Refugees by country of asylum in Denmark
Denmark: Refugees by country of asylum was 98,204 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Denmark, 1951–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Denmark recorded 98,204 people for refugees by country of asylum in 2024. That is the highest value across all 68 years on record.
The figure is up 42.5% on the previous year and up 452.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Denmark peaked at 98,204 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1,300 people, in 1955.
Denmark ranks 51st of 183 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Denmark, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 2,000 people | — |
| 1952 | 1,800 people | -10.0% |
| 1953 | 1,600 people | -11.1% |
| 1954 | 1,400 people | -12.5% |
| 1955 | 1,300 people | -7.1% |
| 1956 | 2,500 people | +92.3% |
| 1957 | 2,500 people | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 2,500 people | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 2,400 people | -4.0% |
| 1960 | 2,300 people | -4.2% |
| 1961 | 2,200 people | -4.3% |
| 1962 | 2,200 people | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 2,200 people | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 2,000 people | -9.1% |
| 1971 | 4,400 people | +120.0% |
| 1972 | 3,687 people | -16.2% |
| 1973 | 3,687 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 2,900 people | -21.3% |
| 1975 | 2,125 people | -26.7% |
| 1976 | 2,100 people | -1.2% |
| 1977 | 1,764 people | -16.0% |
| 1978 | 1,800 people | +2.0% |
| 1979 | 1,800 people | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 1,800 people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 1,800 people | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 1,800 people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 3,600 people | +100.0% |
| 1984 | 8,500 people | +136.1% |
| 1985 | 8,500 people | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 23,000 people | +170.6% |
| 1987 | 30,000 people | +30.4% |
| 1988 | 27,310 people | -9.0% |
| 1989 | 30,726 people | +12.5% |
| 1990 | 32,887 people | +7.0% |
| 1991 | 36,100 people | +9.8% |
| 1992 | 39,124 people | +8.4% |
| 1993 | 44,570 people | +13.9% |
| 1994 | 49,564 people | +11.2% |
| 1995 | 64,850 people | +30.8% |
| 1996 | 66,371 people | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 68,106 people | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 68,996 people | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 68,982 people | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 71,017 people | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 73,284 people | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 73,600 people | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 69,855 people | -5.1% |
| 2004 | 65,305 people | -6.5% |
| 2005 | 44,362 people | -32.1% |
| 2006 | 36,650 people | -17.4% |
| 2007 | 26,779 people | -26.9% |
| 2008 | 23,385 people | -12.7% |
| 2009 | 20,340 people | -13.0% |
| 2010 | 17,907 people | -12.0% |
| 2011 | 13,386 people | -25.2% |
| 2012 | 11,797 people | -11.9% |
| 2013 | 13,153 people | +11.5% |
| 2014 | 17,767 people | +35.1% |
| 2015 | 27,312 people | +53.7% |
| 2016 | 33,501 people | +22.7% |
| 2017 | 35,668 people | +6.5% |
| 2018 | 36,623 people | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 37,533 people | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 36,643 people | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 36,023 people | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 67,772 people | +88.1% |
| 2023 | 68,912 people | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 98,204 people | +42.5% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 98,204 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 10,077 people, 9.7× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 98,204 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 68,603 people, 1.4× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Denmark 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | +170.6% | 8,500 people | 23,000 people |
| 1984 | +136.1% | 3,600 people | 8,500 people |
| 1971 | +120.0% | 2,000 people | 4,400 people |
| 1983 | +100.0% | 1,800 people | 3,600 people |
| 1956 | +92.3% | 1,300 people | 2,500 people |
| 2022 | +88.1% | 36,023 people | 67,772 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2,000 people | 1,300 people | 2,500 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 2,225 people | 2,200 people | 2,300 people | 4 |
| 1970s | 2,626 people | 1,764 people | 4,400 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 13,704 people | 1,800 people | 30,726 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 53,955 people | 32,887 people | 68,996 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 50,458 people | 20,340 people | 73,600 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 24,465 people | 11,797 people | 37,533 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 61,511 people | 36,023 people | 98,204 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
More population data for Denmark
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1645 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.61 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.1% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 261,283 people (2100)
- Population density 146.58 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.1% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2287 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4223 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Denmark?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Denmark was 98,204 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 Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 98,204 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,300 people in 1955.
- How does Denmark rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Denmark ranks 51st out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is up 452.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Denmark 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.