10 |
| 2010s | 797.4 | 354 | 1,397 | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,382 | 292 | 20,911 | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Macedonia
More social development data for North Macedonia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,886 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 3 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 3 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,886 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0114 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 -0.4256 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in North Macedonia?
- Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in North Macedonia was 20,822 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 North Macedonia?
- The highest recorded value was 32,000 in 1992.
- What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in North Macedonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 191 in 2003.
- How does North Macedonia rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of?
- North Macedonia ranks 83rd 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 North Macedonia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2,887.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Macedonia 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.