Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in New Zealand
New Zealand: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 2,148 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in New Zealand, 1967–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in New Zealand is 2,148, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 4.1% on the previous year and up 63.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in New Zealand peaked at 17,310 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 1,313, in 2015.
New Zealand ranks 115th of 183 countries on this measure, 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 New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 3,000 | — |
| 1968 | 2,000 | -33.3% |
| 1969 | 2,000 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 2,000 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 10,000 | +400.0% |
| 1979 | 10,000 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 10,000 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 10,600 | +6.0% |
| 1982 | 10,600 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 10,600 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 4,500 | -57.5% |
| 1985 | 4,600 | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 4,400 | -4.3% |
| 1987 | 4,200 | -4.5% |
| 1988 | 4,150 | -1.2% |
| 1989 | 4,666 | +12.4% |
| 1990 | 4,666 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 16,760 | +259.2% |
| 1992 | 17,310 | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 3,942 | -77.2% |
| 1994 | 3,668 | -7.0% |
| 1995 | 3,766 | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 3,790 | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 3,652 | -3.6% |
| 1998 | 4,099 | +12.2% |
| 1999 | 4,801 | +17.1% |
| 2000 | 4,919 | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 5,251 | +6.7% |
| 2002 | 5,760 | +9.7% |
| 2003 | 5,796 | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 5,334 | -8.0% |
| 2005 | 5,298 | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 4,878 | -7.9% |
| 2007 | 2,715 | -44.3% |
| 2008 | 2,702 | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 3,285 | +21.6% |
| 2010 | 2,298 | -30.0% |
| 2011 | 1,916 | -16.6% |
| 2012 | 1,504 | -21.5% |
| 2013 | 1,388 | -7.7% |
| 2014 | 1,342 | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 1,313 | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 1,408 | +7.2% |
| 2017 | 1,465 | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 1,545 | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 1,709 | +10.6% |
| 2020 | 1,748 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 1,794 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 1,791 | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 1,837 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 2,063 | +12.3% |
| 2025 | 2,148 | +4.1% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 2,148 is below the median for high income countries, which is 11,811, 18% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 2,148 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 51.5, 41.7× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in New Zealand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +400.0% | 2,000 | 10,000 |
| 1991 | +259.2% | 4,666 | 16,760 |
| 1993 | -77.2% | 17,310 | 3,942 |
| 1984 | -57.5% | 10,600 | 4,500 |
| 2007 | -44.3% | 4,878 | 2,715 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,333 | 2,000 | 3,000 | 3 |
| 1970s | 7,333 | 2,000 | 10,000 | 3 |
| 1980s | 6,832 | 4,150 | 10,600 | 10 |
| 1990s | 6,645 | 3,652 | 17,310 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,594 | 2,702 | 5,796 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,589 | 1,313 | 2,298 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,897 | 1,748 | 2,148 | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More population data for New Zealand
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0744 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -14.71 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.0744 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0739 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,949 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.628 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.191 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.077 (2100)
- Population density 22.07 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 256,010 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in New Zealand?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in New Zealand was 2,148 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 17,310 in 1992.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,313 in 2015.
- How does New Zealand rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- New Zealand ranks 115th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 63.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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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