Refugees by country of asylum in Greece
Greece: Refugees by country of asylum was 116,450 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Greece, 1951–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of asylum in Greece stood at 116,450 people.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 39.5% on the previous year and up 1,031.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Greece peaked at 192,384 people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1,443 people, in 2010.
That places Greece 48th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Greece, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 18,000 people | — |
| 1952 | 19,000 people | +5.6% |
| 1953 | 18,500 people | -2.6% |
| 1954 | 19,000 people | +2.7% |
| 1955 | 17,400 people | -8.4% |
| 1956 | 16,000 people | -8.0% |
| 1957 | 16,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 15,700 people | -1.9% |
| 1959 | 15,500 people | -1.3% |
| 1960 | 15,500 people | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 15,200 people | -1.9% |
| 1962 | 15,700 people | +3.3% |
| 1963 | 15,400 people | -1.9% |
| 1964 | 16,000 people | +3.9% |
| 1965 | 15,560 people | -2.8% |
| 1966 | 8,210 people | -47.2% |
| 1967 | 7,530 people | -8.3% |
| 1968 | 5,320 people | -29.3% |
| 1969 | 3,670 people | -31.0% |
| 1970 | 3,350 people | -8.7% |
| 1971 | 4,300 people | +28.4% |
| 1972 | 2,410 people | -44.0% |
| 1973 | 2,220 people | -7.9% |
| 1974 | 2,130 people | -4.1% |
| 1975 | 2,090 people | -1.9% |
| 1976 | 2,110 people | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 2,200 people | +4.3% |
| 1978 | 2,140 people | -2.7% |
| 1979 | 3,410 people | +59.3% |
| 1980 | 3,410 people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 3,670 people | +7.6% |
| 1982 | 3,650 people | -0.5% |
| 1983 | 3,810 people | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 4,060 people | +6.6% |
| 1985 | 4,360 people | +7.4% |
| 1986 | 3,280 people | -24.8% |
| 1987 | 4,630 people | +41.2% |
| 1988 | 8,262 people | +78.4% |
| 1989 | 7,490 people | -9.3% |
| 1990 | 8,488 people | +13.3% |
| 1991 | 8,989 people | +5.9% |
| 1992 | 8,456 people | -5.9% |
| 1993 | 7,859 people | -7.1% |
| 1994 | 7,773 people | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 4,428 people | -43.0% |
| 1996 | 5,780 people | +30.5% |
| 1997 | 5,520 people | -4.5% |
| 1998 | 6,145 people | +11.3% |
| 1999 | 6,283 people | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 6,653 people | +5.9% |
| 2001 | 6,927 people | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 2,778 people | -59.9% |
| 2003 | 2,762 people | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 2,479 people | -10.2% |
| 2005 | 2,394 people | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 2,292 people | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 2,228 people | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 2,169 people | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 1,700 people | -21.6% |
| 2010 | 1,443 people | -15.1% |
| 2011 | 1,566 people | +8.5% |
| 2012 | 2,090 people | +33.5% |
| 2013 | 3,468 people | +65.9% |
| 2014 | 10,292 people | +196.8% |
| 2015 | 24,831 people | +141.3% |
| 2016 | 46,411 people | +86.9% |
| 2017 | 38,988 people | -16.0% |
| 2018 | 61,446 people | +57.6% |
| 2019 | 80,454 people | +30.9% |
| 2020 | 103,101 people | +28.1% |
| 2021 | 119,650 people | +16.1% |
| 2022 | 160,761 people | +34.4% |
| 2023 | 192,384 people | +19.7% |
| 2024 | 116,450 people | -39.5% |
Greece compared with similar countries
- Greece's 116,450 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 10,077 people, 11.6× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Greece's 116,450 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 68,603 people, 1.7× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Greece 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +196.8% | 3,468 people | 10,292 people |
| 2015 | +141.3% | 10,292 people | 24,831 people |
| 2016 | +86.9% | 24,831 people | 46,411 people |
| 1988 | +78.4% | 4,630 people | 8,262 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 17,233 people | 15,500 people | 19,000 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 11,809 people | 3,670 people | 16,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 2,636 people | 2,090 people | 4,300 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 4,662 people | 3,280 people | 8,262 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 6,972 people | 4,428 people | 8,989 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,238 people | 1,700 people | 6,927 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 27,099 people | 1,443 people | 80,454 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 138,469 people | 103,101 people | 192,384 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Greece
More population data for Greece
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.6525 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.38 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.6525 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6991 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 9,145 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.4091 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6659 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 48.69 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 223,897 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Greece?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Greece was 116,450 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 Greece?
- The highest recorded value was 192,384 people in 2023.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Greece?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,443 people in 2010.
- How does Greece rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Greece ranks 48th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Greece?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,031.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Greece 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.