Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iraq
Iraq: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 322,345 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iraq, 1979–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iraq is 322,345, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 16.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iraq peaked at 322,345 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 400, in 1979.
Iraq ranks 25th 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.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iraq, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 400 | — |
| 1980 | 400 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 1,200 | +200.0% |
| 1982 | 1,200 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 1,200 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 1,200 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 83,200 | +6833.3% |
| 1986 | 111,000 | +33.4% |
| 1987 | 1,000 | -99.1% |
| 1990 | 900 | -10.0% |
| 1991 | 87,990 | +9676.7% |
| 1992 | 115,000 | +30.7% |
| 1993 | 109,066 | -5.2% |
| 1994 | 119,581 | +9.6% |
| 1995 | 116,722 | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 112,957 | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 104,032 | -7.9% |
| 1998 | 104,022 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 128,913 | +23.9% |
| 2000 | 127,787 | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 128,142 | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 134,190 | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 46,721 | -65.2% |
| 2004 | 46,053 | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 50,177 | +9.0% |
| 2006 | 44,406 | -11.5% |
| 2007 | 42,352 | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 39,503 | -6.7% |
| 2009 | 35,213 | -10.9% |
| 2010 | 34,647 | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 35,184 | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 98,818 | +180.9% |
| 2013 | 246,294 | +149.2% |
| 2014 | 271,137 | +10.1% |
| 2015 | 277,702 | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 261,863 | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 277,668 | +6.0% |
| 2018 | 283,018 | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 273,986 | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 270,377 | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 280,072 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 273,716 | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 286,480 | +4.7% |
| 2024 | 318,461 | +11.2% |
| 2025 | 322,345 | +1.2% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 322,345 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4,499, 71.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 322,345 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 15,377, 21.0× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iraq 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +9676.7% | 900 | 87,990 |
| 1985 | +6833.3% | 1,200 | 83,200 |
| 1981 | +200.0% | 400 | 1,200 |
| 2012 | +180.9% | 35,184 | 98,818 |
| 2013 | +149.2% | 98,818 | 246,294 |
| 1987 | -99.1% | 111,000 | 1,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 400 | 400 | 400 | 1 |
| 1980s | 25,050 | 400 | 111,000 | 8 |
| 1990s | 99,918 | 900 | 128,913 | 10 |
| 2000s | 69,454 | 35,213 | 134,190 | 10 |
| 2010s | 206,032 | 34,647 | 283,018 | 10 |
| 2020s | 291,908 | 270,377 | 322,345 | 6 |
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)
- Population growth rate 0.169 (2100)
- Population density 231.84 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.99 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iraq?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iraq was 322,345 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 322,345 in 2025.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 400 in 1979.
- How does Iraq rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Iraq ranks 25th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq 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 — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).