Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Malaysia
Malaysia: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 150,164 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Malaysia, 1977–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 150,164 for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in 2025. That is the highest value across all 49 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.5% on the previous year and up 59.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Malaysia peaked at 150,164 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 145, in 1993.
Malaysia ranks 40th 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 Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 96,000 | — |
| 1978 | 141,580 | +47.5% |
| 1979 | 124,880 | -11.8% |
| 1980 | 104,040 | -16.7% |
| 1981 | 103,250 | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 99,240 | -3.9% |
| 1983 | 110,700 | +11.5% |
| 1984 | 109,060 | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 105,310 | -3.4% |
| 1986 | 99,000 | -6.0% |
| 1987 | 99,420 | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 104,553 | +5.2% |
| 1989 | 110,482 | +5.7% |
| 1990 | 14,862 | -86.5% |
| 1991 | 13,947 | -6.2% |
| 1992 | 11,399 | -18.3% |
| 1993 | 145 | -98.7% |
| 1994 | 5,298 | +3553.8% |
| 1995 | 5,279 | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 5,305 | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 5,277 | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 50,603 | +858.9% |
| 1999 | 50,509 | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 50,477 | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 50,456 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 50,614 | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 7,422 | -85.3% |
| 2004 | 24,900 | +235.5% |
| 2005 | 33,684 | +35.3% |
| 2006 | 37,158 | +10.3% |
| 2007 | 32,657 | -12.1% |
| 2008 | 36,668 | +12.3% |
| 2009 | 66,126 | +80.3% |
| 2010 | 81,518 | +23.3% |
| 2011 | 86,676 | +6.3% |
| 2012 | 90,173 | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 97,502 | +8.1% |
| 2014 | 99,362 | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 94,158 | -5.2% |
| 2016 | 92,256 | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 103,837 | +12.6% |
| 2018 | 121,305 | +16.8% |
| 2019 | 129,102 | +6.4% |
| 2020 | 129,902 | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 132,086 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 134,554 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 135,872 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 138,417 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 150,164 | +8.5% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 150,164 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4,499, 33.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 150,164 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 51.5, 2915.8× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Malaysia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +3553.8% | 145 | 5,298 |
| 1998 | +858.9% | 5,277 | 50,603 |
| 2004 | +235.5% | 7,422 | 24,900 |
| 1993 | -98.7% | 11,399 | 145 |
| 1990 | -86.5% | 110,482 | 14,862 |
| 2003 | -85.3% | 50,614 | 7,422 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 120,820 | 96,000 | 141,580 | 3 |
| 1980s | 104,506 | 99,000 | 110,700 | 10 |
| 1990s | 16,262 | 145 | 50,603 | 10 |
| 2000s | 39,016 | 7,422 | 66,126 | 10 |
| 2010s | 99,589 | 81,518 | 129,102 | 10 |
| 2020s | 136,832 | 129,902 | 150,164 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More population data for Malaysia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.2671 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -5.88 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.2671 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.2686 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 41,032 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8625 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1472 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.278 (2100)
- Population density 134 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 1.91 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Malaysia?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Malaysia was 150,164 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 150,164 in 2025.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 145 in 1993.
- How does Malaysia rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Malaysia ranks 40th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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 — 49 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).