Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of was 14.87 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Least developed countries, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
Least developed countries recorded 14.87 million for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in 2025.
The figure is down 9.2% on the previous year and up 83.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Least developed countries peaked at 16.39 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 150,000, in 1960.
Least developed countries ranks 6th of 44 groups on this measure, 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 Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 150,000 | — |
| 1961 | 297,000 | +98.0% |
| 1962 | 317,000 | +6.7% |
| 1963 | 348,000 | +9.8% |
| 1964 | 485,300 | +39.5% |
| 1965 | 574,460 | +18.4% |
| 1966 | 735,450 | +28.0% |
| 1967 | 831,780 | +13.1% |
| 1968 | 920,920 | +10.7% |
| 1969 | 933,160 | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 973,010 | +4.3% |
| 1971 | 1.03 million | +6.0% |
| 1972 | 1.13 million | +9.6% |
| 1973 | 1.02 million | -10.1% |
| 1974 | 1.08 million | +5.9% |
| 1975 | 1.45 million | +34.7% |
| 1976 | 1.61 million | +11.0% |
| 1977 | 1.96 million | +21.6% |
| 1978 | 2.49 million | +27.4% |
| 1979 | 3.49 million | +40.0% |
| 1980 | 6.11 million | +74.9% |
| 1981 | 6.94 million | +13.7% |
| 1982 | 7.43 million | +7.1% |
| 1983 | 7.57 million | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 7.84 million | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 8.34 million | +6.4% |
| 1986 | 8.66 million | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 9.42 million | +8.8% |
| 1988 | 10.26 million | +8.9% |
| 1989 | 10.56 million | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 12.26 million | +16.0% |
| 1991 | 11.67 million | -4.8% |
| 1992 | 10.39 million | -10.9% |
| 1993 | 10.11 million | -2.7% |
| 1994 | 9.79 million | -3.2% |
| 1995 | 8.64 million | -11.7% |
| 1996 | 7.34 million | -15.0% |
| 1997 | 6.51 million | -11.3% |
| 1998 | 6.30 million | -3.3% |
| 1999 | 6.54 million | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 7.63 million | +16.7% |
| 2001 | 7.50 million | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 6.17 million | -17.8% |
| 2003 | 5.54 million | -10.2% |
| 2004 | 5.74 million | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 5.38 million | -6.1% |
| 2006 | 5.33 million | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 5.97 million | +12.0% |
| 2008 | 5.60 million | -6.2% |
| 2009 | 5.90 million | +5.5% |
| 2010 | 6.20 million | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 6.27 million | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 6.42 million | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 6.63 million | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 7.39 million | +11.5% |
| 2015 | 8.13 million | +9.9% |
| 2016 | 8.75 million | +7.7% |
| 2017 | 10.75 million | +22.8% |
| 2018 | 10.76 million | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 10.76 million | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 10.71 million | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 11.23 million | +4.9% |
| 2022 | 14.30 million | +27.3% |
| 2023 | 16.05 million | +12.2% |
| 2024 | 16.39 million | +2.1% |
| 2025 | 14.87 million | -9.2% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Least developed countries 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | +98.0% | 150,000 | 297,000 |
| 1980 | +74.9% | 3.49 million | 6.11 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 559,307 | 150,000 | 933,160 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.62 million | 973,010 | 3.49 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.31 million | 6.11 million | 10.56 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.95 million | 6.30 million | 12.26 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.08 million | 5.33 million | 7.63 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.20 million | 6.20 million | 10.76 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.92 million | 10.71 million | 16.39 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 3 Sudan 2.82 million compare
- 4 Afghanistan 2.67 million compare
- 5 South Sudan 2.39 million compare
- 6 Myanmar 1.52 million compare
- 7 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 1.18 million compare
- 8 Somalia 892,037 compare
- 9 Central African Republic 674,222 compare
More social development data for Least developed countries
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 9.39 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 14.87 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0122 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0077 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 12.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 9.39 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -9.25 % 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 0.3785 units per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Least developed countries?
- Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Least developed countries was 14.87 million in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 16.39 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 150,000 in 1960.
- How does Least developed countries rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of?
- Least developed countries ranks 6th out of 44 groups with data for 2025.
- Is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 83.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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 origin, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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How this figure is calculated
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of origin 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
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
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
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of origin 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.