Bangladesh vs Pakistan: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum
Bangladesh
1.18 million
in 2025
Pakistan
1.16 million
in 2025
Bangladesh rank
5th
Pakistan rank
6th
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum over time
- Bangladesh
- Pakistan
How they compare
Bangladesh currently reports 1.18 million against 1.16 million in Pakistan, a difference of 19,000.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 37 shared years of data; in 1979 it was Pakistan ahead.
Bangladesh ranks 5th and Pakistan ranks 6th of 183 countries.
Pakistan has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Bangladesh | Pakistan | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 400,000 | 400,000 | Pakistan |
| 1990s | 74,863 | 1.65 million | 1.58 million | Pakistan |
| 2000s | 43,801 | 1.55 million | 1.51 million | Pakistan |
| 2010s | 435,502 | 1.55 million | 1.11 million | Pakistan |
| 2020s | 982,242 | 1.56 million | 581,348 | Pakistan |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher refugee population by country or territory of asylum, Bangladesh or Pakistan?
- Bangladesh, at 1.18 million against 1.16 million in Pakistan as of 2025.
- What is the difference in refugee population by country or territory of asylum between Bangladesh and Pakistan?
- 19,000, with Bangladesh ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Bangladesh and Pakistan?
- 37 years are reported by both, from 1979 to 2025.
- How do Bangladesh and Pakistan rank globally for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Bangladesh ranks 5th and Pakistan ranks 6th of 183 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Refugee population by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.