Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iran
Iran: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 770,514 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iran, 1962–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iran is 770,514, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 77.9% on the previous year and down 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iran peaked at 4.41 million in 1991 and was at its lowest, 300, in 1968.
That places Iran 11th out of 183 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 2,000 | — |
| 1963 | 1,500 | -25.0% |
| 1968 | 300 | -80.0% |
| 1969 | 300 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 130,100 | +43266.7% |
| 1980 | 330,000 | +153.7% |
| 1981 | 1.56 million | +374.2% |
| 1982 | 1.70 million | +8.6% |
| 1983 | 1.90 million | +11.8% |
| 1984 | 2.00 million | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 2.30 million | +15.0% |
| 1986 | 2.59 million | +12.6% |
| 1987 | 2.76 million | +6.6% |
| 1988 | 2.85 million | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 2.85 million | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 4.17 million | +46.5% |
| 1991 | 4.41 million | +5.5% |
| 1992 | 4.15 million | -5.8% |
| 1993 | 2.50 million | -39.9% |
| 1994 | 2.24 million | -10.4% |
| 1995 | 2.07 million | -7.3% |
| 1996 | 2.03 million | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 1.98 million | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 1.93 million | -2.6% |
| 1999 | 1.84 million | -5.0% |
| 2000 | 1.87 million | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 1.87 million | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1.31 million | -30.1% |
| 2003 | 984,895 | -24.6% |
| 2004 | 1.05 million | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 974,301 | -6.9% |
| 2006 | 968,368 | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 963,544 | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 980,104 | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 1.07 million | +9.2% |
| 2010 | 1.07 million | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 886,465 | -17.4% |
| 2012 | 868,239 | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 857,352 | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 982,025 | +14.5% |
| 2015 | 979,435 | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 979,435 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 979,435 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 979,435 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 979,435 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 800,025 | -18.3% |
| 2021 | 798,343 | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 3.43 million | +329.0% |
| 2023 | 3.76 million | +9.9% |
| 2024 | 3.49 million | -7.3% |
| 2025 | 770,514 | -77.9% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 770,514 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4,499, 171.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Iran's 770,514 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 15,377, 50.1× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iran 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +43266.7% | 300 | 130,100 |
| 1981 | +374.2% | 330,000 | 1.56 million |
| 2022 | +329.0% | 798,343 | 3.43 million |
| 1980 | +153.7% | 130,100 | 330,000 |
| 1968 | -80.0% | 1,500 | 300 |
| 2025 | -77.9% | 3.49 million | 770,514 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,025 | 300 | 2,000 | 4 |
| 1970s | 130,100 | 130,100 | 130,100 | 1 |
| 1980s | 2.08 million | 330,000 | 2.85 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.73 million | 1.84 million | 4.41 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.20 million | 963,544 | 1.87 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 956,462 | 857,352 | 1.07 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.17 million | 770,514 | 3.76 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More population data for Iran
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.6632 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.91 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.6632 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5902 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 99,007 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4819 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5653 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.673 (2100)
- Population density 49.33 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 3.09 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iran?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iran was 770,514 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 4.41 million in 1991.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 300 in 1968.
- How does Iran rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Iran ranks 11th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).