Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Brazil
Brazil: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 278,966 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Brazil, 1969–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Brazil is 278,966, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 57 years on record.
The figure is up 8.5% on the previous year and up 3,105.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Brazil peaked at 278,966 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2,050, in 1995.
Brazil ranks 30th 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.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Brazil, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 40,000 | — |
| 1970 | 40,000 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 38,000 | -5.0% |
| 1972 | 37,000 | -2.6% |
| 1973 | 35,200 | -4.9% |
| 1974 | 34,000 | -3.4% |
| 1975 | 32,000 | -5.9% |
| 1976 | 30,000 | -6.2% |
| 1977 | 36,000 | +20.0% |
| 1978 | 35,000 | -2.8% |
| 1979 | 25,000 | -28.6% |
| 1980 | 24,000 | -4.0% |
| 1981 | 24,000 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 5,400 | -77.5% |
| 1983 | 5,400 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 5,300 | -1.9% |
| 1985 | 5,300 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 5,300 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 5,280 | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 5,332 | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 5,331 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 5,335 | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 5,389 | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 5,439 | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 6,198 | +14.0% |
| 1994 | 2,223 | -64.1% |
| 1995 | 2,050 | -7.8% |
| 1996 | 2,212 | +7.9% |
| 1997 | 2,260 | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 2,345 | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 2,374 | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 2,718 | +14.5% |
| 2001 | 2,877 | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 3,176 | +10.4% |
| 2003 | 3,190 | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 3,333 | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 3,446 | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 3,478 | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 20,764 | +497.0% |
| 2008 | 3,831 | -81.5% |
| 2009 | 4,218 | +10.1% |
| 2010 | 4,346 | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 4,466 | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 4,681 | +4.8% |
| 2013 | 5,185 | +10.8% |
| 2014 | 7,478 | +44.2% |
| 2015 | 8,703 | +16.4% |
| 2016 | 9,674 | +11.2% |
| 2017 | 10,260 | +6.1% |
| 2018 | 11,304 | +10.2% |
| 2019 | 32,844 | +190.6% |
| 2020 | 59,092 | +79.9% |
| 2021 | 61,956 | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 67,522 | +9.0% |
| 2023 | 235,765 | +249.2% |
| 2024 | 257,079 | +9.0% |
| 2025 | 278,966 | +8.5% |
Brazil compared with similar countries
- Brazil's 278,966 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4,499, 62.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Brazil's 278,966 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 226, 1234.4× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Brazil 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +497.0% | 3,478 | 20,764 |
| 2023 | +249.2% | 67,522 | 235,765 |
| 2019 | +190.6% | 11,304 | 32,844 |
| 2008 | -81.5% | 20,764 | 3,831 |
| 1982 | -77.5% | 24,000 | 5,400 |
| 2020 | +79.9% | 32,844 | 59,092 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 40,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | 1 |
| 1970s | 34,220 | 25,000 | 40,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 9,064 | 5,280 | 24,000 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3,582 | 2,050 | 6,198 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,103 | 2,718 | 20,764 | 10 |
| 2010s | 9,894 | 4,346 | 32,844 | 10 |
| 2020s | 160,063 | 59,092 | 278,966 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
More population data for Brazil
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.7328 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.2798 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.7328 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 230,886 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4122 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8366 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.737 (2100)
- Population density 19.55 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 6.45 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Brazil?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Brazil was 278,966 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 278,966 in 2025.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,050 in 1995.
- How does Brazil rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Brazil ranks 30th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3,105.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Brazil 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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