Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in World
World: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of was 28.11 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in World, 1960–2025
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in World is 28.11 million, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.0% on the previous year and up 77.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in World peaked at 31.30 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 150,000, in 1960.
World ranks 1st of 47 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 150,000 | — |
| 1961 | 302,000 | +101.3% |
| 1962 | 322,000 | +6.6% |
| 1963 | 353,000 | +9.6% |
| 1964 | 1.70 million | +381.8% |
| 1965 | 1.95 million | +14.7% |
| 1966 | 2.11 million | +8.4% |
| 1967 | 958,640 | -54.6% |
| 1968 | 1.10 million | +14.8% |
| 1969 | 1.07 million | -2.5% |
| 1970 | 1.11 million | +3.5% |
| 1971 | 1.17 million | +5.5% |
| 1972 | 1.24 million | +6.2% |
| 1973 | 1.03 million | -17.1% |
| 1974 | 1.10 million | +7.1% |
| 1975 | 1.58 million | +43.2% |
| 1976 | 1.75 million | +11.0% |
| 1977 | 2.28 million | +30.0% |
| 1978 | 3.16 million | +38.5% |
| 1979 | 4.32 million | +36.8% |
| 1980 | 6.81 million | +57.5% |
| 1981 | 7.86 million | +15.5% |
| 1982 | 8.42 million | +7.2% |
| 1983 | 8.59 million | +2.0% |
| 1984 | 8.88 million | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 9.76 million | +9.8% |
| 1986 | 10.06 million | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 10.68 million | +6.2% |
| 1988 | 11.88 million | +11.2% |
| 1989 | 12.08 million | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 14.61 million | +20.9% |
| 1991 | 14.39 million | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 14.50 million | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 13.87 million | -4.3% |
| 1994 | 13.73 million | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 12.52 million | -8.9% |
| 1996 | 11.73 million | -6.3% |
| 1997 | 10.74 million | -8.5% |
| 1998 | 10.22 million | -4.9% |
| 1999 | 10.25 million | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 10.82 million | +5.5% |
| 2001 | 10.82 million | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 10.10 million | -6.7% |
| 2003 | 9.07 million | -10.2% |
| 2004 | 9.02 million | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 8.35 million | -7.4% |
| 2006 | 9.51 million | +13.9% |
| 2007 | 11.05 million | +16.2% |
| 2008 | 10.15 million | -8.1% |
| 2009 | 10.06 million | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 10.23 million | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 10.11 million | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 10.21 million | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 11.44 million | +12.0% |
| 2014 | 14.12 million | +23.5% |
| 2015 | 15.82 million | +12.0% |
| 2016 | 16.87 million | +6.6% |
| 2017 | 19.55 million | +15.9% |
| 2018 | 19.96 million | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 20.03 million | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 20.29 million | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 21.04 million | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 29.17 million | +38.6% |
| 2023 | 31.30 million | +7.3% |
| 2024 | 30.54 million | -2.4% |
| 2025 | 28.11 million | -8.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.00 million | 150,000 | 2.11 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.88 million | 1.03 million | 4.32 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.50 million | 6.81 million | 12.08 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.66 million | 10.22 million | 14.61 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.89 million | 8.35 million | 11.05 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.84 million | 10.11 million | 20.03 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.74 million | 20.29 million | 31.30 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near World
- 1 Ukraine 5.22 million compare
- 2 Syrian Arab Republic 4.87 million compare
- 3 Sudan 2.82 million compare
- 4 Afghanistan 2.67 million compare
More social development data for World
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 28.46 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0034 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 28.11 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0035 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 -8.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 28.46 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -7.96 % 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 0.2438 units per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in World?
- Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in World was 28.11 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 World?
- The highest recorded value was 31.30 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 150,000 in 1960.
- How does World rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of?
- World ranks 1st 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 World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 77.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this World 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.
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.