Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Australia
Australia: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 33,415 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Australia, 1951–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Australia is 33,415, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 13.2% on the previous year and down 9.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Australia peaked at 317,000 in 1981 and was at its lowest, 20,915, in 2008.
That places Australia 72nd 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 Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 180,000 | — |
| 1965 | 40,000 | -77.8% |
| 1966 | 40,000 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 44,000 | +10.0% |
| 1968 | 43,000 | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 42,000 | -2.3% |
| 1970 | 42,000 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 304,000 | +623.8% |
| 1979 | 304,000 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 304,000 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 317,000 | +4.3% |
| 1982 | 317,000 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 317,000 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 89,000 | -71.9% |
| 1985 | 89,000 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 85,900 | -3.5% |
| 1987 | 87,600 | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 90,970 | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 97,915 | +7.6% |
| 1990 | 97,915 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 53,117 | -45.8% |
| 1992 | 52,604 | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 53,505 | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 57,575 | +7.6% |
| 1995 | 62,145 | +7.9% |
| 1996 | 67,298 | +8.3% |
| 1997 | 66,056 | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 69,714 | +5.5% |
| 1999 | 64,879 | -6.9% |
| 2000 | 60,219 | -7.2% |
| 2001 | 57,885 | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 59,422 | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 56,242 | -5.4% |
| 2004 | 63,478 | +12.9% |
| 2005 | 64,955 | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 68,942 | +6.1% |
| 2007 | 22,161 | -67.9% |
| 2008 | 20,915 | -5.6% |
| 2009 | 22,543 | +7.8% |
| 2010 | 21,790 | -3.3% |
| 2011 | 23,423 | +7.5% |
| 2012 | 30,056 | +28.3% |
| 2013 | 34,485 | +14.7% |
| 2014 | 35,565 | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 36,917 | +3.8% |
| 2016 | 42,187 | +14.3% |
| 2017 | 48,480 | +14.9% |
| 2018 | 56,934 | +17.4% |
| 2019 | 58,529 | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 57,411 | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 55,606 | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 54,430 | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 34,502 | -36.6% |
| 2024 | 29,511 | -14.5% |
| 2025 | 33,415 | +13.2% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 33,415 is above the median for high income countries, which is 11,811, 2.8× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Australia's 33,415 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 51.5, 648.8× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +623.8% | 42,000 | 304,000 |
| 1965 | -77.8% | 180,000 | 40,000 |
| 1984 | -71.9% | 317,000 | 89,000 |
| 2007 | -67.9% | 68,942 | 22,161 |
| 1991 | -45.8% | 97,915 | 53,117 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 180,000 | 180,000 | 180,000 | 1 |
| 1960s | 41,800 | 40,000 | 44,000 | 5 |
| 1970s | 216,667 | 42,000 | 304,000 | 3 |
| 1980s | 179,538 | 85,900 | 317,000 | 10 |
| 1990s | 64,481 | 52,604 | 97,915 | 10 |
| 2000s | 49,676 | 20,915 | 68,942 | 10 |
| 2010s | 38,837 | 21,790 | 58,529 | 10 |
| 2020s | 44,146 | 29,511 | 57,411 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More population data for Australia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5057 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.5755 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.5057 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2553 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 32,193 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8589 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.2773 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.503 (2100)
- Population density 5.61 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 2.09 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Australia?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Australia was 33,415 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 317,000 in 1981.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 20,915 in 2008.
- How does Australia rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Australia ranks 72nd out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia 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
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).