Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Belgium
Belgium: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 186,393 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
186,393
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
36th
of 183 countries
All-time high
186,393
in 2025
All-time low
11,100
in 1974
Years of data
75
1951–2025
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Belgium, 1951–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 186,393 for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in 2025. That is the highest value across all 75 years on record.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 428.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Belgium peaked at 186,393 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 11,100, in 1974.
That places Belgium 36th out of 183 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
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 Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 55,000 | — |
| 1952 | 53,500 | -2.7% |
| 1953 | 53,000 | -0.9% |
| 1954 | 53,000 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 53,000 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 65,000 | +22.6% |
| 1957 | 69,000 | +6.2% |
| 1958 | 63,000 | -8.7% |
| 1959 | 58,000 | -7.9% |
| 1960 | 55,000 | -5.2% |
| 1961 | 53,000 | -3.6% |
| 1962 | 51,000 | -3.8% |
| 1963 | 50,000 | -2.0% |
| 1964 | 47,000 | -6.0% |
| 1965 | 47,000 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 40,000 | -14.9% |
| 1967 | 34,000 | -15.0% |
| 1968 | 33,000 | -2.9% |
| 1969 | 30,000 | -9.1% |
| 1970 | 31,500 | +5.0% |
| 1971 | 29,000 | -7.9% |
| 1972 | 29,000 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 20,000 | -31.0% |
| 1974 | 11,100 | -44.5% |
| 1975 | 16,788 | +51.2% |
| 1976 | 17,000 | +1.3% |
| 1977 | 17,000 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 17,000 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 32,000 | +88.2% |
| 1980 | 33,000 | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 35,000 | +6.1% |
| 1982 | 21,000 | -40.0% |
| 1983 | 35,000 | +66.7% |
| 1984 | 36,400 | +4.0% |
| 1985 | 36,600 | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 35,900 | -1.9% |
| 1987 | 22,000 | -38.7% |
| 1988 | 23,117 | +5.1% |
| 1989 | 25,531 | +10.4% |
| 1990 | 25,911 | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 24,071 | -7.1% |
| 1992 | 24,292 | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 24,908 | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 19,497 | -21.7% |
| 1995 | 31,691 | +62.5% |
| 1996 | 36,060 | +13.8% |
| 1997 | 36,060 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 15,501 | -57.0% |
| 1999 | 16,747 | +8.0% |
| 2000 | 18,821 | +12.4% |
| 2001 | 12,252 | -34.9% |
| 2002 | 12,560 | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 12,583 | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 13,522 | +7.5% |
| 2005 | 15,277 | +13.0% |
| 2006 | 16,811 | +10.0% |
| 2007 | 17,578 | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 17,025 | -3.1% |
| 2009 | 15,536 | -8.7% |
| 2010 | 17,891 | +15.2% |
| 2011 | 22,396 | +25.2% |
| 2012 | 22,023 | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 25,617 | +16.3% |
| 2014 | 29,170 | +13.9% |
| 2015 | 35,302 | +21.0% |
| 2016 | 42,158 | +19.4% |
| 2017 | 42,158 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 42,158 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 61,662 | +46.3% |
| 2020 | 64,973 | +5.4% |
| 2021 | 74,063 | +14.0% |
| 2022 | 150,713 | +103.5% |
| 2023 | 167,831 | +11.4% |
| 2024 | 183,551 | +9.4% |
| 2025 | 186,393 | +1.5% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 186,393 is above the median for high income countries, which is 11,811, 15.8× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 186,393 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 70,349, 2.6× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Belgium 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +103.5% | 74,063 | 150,713 |
| 1979 | +88.2% | 17,000 | 32,000 |
| 1983 | +66.7% | 21,000 | 35,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 58,056 | 53,000 | 69,000 | 9 |
| 1960s | 44,000 | 30,000 | 55,000 | 10 |
| 1970s | 22,039 | 11,100 | 32,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 30,355 | 21,000 | 36,600 | 10 |
| 1990s | 25,474 | 15,501 | 36,060 | 10 |
| 2000s | 15,196 | 12,252 | 18,821 | 10 |
| 2010s | 34,054 | 17,891 | 61,662 | 10 |
| 2020s | 137,921 | 64,973 | 186,393 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More population data for Belgium
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.1094 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0945 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 12,091 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.2011 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.0085 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.166 (2100)
- Population density 365.29 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 461,216 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Belgium?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Belgium was 186,393 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 186,393 in 2025.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 11,100 in 1974.
- How does Belgium rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Belgium ranks 36th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 428.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium 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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