Refugees by country of asylum in Austria
Austria: Refugees by country of asylum was 284,828 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Austria, 1951–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of asylum in Austria stood at 284,828 people. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of up 10.5% on the previous year and up 369.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Austria peaked at 284,828 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 14,122 people, in 2002.
Austria ranks 26th of 183 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Austria, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 282,000 people | — |
| 1952 | 238,200 people | -15.5% |
| 1953 | 215,200 people | -9.7% |
| 1954 | 150,000 people | -30.3% |
| 1955 | 110,000 people | -26.7% |
| 1956 | 140,000 people | +27.3% |
| 1957 | 68,000 people | -51.4% |
| 1958 | 53,000 people | -22.1% |
| 1959 | 44,000 people | -17.0% |
| 1960 | 39,000 people | -11.4% |
| 1961 | 34,000 people | -12.8% |
| 1962 | 30,000 people | -11.8% |
| 1963 | 27,000 people | -10.0% |
| 1964 | 25,000 people | -7.4% |
| 1965 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 24,500 people | -2.0% |
| 1967 | 24,000 people | -2.0% |
| 1968 | 24,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 25,000 people | +4.2% |
| 1970 | 25,300 people | +1.2% |
| 1971 | 25,000 people | -1.2% |
| 1972 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 20,000 people | -20.0% |
| 1976 | 25,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1977 | 20,000 people | -20.0% |
| 1978 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 25,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1980 | 15,525 people | -37.9% |
| 1981 | 17,899 people | +15.3% |
| 1982 | 34,963 people | +95.3% |
| 1983 | 37,298 people | +6.7% |
| 1984 | 39,099 people | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 40,534 people | +3.7% |
| 1986 | 41,176 people | +1.6% |
| 1987 | 41,228 people | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 39,830 people | -3.4% |
| 1989 | 39,405 people | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 34,938 people | -11.3% |
| 1991 | 34,508 people | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 62,355 people | +80.7% |
| 1993 | 57,687 people | -7.5% |
| 1994 | 40,703 people | -29.4% |
| 1995 | 34,385 people | -15.5% |
| 1996 | 89,116 people | +159.2% |
| 1997 | 84,394 people | -5.3% |
| 1998 | 80,294 people | -4.9% |
| 1999 | 82,076 people | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 15,493 people | -81.1% |
| 2001 | 14,375 people | -7.2% |
| 2002 | 14,122 people | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 16,097 people | +14.0% |
| 2004 | 17,777 people | +10.4% |
| 2005 | 21,212 people | +19.3% |
| 2006 | 25,475 people | +20.1% |
| 2007 | 30,767 people | +20.8% |
| 2008 | 37,546 people | +22.0% |
| 2009 | 38,895 people | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 42,613 people | +9.6% |
| 2011 | 47,055 people | +10.4% |
| 2012 | 51,707 people | +9.9% |
| 2013 | 55,575 people | +7.5% |
| 2014 | 60,724 people | +9.3% |
| 2015 | 72,198 people | +18.9% |
| 2016 | 93,242 people | +29.1% |
| 2017 | 115,252 people | +23.6% |
| 2018 | 128,779 people | +11.7% |
| 2019 | 135,951 people | +5.6% |
| 2020 | 141,816 people | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 152,514 people | +7.5% |
| 2022 | 258,613 people | +69.6% |
| 2023 | 257,811 people | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 284,828 people | +10.5% |
Austria compared with similar countries
- Austria's 284,828 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 10,077 people, 28.3× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Austria's 284,828 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 68,603 people, 4.2× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Austria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +159.2% | 34,385 people | 89,116 people |
| 1982 | +95.3% | 17,899 people | 34,963 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 144,489 people | 44,000 people | 282,000 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 27,750 people | 24,000 people | 39,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 23,530 people | 20,000 people | 25,300 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 34,696 people | 15,525 people | 41,228 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 60,046 people | 34,385 people | 89,116 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 23,176 people | 14,122 people | 38,895 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 80,310 people | 42,613 people | 135,951 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 219,116 people | 141,816 people | 284,828 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Austria
More population data for Austria
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.2038 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.65 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.2038 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0974 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 8,924 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.0912 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3729 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 89.67 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 297,643 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Austria?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Austria was 284,828 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 Austria?
- The highest recorded value was 284,828 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Austria?
- The lowest recorded value was 14,122 people in 2002.
- How does Austria rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Austria ranks 26th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Austria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 369.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Austria 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.
Download this data
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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.