Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Lebanon
Lebanon: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 535,168 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
535,168
Change on year
down 29.5%
World rank
16th
of 183 countries
All-time high
1.15 million
in 2014
All-time low
570
in 1965
Years of data
58
1964–2025
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Lebanon, 1964–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Lebanon recorded 535,168 for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 29.5% on the previous year and down 50.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Lebanon peaked at 1.15 million in 2014 and was at its lowest, 570, in 1965.
That places Lebanon 16th 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 Lebanon, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 1,310 | — |
| 1965 | 570 | -56.5% |
| 1966 | 3,430 | +501.8% |
| 1968 | 4,510 | +31.5% |
| 1969 | 4,510 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 3,050 | -32.4% |
| 1972 | 3,340 | +9.5% |
| 1973 | 3,830 | +14.7% |
| 1976 | 700,000 | +18176.8% |
| 1977 | 700,000 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 5,000 | -99.3% |
| 1979 | 2,900 | -42.0% |
| 1980 | 5,000 | +72.4% |
| 1981 | 3,200 | -36.0% |
| 1982 | 2,800 | -12.5% |
| 1983 | 2,920 | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 2,920 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 4,890 | +67.5% |
| 1986 | 5,920 | +21.1% |
| 1987 | 5,900 | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 4,420 | -25.1% |
| 1989 | 4,350 | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 2,550 | -41.4% |
| 1991 | 5,223 | +104.8% |
| 1992 | 6,012 | +15.1% |
| 1993 | 1,187 | -80.3% |
| 1994 | 1,359 | +14.5% |
| 1995 | 1,867 | +37.4% |
| 1996 | 2,408 | +29.0% |
| 1997 | 3,062 | +27.2% |
| 1998 | 3,684 | +20.3% |
| 1999 | 4,172 | +13.2% |
| 2000 | 2,672 | -36.0% |
| 2001 | 2,816 | +5.4% |
| 2002 | 2,826 | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 2,519 | -10.9% |
| 2004 | 1,753 | -30.4% |
| 2005 | 1,078 | -38.5% |
| 2006 | 20,164 | +1770.5% |
| 2007 | 50,330 | +149.6% |
| 2008 | 50,413 | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 50,398 | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 8,045 | -84.0% |
| 2011 | 8,971 | +11.5% |
| 2012 | 133,913 | +1392.7% |
| 2013 | 856,539 | +539.6% |
| 2014 | 1.15 million | +34.7% |
| 2015 | 1.07 million | -7.2% |
| 2016 | 1.01 million | -5.4% |
| 2017 | 998,876 | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 949,653 | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 916,141 | -3.5% |
| 2020 | 870,388 | -5.0% |
| 2021 | 845,865 | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 818,861 | -3.2% |
| 2023 | 788,472 | -3.7% |
| 2024 | 758,642 | -3.8% |
| 2025 | 535,168 | -29.5% |
Lebanon compared with similar countries
- Lebanon's 535,168 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8,620, 62.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Lebanon's 535,168 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 15,377, 34.8× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Lebanon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | +18176.8% | 3,830 | 700,000 |
| 2006 | +1770.5% | 1,078 | 20,164 |
| 2012 | +1392.7% | 8,971 | 133,913 |
| 2013 | +539.6% | 133,913 | 856,539 |
| 1966 | +501.8% | 570 | 3,430 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,866 | 570 | 4,510 | 5 |
| 1970s | 202,589 | 2,900 | 700,000 | 7 |
| 1980s | 4,232 | 2,800 | 5,920 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3,152 | 1,187 | 6,012 | 10 |
| 2000s | 18,497 | 1,078 | 50,413 | 10 |
| 2010s | 710,997 | 8,045 | 1.15 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 769,566 | 535,168 | 870,388 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lebanon
- 13 South Sudan 601,818 compare
- 14 United Kingdom 581,072 compare
- 15 Libya 552,523 compare
- 17 Spain 511,079 compare
- 18 Democratic Republic of Congo 503,732 compare
- 19 United States 457,647 compare
More population data for Lebanon
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.3208 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.2181 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.3208 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4769 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 4,938 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -1.03 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5028 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.331 (2100)
- Population density 703.09 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 333,428 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Lebanon?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Lebanon was 535,168 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Lebanon?
- The highest recorded value was 1.15 million in 2014.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Lebanon?
- The lowest recorded value was 570 in 1965.
- How does Lebanon rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Lebanon ranks 16th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Lebanon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lebanon 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
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