Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 20,869 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Afghanistan, 1990–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 20,869 for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 91.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Afghanistan peaked at 300,421 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1998.
That places Afghanistan 81st out of 183 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 50 | — |
| 1991 | 38 | -24.0% |
| 1992 | 60,025 | +157860.5% |
| 1993 | 32,131 | -46.5% |
| 1994 | 19,134 | -40.5% |
| 1995 | 19,605 | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 18,779 | -4.2% |
| 1997 | 5 | -100.0% |
| 1998 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1999 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 10 | — |
| 2002 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 2003 | 24 | — |
| 2004 | 31 | +29.2% |
| 2005 | 31 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 34 | +9.7% |
| 2007 | 43 | +26.5% |
| 2008 | 37 | -14.0% |
| 2009 | 36 | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 6,434 | +17772.2% |
| 2011 | 3,011 | -53.2% |
| 2012 | 16,184 | +437.5% |
| 2013 | 16,861 | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 300,421 | +1681.8% |
| 2015 | 257,553 | -14.3% |
| 2016 | 59,770 | -76.8% |
| 2017 | 75,927 | +27.0% |
| 2018 | 72,228 | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 72,227 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 72,278 | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 66,949 | -7.4% |
| 2022 | 52,159 | -22.1% |
| 2023 | 34,826 | -33.2% |
| 2024 | 20,866 | -40.1% |
| 2025 | 20,869 | +0.0% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 20,869 is below the median for low income countries, which is 45,052, 46% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 20,869 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 15,377, 1.4× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Afghanistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +157860.5% | 38 | 60,025 |
| 2010 | +17772.2% | 36 | 6,434 |
| 2014 | +1681.8% | 16,861 | 300,421 |
| 2012 | +437.5% | 3,011 | 16,184 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14,977 | 0 | 60,025 | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.6 | 0 | 43 | 10 |
| 2010s | 88,062 | 3,011 | 300,421 | 10 |
| 2020s | 44,658 | 20,866 | 72,278 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
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)
- Population growth rate 0.424 (2100)
- Population density 199.65 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 9.03 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Afghanistan?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Afghanistan was 20,869 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 300,421 in 2014.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1998.
- How does Afghanistan rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Afghanistan ranks 81st out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 91.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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