Refugees under the mandate of the UNRWA by country or territory of in World
World: Refugees under the mandate of the UNRWA by country or territory of was 5.47 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugees under the mandate of the UNRWA 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 unrwa by country or territory of in World is 5.47 million, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 7.5% on the previous year and up 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unrwa by country or territory of in World peaked at 5.97 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.14 million, in 1960.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees under the mandate of the UNRWA by country or territory of in World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.14 million | — |
| 1961 | 1.16 million | +2.2% |
| 1962 | 1.19 million | +2.4% |
| 1963 | 1.23 million | +3.2% |
| 1964 | 1.26 million | +2.8% |
| 1965 | 1.30 million | +3.0% |
| 1966 | 1.33 million | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 1.21 million | -8.7% |
| 1968 | 1.38 million | +13.4% |
| 1969 | 1.41 million | +2.5% |
| 1970 | 1.45 million | +2.5% |
| 1971 | 1.49 million | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 1.52 million | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 1.55 million | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 1.60 million | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 1.65 million | +3.5% |
| 1976 | 1.68 million | +1.9% |
| 1977 | 1.73 million | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 1.78 million | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 1.82 million | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 1.86 million | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 1.89 million | +1.7% |
| 1982 | 1.94 million | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 1.99 million | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 2.07 million | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 2.12 million | +2.5% |
| 1986 | 2.17 million | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 2.23 million | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 2.30 million | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 2.38 million | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 2.47 million | +3.8% |
| 1991 | 2.59 million | +4.9% |
| 1992 | 2.73 million | +5.5% |
| 1993 | 2.91 million | +6.8% |
| 1994 | 3.09 million | +6.2% |
| 1995 | 3.25 million | +4.9% |
| 1996 | 3.37 million | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 3.47 million | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 3.57 million | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 3.68 million | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 3.81 million | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 3.93 million | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 4.03 million | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 4.14 million | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 4.23 million | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 4.35 million | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 4.45 million | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 4.56 million | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 4.67 million | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 4.77 million | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 4.69 million | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 4.80 million | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 4.92 million | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 5.03 million | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 5.15 million | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 5.24 million | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 5.34 million | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 5.44 million | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 5.55 million | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 5.63 million | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 5.70 million | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 5.79 million | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 5.89 million | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 5.97 million | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 5.91 million | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 5.47 million | -7.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.26 million | 1.14 million | 1.41 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.63 million | 1.45 million | 1.82 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.10 million | 1.86 million | 2.38 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.11 million | 2.47 million | 3.68 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.29 million | 3.81 million | 4.77 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.18 million | 4.69 million | 5.63 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.79 million | 5.47 million | 5.97 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near World
- 1 Palestine, State of 2.48 million compare
- 2 Jordan 2.40 million compare
- 3 Syrian Arab Republic 357,985 compare
- 4 Lebanon 228,274 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 28.11 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees under the mandate of the unrwa by country or territory of in World?
- Refugees under the mandate of the unrwa by country or territory of in World was 5.47 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 unrwa by country or territory of recorded in World?
- The highest recorded value was 5.97 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unrwa by country or territory of recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.14 million in 1960.
- How does World rank for refugees under the mandate of the unrwa by country or territory of?
- World ranks 1st out of 16 groups with data for 2025.
- Is refugees under the mandate of the unrwa by country or territory of rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.3%. 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 UNRWA 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 United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Palestine Refugees, are persons whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948 and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict. Palestine Refugees, and descendants of Palestine refugee males, including legally adopted children, are eligible to register for UNRWA services. UNRWA accepts new applications from persons who wish to be registered as Palestine Refugees. Once they are registered with UNRWA, persons in this category are referred to as Registered Refugees. Refugees under the mandate of the UNRWA are not typically included in the statistics on refugees (and people in a refugee-like situation) under the mandate of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).