Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Nepal
Nepal: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 19,613 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Nepal, 1964–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Nepal stood at 19,613.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 40.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Nepal peaked at 132,432 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 7,000, in 1964.
That places Nepal 83rd out of 183 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Nepal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 7,000 | — |
| 1965 | 7,000 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 7,000 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 7,180 | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 7,730 | +7.7% |
| 1969 | 7,990 | +3.4% |
| 1970 | 8,060 | +0.9% |
| 1971 | 7,930 | -1.6% |
| 1972 | 8,000 | +0.9% |
| 1973 | 8,000 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 8,100 | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 8,200 | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 8,300 | +1.2% |
| 1977 | 8,400 | +1.2% |
| 1978 | 8,500 | +1.2% |
| 1979 | 8,600 | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 8,700 | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 8,800 | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 9,800 | +11.4% |
| 1983 | 10,800 | +10.2% |
| 1984 | 11,800 | +9.3% |
| 1985 | 12,800 | +8.5% |
| 1986 | 13,800 | +7.8% |
| 1987 | 14,800 | +7.2% |
| 1988 | 15,800 | +6.8% |
| 1989 | 16,850 | +6.6% |
| 1990 | 17,800 | +5.6% |
| 1991 | 28,319 | +59.1% |
| 1992 | 95,251 | +236.4% |
| 1993 | 105,344 | +10.6% |
| 1994 | 123,270 | +17.0% |
| 1995 | 124,751 | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 126,814 | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 129,158 | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 126,104 | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 127,942 | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 129,234 | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 130,945 | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 132,432 | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 123,662 | -6.6% |
| 2004 | 124,920 | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 126,432 | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 128,172 | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 130,678 | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 124,826 | -4.5% |
| 2009 | 108,457 | -13.1% |
| 2010 | 89,804 | -17.2% |
| 2011 | 72,651 | -19.1% |
| 2012 | 56,263 | -22.6% |
| 2013 | 46,303 | -17.7% |
| 2014 | 38,490 | -16.9% |
| 2015 | 32,669 | -15.1% |
| 2016 | 25,249 | -22.7% |
| 2017 | 21,467 | -15.0% |
| 2018 | 20,804 | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 19,570 | -5.9% |
| 2020 | 19,555 | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 19,574 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 19,560 | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 19,582 | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 19,598 | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 19,613 | +0.1% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 19,613 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8,620, 2.3× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Nepal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +236.4% | 28,319 | 95,251 |
| 1991 | +59.1% | 17,800 | 28,319 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7,317 | 7,000 | 7,990 | 6 |
| 1970s | 8,209 | 7,930 | 8,600 | 10 |
| 1980s | 12,395 | 8,700 | 16,850 | 10 |
| 1990s | 100,475 | 17,800 | 129,158 | 10 |
| 2000s | 125,976 | 108,457 | 132,432 | 10 |
| 2010s | 42,327 | 19,570 | 89,804 | 10 |
| 2020s | 19,580 | 19,555 | 19,613 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More population data for Nepal
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.593 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.0333 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.593 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6271 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 37,401 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8872 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8575 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.601 (2100)
- Population density 222.05 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 1.41 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Nepal?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Nepal was 19,613 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 132,432 in 2002.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,000 in 1964.
- How does Nepal rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Nepal ranks 83rd out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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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