Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Canada
Canada: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 269,496 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
269,496
Change on year
up 59.0%
World rank
27th
of 183 countries
All-time high
269,496
in 2024
All-time low
9,980
in 1965
Years of data
74
1951–2024
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Canada, 1951–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Canada recorded 269,496 for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in 2024. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 59.0% on the previous year and up 80.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Canada peaked at 269,496 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 9,980, in 1965.
That places Canada 27th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, 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 Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 168,511 | — |
| 1952 | 154,828 | -8.1% |
| 1953 | 107,004 | -30.9% |
| 1954 | 75,828 | -29.1% |
| 1955 | 52,551 | -30.7% |
| 1956 | 17,485 | -66.7% |
| 1957 | 46,334 | +165.0% |
| 1958 | 46,908 | +1.2% |
| 1959 | 47,934 | +2.2% |
| 1960 | 48,629 | +1.4% |
| 1961 | 44,492 | -8.5% |
| 1962 | 12,282 | -72.4% |
| 1963 | 10,946 | -10.9% |
| 1964 | 10,178 | -7.0% |
| 1965 | 9,980 | -1.9% |
| 1966 | 10,225 | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 9,991 | -2.3% |
| 1968 | 17,950 | +79.7% |
| 1969 | 19,275 | +7.4% |
| 1970 | 18,518 | -3.9% |
| 1971 | 17,196 | -7.1% |
| 1972 | 20,933 | +21.7% |
| 1973 | 13,358 | -36.2% |
| 1974 | 11,410 | -14.6% |
| 1975 | 16,349 | +43.3% |
| 1976 | 27,387 | +67.5% |
| 1977 | 29,537 | +7.9% |
| 1978 | 31,295 | +6.0% |
| 1979 | 57,913 | +85.1% |
| 1980 | 92,679 | +60.0% |
| 1981 | 96,415 | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 107,591 | +11.6% |
| 1983 | 120,947 | +12.4% |
| 1984 | 112,966 | -6.6% |
| 1985 | 92,194 | -18.4% |
| 1986 | 98,743 | +7.1% |
| 1987 | 104,843 | +6.2% |
| 1988 | 116,434 | +11.1% |
| 1989 | 135,752 | +16.6% |
| 1990 | 154,761 | +14.0% |
| 1991 | 170,916 | +10.4% |
| 1992 | 183,723 | +7.5% |
| 1993 | 183,241 | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 186,555 | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 152,110 | -18.5% |
| 1996 | 138,427 | -9.0% |
| 1997 | 125,176 | -9.6% |
| 1998 | 119,355 | -4.7% |
| 1999 | 123,303 | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 126,991 | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 129,227 | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 129,935 | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 133,088 | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 141,402 | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 147,164 | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 151,832 | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 175,728 | +15.7% |
| 2008 | 173,642 | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 169,424 | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 165,544 | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 164,879 | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 163,751 | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 160,347 | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 149,164 | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 135,890 | -8.9% |
| 2016 | 97,322 | -28.4% |
| 2017 | 104,768 | +7.7% |
| 2018 | 114,101 | +8.9% |
| 2019 | 101,757 | -10.8% |
| 2020 | 109,214 | +7.3% |
| 2021 | 130,125 | +19.1% |
| 2022 | 140,621 | +8.1% |
| 2023 | 169,448 | +20.5% |
| 2024 | 269,496 | +59.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 79,709 | 17,485 | 168,511 | 9 |
| 1960s | 19,395 | 9,980 | 48,629 | 10 |
| 1970s | 24,390 | 11,410 | 57,913 | 10 |
| 1980s | 107,856 | 92,194 | 135,752 | 10 |
| 1990s | 153,757 | 119,355 | 186,555 | 10 |
| 2000s | 147,843 | 126,991 | 175,728 | 10 |
| 2010s | 135,752 | 97,322 | 165,544 | 10 |
| 2020s | 163,781 | 109,214 | 269,496 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More population data for Canada
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.13 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2634 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 45,891 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.7644 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.3863 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.327 (2100)
- Population density 6.1 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 2.33 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Canada?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Canada was 269,496 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 269,496 in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 9,980 in 1965.
- How does Canada rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Canada ranks 27th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 80.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada 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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