Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Netherlands
Netherlands: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 283,935 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Netherlands, 1951–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Netherlands stood at 283,935. That is the highest value across all 75 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.8% on the previous year and up 220.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Netherlands peaked at 283,935 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 7,850, in 1975.
That places Netherlands 29th 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 Netherlands, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 14,200 | — |
| 1952 | 14,100 | -0.7% |
| 1953 | 13,900 | -1.4% |
| 1954 | 12,400 | -10.8% |
| 1955 | 11,400 | -8.1% |
| 1956 | 13,600 | +19.3% |
| 1957 | 13,500 | -0.7% |
| 1958 | 13,000 | -3.7% |
| 1959 | 12,800 | -1.5% |
| 1960 | 12,000 | -6.2% |
| 1961 | 10,000 | -16.7% |
| 1962 | 10,000 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 9,500 | -5.0% |
| 1964 | 9,500 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 9,000 | -5.3% |
| 1966 | 8,500 | -5.6% |
| 1967 | 8,000 | -5.9% |
| 1968 | 8,000 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 8,000 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 8,524 | +6.6% |
| 1971 | 8,600 | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 8,830 | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 8,400 | -4.9% |
| 1974 | 8,015 | -4.6% |
| 1975 | 7,850 | -2.1% |
| 1976 | 7,900 | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 8,000 | +1.3% |
| 1978 | 8,000 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 10,000 | +25.0% |
| 1980 | 12,000 | +20.0% |
| 1981 | 13,000 | +8.3% |
| 1982 | 14,000 | +7.7% |
| 1983 | 14,500 | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 15,000 | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 15,500 | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 16,000 | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 24,000 | +50.0% |
| 1988 | 25,963 | +8.2% |
| 1989 | 16,971 | -34.6% |
| 1990 | 17,337 | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 19,020 | +9.7% |
| 1992 | 29,721 | +56.3% |
| 1993 | 43,521 | +46.4% |
| 1994 | 62,152 | +42.8% |
| 1995 | 79,949 | +28.6% |
| 1996 | 102,573 | +28.3% |
| 1997 | 118,057 | +15.1% |
| 1998 | 131,481 | +11.4% |
| 1999 | 138,633 | +5.4% |
| 2000 | 146,174 | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 151,919 | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 148,349 | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 140,877 | -5.0% |
| 2004 | 126,792 | -10.0% |
| 2005 | 118,172 | -6.8% |
| 2006 | 100,565 | -14.9% |
| 2007 | 86,576 | -13.9% |
| 2008 | 77,589 | -10.4% |
| 2009 | 75,996 | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 74,948 | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 74,587 | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 71,888 | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 74,700 | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 82,483 | +10.4% |
| 2015 | 88,518 | +7.3% |
| 2016 | 101,727 | +14.9% |
| 2017 | 103,843 | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 101,824 | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 94,417 | -7.3% |
| 2020 | 95,897 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 99,585 | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 237,368 | +138.4% |
| 2023 | 237,767 | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 263,399 | +10.8% |
| 2025 | 283,935 | +7.8% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 283,935 is above the median for high income countries, which is 11,811, 24.0× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 283,935 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 70,349, 4.0× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Netherlands 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 | +138.4% | 99,585 | 237,368 |
| 1992 | +56.3% | 19,020 | 29,721 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13,211 | 11,400 | 14,200 | 9 |
| 1960s | 9,250 | 8,000 | 12,000 | 10 |
| 1970s | 8,412 | 7,850 | 10,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 16,693 | 12,000 | 25,963 | 10 |
| 1990s | 74,244 | 17,337 | 138,633 | 10 |
| 2000s | 117,301 | 75,996 | 151,919 | 10 |
| 2010s | 86,894 | 71,888 | 103,843 | 10 |
| 2020s | 202,992 | 95,897 | 283,935 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
More population data for Netherlands
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1961 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.5458 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1961 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1463 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2761 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.201 (2100)
- Population density 519.97 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 757,165 (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.201 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 0.3126 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Netherlands?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Netherlands was 283,935 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 283,935 in 2025.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,850 in 1975.
- How does Netherlands rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Netherlands ranks 29th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is up 220.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Netherlands 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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