Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in France
France: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 788,419 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
788,419
Change on year
up 9.2%
World rank
10th
of 183 countries
All-time high
788,419
in 2025
All-time low
98,900
in 1972
Years of data
75
1951–2025
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in France, 1951–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in France stood at 788,419. That is the highest value across all 75 years on record.
That represents a change of up 9.2% on the previous year and up 188.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in France peaked at 788,419 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 98,900, in 1972.
France ranks 10th of 183 countries on this measure, 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 France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 290,000 | — |
| 1952 | 280,000 | -3.4% |
| 1953 | 270,000 | -3.6% |
| 1954 | 263,000 | -2.6% |
| 1955 | 345,415 | +31.3% |
| 1956 | 363,290 | +5.2% |
| 1957 | 389,480 | +7.2% |
| 1958 | 381,152 | -2.1% |
| 1959 | 387,201 | +1.6% |
| 1960 | 245,935 | -36.5% |
| 1961 | 253,375 | +3.0% |
| 1962 | 259,740 | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 174,057 | -33.0% |
| 1964 | 175,861 | +1.0% |
| 1965 | 177,665 | +1.0% |
| 1966 | 179,468 | +1.0% |
| 1967 | 177,200 | -1.3% |
| 1968 | 176,736 | -0.3% |
| 1969 | 175,242 | -0.8% |
| 1970 | 158,543 | -9.5% |
| 1971 | 141,844 | -10.5% |
| 1972 | 98,900 | -30.3% |
| 1973 | 101,830 | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 105,538 | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 109,882 | +4.1% |
| 1976 | 114,634 | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 119,413 | +4.2% |
| 1978 | 126,229 | +5.7% |
| 1979 | 119,489 | -5.3% |
| 1980 | 121,958 | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 125,597 | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 152,223 | +21.2% |
| 1983 | 164,113 | +7.8% |
| 1984 | 169,863 | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 174,213 | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 180,258 | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 179,306 | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 183,946 | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 180,258 | -2.0% |
| 1990 | 193,000 | +7.1% |
| 1991 | 174,756 | -9.5% |
| 1992 | 156,512 | -10.4% |
| 1993 | 166,269 | +6.2% |
| 1994 | 195,288 | +17.5% |
| 1995 | 155,240 | -20.5% |
| 1996 | 151,331 | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 146,558 | -3.2% |
| 1998 | 140,213 | -4.3% |
| 1999 | 129,722 | -7.5% |
| 2000 | 132,508 | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 131,601 | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 132,182 | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 130,838 | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 139,852 | +6.9% |
| 2005 | 137,316 | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 145,996 | +6.3% |
| 2007 | 151,789 | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 171,206 | +12.8% |
| 2009 | 196,364 | +14.7% |
| 2010 | 200,687 | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 210,207 | +4.7% |
| 2012 | 217,865 | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 232,487 | +6.7% |
| 2014 | 252,248 | +8.5% |
| 2015 | 273,117 | +8.3% |
| 2016 | 304,527 | +11.5% |
| 2017 | 337,158 | +10.7% |
| 2018 | 368,345 | +9.2% |
| 2019 | 407,915 | +10.7% |
| 2020 | 436,055 | +6.9% |
| 2021 | 499,914 | +14.6% |
| 2022 | 612,934 | +22.6% |
| 2023 | 664,366 | +8.4% |
| 2024 | 721,771 | +8.6% |
| 2025 | 788,419 | +9.2% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 788,419 is above the median for high income countries, which is 11,811, 66.8× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- France's 788,419 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 70,349, 11.2× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in France 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -36.5% | 387,201 | 245,935 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 329,949 | 263,000 | 389,480 | 9 |
| 1960s | 199,528 | 174,057 | 259,740 | 10 |
| 1970s | 119,630 | 98,900 | 158,543 | 10 |
| 1980s | 163,174 | 121,958 | 183,946 | 10 |
| 1990s | 160,889 | 129,722 | 195,288 | 10 |
| 2000s | 146,965 | 130,838 | 196,364 | 10 |
| 2010s | 280,456 | 200,687 | 407,915 | 10 |
| 2020s | 620,576 | 436,055 | 788,419 | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
More population data for France
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.028 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.58 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.028 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1885 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 65,827 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1504 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.1075 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.033 (2100)
- Population density 125.07 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 3.16 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in France?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in France was 788,419 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 788,419 in 2025.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 98,900 in 1972.
- How does France rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- France ranks 10th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 188.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France 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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