Is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of ori rising or falling in OECD members?

Over the last ten years it is down 31.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this OECD members 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.

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori in OECD members

Name: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori in OECD members
Creator: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
License: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)

OECD members: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori was 289,139 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

289,139

Change on year

up 5.0%

All-time high

796,891

in 2007

All-time low

2,590

in 1971

Years of data

1965–2025

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori in OECD members, 1965–2025

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 ori in OECD members stood at 289,139.

That represents a change of up 5.0% on the previous year and down 31.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of ori in OECD members peaked at 796,891 in 2007 and was at its lowest, 2,590, in 1971.

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

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	21,610	10,360	26,690	5
1970s	8,818	2,590	25,680	10
1980s	10,997	3,477	37,262	10
1990s	75,893	46,950	108,856	10
2000s	349,138	67,920	796,891	10
2010s	422,090	230,885	562,294	10
2020s	271,356	230,008	309,934	6

More social development data for OECD members

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 11.80 million (2025)
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin 694,393 (2025)
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum 5.96 million (2025)
Forcibly displaced people 28.95 million (2025)
Internally displaced people (IDP) by country or territory of asylum / 7.63 million (2025)
Other people in need of international protection by country or territo 3.56 million (2025)

All data for OECD members →

Frequently asked questions

What is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of ori in OECD members?: Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of ori in OECD members was 289,139 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 ori recorded in OECD members?: The highest recorded value was 796,891 in 2007.
What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of ori recorded in OECD members?: The lowest recorded value was 2,590 in 1971.
Is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of ori rising or falling in OECD members?: Over the last ten years it is down 31.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this OECD members 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

Indicator: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR 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: 246 places, 10,112 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed: 06 August 2026

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.