Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Norway
Norway: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 124,006 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Norway, 1951–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Norway recorded 124,006 for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in 2025. That is the highest value across all 69 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 146.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Norway peaked at 124,006 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1,000, in 1976.
That places Norway 46th 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 Norway, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 2,500 | — |
| 1952 | 2,500 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 2,500 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 2,300 | -8.0% |
| 1955 | 2,300 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 2,800 | +21.7% |
| 1957 | 3,400 | +21.4% |
| 1958 | 3,300 | -2.9% |
| 1959 | 3,100 | -6.1% |
| 1960 | 3,000 | -3.2% |
| 1961 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 2,000 | -33.3% |
| 1971 | 3,000 | +50.0% |
| 1972 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 1,000 | -66.7% |
| 1977 | 6,000 | +500.0% |
| 1978 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 6,000 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 10,000 | +66.7% |
| 1984 | 10,000 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 11,800 | +18.0% |
| 1986 | 13,200 | +11.9% |
| 1987 | 15,000 | +13.6% |
| 1988 | 10,952 | -27.0% |
| 1989 | 18,500 | +68.9% |
| 1990 | 19,581 | +5.8% |
| 1991 | 29,054 | +48.4% |
| 1992 | 29,846 | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 38,375 | +28.6% |
| 1994 | 44,617 | +16.3% |
| 1995 | 47,607 | +6.7% |
| 1996 | 48,409 | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 47,372 | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 45,325 | -4.3% |
| 1999 | 43,441 | -4.2% |
| 2000 | 47,700 | +9.8% |
| 2001 | 50,122 | +5.1% |
| 2002 | 50,421 | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 46,107 | -8.6% |
| 2004 | 44,031 | -4.5% |
| 2005 | 43,015 | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 43,315 | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 34,499 | -20.4% |
| 2008 | 36,076 | +4.6% |
| 2009 | 37,806 | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 40,245 | +6.5% |
| 2011 | 40,671 | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 42,805 | +5.2% |
| 2013 | 46,088 | +7.7% |
| 2014 | 47,025 | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 50,377 | +7.1% |
| 2016 | 59,512 | +18.1% |
| 2017 | 59,230 | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 57,004 | -3.8% |
| 2019 | 53,882 | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 49,653 | -7.8% |
| 2021 | 46,042 | -7.3% |
| 2022 | 75,311 | +63.6% |
| 2023 | 103,606 | +37.6% |
| 2024 | 123,981 | +19.7% |
| 2025 | 124,006 | +0.0% |
Norway compared with similar countries
- Norway's 124,006 is above the median for high income countries, which is 11,811, 10.5× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Norway's 124,006 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 70,349, 1.8× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Norway 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | +500.0% | 1,000 | 6,000 |
| 1989 | +68.9% | 10,952 | 18,500 |
| 1976 | -66.7% | 3,000 | 1,000 |
| 1983 | +66.7% | 6,000 | 10,000 |
| 2022 | +63.6% | 46,042 | 75,311 |
| 1971 | +50.0% | 2,000 | 3,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2,744 | 2,300 | 3,400 | 9 |
| 1960s | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 4 |
| 1970s | 3,600 | 1,000 | 6,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 10,745 | 6,000 | 18,500 | 10 |
| 1990s | 39,363 | 19,581 | 48,409 | 10 |
| 2000s | 43,309 | 34,499 | 50,421 | 10 |
| 2010s | 49,684 | 40,245 | 59,512 | 10 |
| 2020s | 87,100 | 46,042 | 124,006 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Norway
More population data for Norway
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.2322 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.32 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.2322 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1866 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 6,368 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.6612 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1496 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.231 (2100)
- Population density 14.86 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 224,990 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Norway?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Norway was 124,006 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 124,006 in 2025.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,000 in 1976.
- How does Norway rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Norway ranks 46th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is up 146.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Norway 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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