Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in World

World: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin was 7.42 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
7.42 million
Change on year
down 10.4%
All-time high
8.28 million
in 2024
All-time low
528,631
in 2006
Years of data
26
2000–2025

Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in World, 2000–2025

02.0M4.0M6.0M8.0M2000201220252000: 753.3k2001: 804.6k2002: 822.2k2003: 762.8k2004: 655.6k2005: 673.2k2006: 528.6k2007: 555.8k2008: 569.9k2009: 537.3k2010: 560.2k2011: 609.6k2012: 711.7k2013: 998.0k2014: 1.3M2015: 2.2M2016: 2.5M2017: 3.0M2018: 3.4M2019: 4.0M2020: 4.1M2021: 4.6M2022: 5.4M2023: 6.8M2024: 8.3M2025: 7.4M

Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Analysis

World recorded 7.42 million for asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in 2025.

That represents a change of down 10.4% on the previous year and up 244.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in World peaked at 8.28 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 528,631, in 2006.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 666,333 528,631 822,212 10
2010s 1.94 million 560,239 4.02 million 10
2020s 6.08 million 4.07 million 8.28 million 6

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Frequently asked questions

What is asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in World?
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in World was 7.42 million in 2025, according to Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
What is the highest asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin recorded in World?
The highest recorded value was 8.28 million in 2024.
What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin recorded in World?
The lowest recorded value was 528,631 in 2006.
Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin rising or falling in World?
Over the last ten years it is up 244.1%. 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 Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).

About this data

Indicator
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin
Source
Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
245 places, 6,098 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed

Asylum-seekers are individuals who have sought international protection and whose claims for refugee status have not yet been determined. This includes those who are in various stages of the asylum process, such as initial application, appeal, or awaiting final decision. In specific contexts, asylum-seekers may also include those who are seeking protection under complementary forms of protection, and those enjoying temporary protection, but whose claims are still under consideration.