Refugees by country of asylum in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Refugees by country of asylum was 20,866 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Afghanistan, 1990–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 20,866 people for refugees by country of asylum in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 40.1% on the previous year and down 93.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Afghanistan peaked at 300,421 people in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 1998.
That places Afghanistan 82nd out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 50 people | — |
| 1991 | 38 people | -24.0% |
| 1992 | 60,025 people | +157860.5% |
| 1993 | 32,131 people | -46.5% |
| 1994 | 19,134 people | -40.5% |
| 1995 | 19,605 people | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 18,779 people | -4.2% |
| 1997 | 5 people | -100.0% |
| 1998 | 0 people | -100.0% |
| 1999 | 0 people | — |
| 2000 | 0 people | — |
| 2001 | 10 people | — |
| 2002 | 0 people | -100.0% |
| 2003 | 24 people | — |
| 2004 | 31 people | +29.2% |
| 2005 | 31 people | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 34 people | +9.7% |
| 2007 | 43 people | +26.5% |
| 2008 | 37 people | -14.0% |
| 2009 | 36 people | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 6,434 people | +17772.2% |
| 2011 | 3,011 people | -53.2% |
| 2012 | 16,184 people | +437.5% |
| 2013 | 16,861 people | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 300,421 people | +1681.8% |
| 2015 | 257,553 people | -14.3% |
| 2016 | 59,770 people | -76.8% |
| 2017 | 75,927 people | +27.0% |
| 2018 | 72,228 people | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 72,227 people | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 72,278 people | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 66,949 people | -7.4% |
| 2022 | 52,159 people | -22.1% |
| 2023 | 34,826 people | -33.2% |
| 2024 | 20,866 people | -40.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14,977 people | 0 people | 60,025 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.6 people | 0 people | 43 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 88,062 people | 3,011 people | 300,421 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 49,416 people | 20,866 people | 72,278 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 79 Kyrgyzstan 23,678 people compare
- 80 Ecuador 23,218 people compare
- 81 North Macedonia 20,911 people compare
- 83 Nepal 19,598 people compare
- 84 Somalia 19,503 people compare
- 85 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 19,333 people compare
More population data for Afghanistan
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4637 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.2412 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4637 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2115 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 74,075 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.39 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2522 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Population density 199.65 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 9.03 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Afghanistan?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Afghanistan was 20,866 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 300,421 people in 2014.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 1998.
- How does Afghanistan rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Afghanistan ranks 82nd out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 93.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees who live in this country, not just those who arrived that year.