Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 1.18 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Bangladesh, 1974–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Bangladesh stood at 1.18 million. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.
That represents a change of up 17.1% on the previous year and up 407.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Bangladesh peaked at 1.18 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1974.
That places Bangladesh 5th out of 183 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
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 Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 164,000 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1990 | 145 | — |
| 1991 | 40,260 | +27665.5% |
| 1992 | 245,154 | +508.9% |
| 1993 | 198,950 | -18.8% |
| 1994 | 116,227 | -41.6% |
| 1995 | 51,117 | -56.0% |
| 1996 | 30,690 | -40.0% |
| 1997 | 21,603 | -29.6% |
| 1998 | 22,275 | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 22,209 | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 21,623 | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 22,169 | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 22,024 | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 19,791 | -10.1% |
| 2004 | 20,450 | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 21,099 | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 26,308 | +24.7% |
| 2007 | 27,571 | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 28,384 | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 228,587 | +705.3% |
| 2010 | 229,256 | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 229,669 | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 230,696 | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 231,142 | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 232,468 | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 231,954 | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 276,203 | +19.1% |
| 2017 | 932,209 | +237.5% |
| 2018 | 906,640 | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 854,779 | -5.7% |
| 2020 | 866,534 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 918,907 | +6.0% |
| 2022 | 952,384 | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 971,984 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 1.01 million | +3.5% |
| 2025 | 1.18 million | +17.1% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 1.18 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8,620, 136.7× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Bangladesh 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +27665.5% | 145 | 40,260 |
| 2009 | +705.3% | 28,384 | 228,587 |
| 1992 | +508.9% | 40,260 | 245,154 |
| 2017 | +237.5% | 276,203 | 932,209 |
| 1979 | -100.0% | 164,000 | 0 |
| 1995 | -56.0% | 116,227 | 51,117 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 54,667 | 0 | 164,000 | 3 |
| 1990s | 74,863 | 145 | 245,154 | 10 |
| 2000s | 43,801 | 19,791 | 228,587 | 10 |
| 2010s | 435,502 | 229,256 | 932,209 | 10 |
| 2020s | 982,242 | 866,534 | 1.18 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More population data for Bangladesh
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4985 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.94 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4985 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6747 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 203,905 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8247 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.9442 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.502 (2100)
- Population density 1,602 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 9.15 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Bangladesh?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Bangladesh was 1.18 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 1.18 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1974.
- How does Bangladesh rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Bangladesh ranks 5th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is up 407.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bangladesh 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.
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