Belgium vs Switzerland: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum
Belgium
186,393
in 2025
Switzerland
208,287
in 2025
Belgium rank
36th
Switzerland rank
33rd
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum over time
- Belgium
- Switzerland
How they compare
Switzerland currently reports 208,287 against 186,393 in Belgium, a difference of 21,894.
That makes Switzerland's figure about 1.1 times Belgium's.
The two have swapped places 7 times across 75 shared years of data; in 1951 it was Belgium ahead.
Belgium ranks 36th and Switzerland ranks 33rd of 183 countries.
Across the 8 decades both report, Belgium averaged higher in 2 and Switzerland in 6.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Belgium | Switzerland | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 58,056 | 14,344 | 43,711 | Belgium |
| 1960s | 44,000 | 21,750 | 22,250 | Belgium |
| 1970s | 22,039 | 32,600 | 10,561 | Switzerland |
| 1980s | 30,355 | 33,140 | 2,786 | Switzerland |
| 1990s | 25,474 | 68,508 | 43,035 | Switzerland |
| 2000s | 15,196 | 50,245 | 35,049 | Switzerland |
| 2010s | 34,054 | 72,819 | 38,765 | Switzerland |
| 2020s | 137,921 | 169,010 | 31,090 | Switzerland |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher refugee population by country or territory of asylum, Belgium or Switzerland?
- Switzerland, at 208,287 against 186,393 in Belgium as of 2025.
- What is the difference in refugee population by country or territory of asylum between Belgium and Switzerland?
- 21,894, with Switzerland ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Belgium and Switzerland?
- 75 years are reported by both, from 1951 to 2025.
- How do Belgium and Switzerland rank globally for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Belgium ranks 36th and Switzerland ranks 33rd 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.