Refugees by country of asylum in Iraq
Iraq: Refugees by country of asylum was 318,461 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Iraq, 1979–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of asylum in Iraq is 318,461 people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
The figure is up 11.2% on the previous year and up 17.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Iraq peaked at 318,461 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 400 people, in 1979.
Iraq ranks 23rd of 183 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Iraq, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 400 people | — |
| 1980 | 400 people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 1,200 people | +200.0% |
| 1982 | 1,200 people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 1,200 people | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 1,200 people | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 83,200 people | +6833.3% |
| 1986 | 111,000 people | +33.4% |
| 1987 | 1,000 people | -99.1% |
| 1990 | 900 people | -10.0% |
| 1991 | 87,990 people | +9676.7% |
| 1992 | 115,000 people | +30.7% |
| 1993 | 109,066 people | -5.2% |
| 1994 | 119,581 people | +9.6% |
| 1995 | 116,722 people | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 112,957 people | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 104,032 people | -7.9% |
| 1998 | 104,022 people | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 128,913 people | +23.9% |
| 2000 | 127,787 people | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 128,142 people | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 134,190 people | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 46,721 people | -65.2% |
| 2004 | 46,053 people | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 50,177 people | +9.0% |
| 2006 | 44,406 people | -11.5% |
| 2007 | 42,352 people | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 39,503 people | -6.7% |
| 2009 | 35,213 people | -10.9% |
| 2010 | 34,647 people | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 35,184 people | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 98,818 people | +180.9% |
| 2013 | 246,294 people | +149.2% |
| 2014 | 271,137 people | +10.1% |
| 2015 | 277,702 people | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 261,863 people | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 277,668 people | +6.0% |
| 2018 | 283,018 people | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 273,986 people | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 270,377 people | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 280,072 people | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 273,716 people | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 286,480 people | +4.7% |
| 2024 | 318,461 people | +11.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 400 people | 400 people | 400 people | 1 |
| 1980s | 25,050 people | 400 people | 111,000 people | 8 |
| 1990s | 99,918 people | 900 people | 128,913 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 69,454 people | 35,213 people | 134,190 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 206,032 people | 34,647 people | 283,018 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 285,821 people | 270,377 people | 318,461 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More population data for Iraq
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1891 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.65 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1891 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 74,515 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.07 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4379 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 231.84 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.99 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Iraq?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Iraq was 318,461 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 318,461 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 400 people in 1979.
- How does Iraq rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Iraq ranks 23rd out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq 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.
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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.