Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Sweden
Sweden: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of was 144,116 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Sweden, 1960–2025
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Analysis
Sweden recorded 144,116 for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in 2025.
That represents a change of down 11.6% on the previous year and down 15.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Sweden peaked at 277,726 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 17,000, in 1968.
That places Sweden 42nd out of 179 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 Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 26,000 | — |
| 1961 | 26,000 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 26,000 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 26,000 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 24,000 | -7.7% |
| 1965 | 22,000 | -8.3% |
| 1966 | 20,000 | -9.1% |
| 1967 | 18,000 | -10.0% |
| 1968 | 17,000 | -5.6% |
| 1969 | 17,000 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 20,000 | +17.6% |
| 1971 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 43,000 | +115.0% |
| 1984 | 90,600 | +110.7% |
| 1985 | 90,600 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 120,000 | +32.5% |
| 1987 | 130,000 | +8.3% |
| 1988 | 139,783 | +7.5% |
| 1989 | 139,783 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 109,654 | -21.6% |
| 1991 | 124,457 | +13.5% |
| 1992 | 131,069 | +5.3% |
| 1993 | 162,386 | +23.9% |
| 1994 | 200,774 | +23.6% |
| 1995 | 199,194 | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 191,159 | -4.0% |
| 1997 | 186,719 | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 178,782 | -4.3% |
| 1999 | 159,504 | -10.8% |
| 2000 | 157,206 | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 146,480 | -6.8% |
| 2002 | 142,170 | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 112,148 | -21.1% |
| 2004 | 73,383 | -34.6% |
| 2005 | 74,889 | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 79,895 | +6.7% |
| 2007 | 75,055 | -6.1% |
| 2008 | 77,016 | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 81,346 | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 82,620 | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 86,603 | +4.8% |
| 2012 | 92,869 | +7.2% |
| 2013 | 114,172 | +22.9% |
| 2014 | 142,197 | +24.5% |
| 2015 | 169,516 | +19.2% |
| 2016 | 230,158 | +35.8% |
| 2017 | 240,954 | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 248,210 | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 253,787 | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 248,372 | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 240,854 | -3.0% |
| 2022 | 277,726 | +15.3% |
| 2023 | 237,632 | -14.4% |
| 2024 | 163,029 | -31.4% |
| 2025 | 144,116 | -11.6% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 144,116 is above the median for high income countries, which is 12,513, 11.5× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 144,116 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 62,365, 2.3× 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 Sweden 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | +115.0% | 20,000 | 43,000 |
| 1984 | +110.7% | 43,000 | 90,600 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 22,200 | 17,000 | 26,000 | 10 |
| 1970s | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 81,377 | 20,000 | 139,783 | 10 |
| 1990s | 164,370 | 109,654 | 200,774 | 10 |
| 2000s | 101,959 | 73,383 | 157,206 | 10 |
| 2010s | 166,109 | 82,620 | 253,787 | 10 |
| 2020s | 218,622 | 144,116 | 277,726 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More social development data for Sweden
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 128 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 128 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0136 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 -11.6 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Sweden?
- Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Sweden was 144,116 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 Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 277,726 in 2022.
- What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 17,000 in 1968.
- How does Sweden rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of?
- Sweden ranks 42nd 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 Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sweden 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.
Download this data
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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.