Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of was 148,369 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Sri Lanka, 1985–2025
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 Sri Lanka stood at 148,369.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 22.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Sri Lanka peaked at 209,349 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 160, in 1985.
Sri Lanka ranks 23rd of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 41 years of available data.
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 160 | — |
| 1986 | 315 | +96.9% |
| 1987 | 219 | -30.5% |
| 1988 | 3,388 | +1447.0% |
| 1989 | 7,692 | +127.0% |
| 1990 | 208,271 | +2607.6% |
| 1991 | 209,349 | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 128,115 | -38.8% |
| 1993 | 91,837 | -28.3% |
| 1994 | 114,454 | +24.6% |
| 1995 | 107,587 | -6.0% |
| 1996 | 109,576 | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 122,277 | +11.6% |
| 1998 | 114,971 | -6.0% |
| 1999 | 116,698 | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 124,156 | +6.4% |
| 2001 | 122,414 | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 133,240 | +8.8% |
| 2003 | 122,005 | -8.4% |
| 2004 | 114,050 | -6.5% |
| 2005 | 108,132 | -5.2% |
| 2006 | 116,948 | +8.2% |
| 2007 | 134,945 | +15.4% |
| 2008 | 137,742 | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 145,711 | +5.8% |
| 2010 | 141,064 | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 136,602 | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 132,720 | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 123,074 | -7.3% |
| 2014 | 121,991 | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 121,427 | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 117,472 | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 115,632 | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 113,955 | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 110,341 | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 142,664 | +29.3% |
| 2021 | 151,112 | +5.9% |
| 2022 | 148,144 | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 145,319 | -1.9% |
| 2024 | 147,033 | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 148,369 | +0.9% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 148,369 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2,642, 56.2× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 148,369 is above the median for South Asia, which is 19,940, 7.4× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Sri Lanka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +2607.6% | 7,692 | 208,271 |
| 1988 | +1447.0% | 219 | 3,388 |
| 1989 | +127.0% | 3,388 | 7,692 |
| 1986 | +96.9% | 160 | 315 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,355 | 160 | 7,692 | 5 |
| 1990s | 132,314 | 91,837 | 209,349 | 10 |
| 2000s | 125,934 | 108,132 | 145,711 | 10 |
| 2010s | 123,428 | 110,341 | 141,064 | 10 |
| 2020s | 147,107 | 142,664 | 151,112 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 20 Iran, Islamic Republic of 157,912 compare
- 21 China 153,962 compare
- 22 Türkiye 149,405 compare
- 24 Cameroon 140,366 compare
- 25 Azerbaijan 130,983 compare
- 26 Russian Federation 99,360 compare
More social development data for Sri Lanka
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 213 (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 0.0068 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 148,369 (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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -8.19 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Sri Lanka?
- Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Sri Lanka was 148,369 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 209,349 in 1991.
- What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 160 in 1985.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of?
- Sri Lanka ranks 23rd out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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 origin. 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.