Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Ireland
Ireland: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 137,869 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Ireland, 1984–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Ireland is 137,869, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 42 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.5% on the previous year and up 2,157.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Ireland peaked at 137,869 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 69, in 1996.
That places Ireland 44th out of 183 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 500 | — |
| 1985 | 600 | +20.0% |
| 1986 | 600 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 540 | -10.0% |
| 1988 | 480 | -11.1% |
| 1989 | 420 | -12.5% |
| 1990 | 360 | -14.3% |
| 1991 | 300 | -16.7% |
| 1992 | 500 | +66.7% |
| 1993 | 119 | -76.2% |
| 1994 | 400 | +236.1% |
| 1995 | 400 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 69 | -82.8% |
| 1997 | 430 | +523.2% |
| 1998 | 600 | +39.5% |
| 1999 | 2,829 | +371.5% |
| 2000 | 2,530 | -10.6% |
| 2001 | 3,585 | +41.7% |
| 2002 | 5,366 | +49.7% |
| 2003 | 5,971 | +11.3% |
| 2004 | 6,530 | +9.4% |
| 2005 | 7,103 | +8.8% |
| 2006 | 7,904 | +11.3% |
| 2007 | 9,318 | +17.9% |
| 2008 | 9,714 | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 9,561 | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 9,099 | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 8,234 | -9.5% |
| 2012 | 6,309 | -23.4% |
| 2013 | 5,991 | -5.0% |
| 2014 | 5,832 | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 6,108 | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 5,720 | -6.4% |
| 2017 | 6,394 | +11.8% |
| 2018 | 6,012 | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 7,795 | +29.7% |
| 2020 | 9,035 | +15.9% |
| 2021 | 9,571 | +5.9% |
| 2022 | 81,256 | +749.0% |
| 2023 | 113,902 | +40.2% |
| 2024 | 124,730 | +9.5% |
| 2025 | 137,869 | +10.5% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 137,869 is above the median for high income countries, which is 11,811, 11.7× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 137,869 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 70,349, 2.0× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Ireland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +749.0% | 9,571 | 81,256 |
| 1997 | +523.2% | 69 | 430 |
| 1999 | +371.5% | 600 | 2,829 |
| 1994 | +236.1% | 119 | 400 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 523.33 | 420 | 600 | 6 |
| 1990s | 600.7 | 69 | 2,829 | 10 |
| 2000s | 6,758 | 2,530 | 9,714 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,749 | 5,720 | 9,099 | 10 |
| 2020s | 79,394 | 9,035 | 137,869 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More population data for Ireland
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.68 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1157 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,725 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5372 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1844 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.455 (2100)
- Population density 76.73 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 217,052 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Ireland?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Ireland was 137,869 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 137,869 in 2025.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 69 in 1996.
- How does Ireland rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Ireland ranks 44th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2,157.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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.
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