Refugees by country of asylum in Spain
Spain: Refugees by country of asylum was 429,333 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Spain, 1951–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of asylum in Spain is 429,333 people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.3% on the previous year and up 7,306.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Spain peaked at 429,333 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2,000 people, in 1951.
That places Spain 19th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Spain, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 2,000 people | — |
| 1954 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 14,000 people | +600.0% |
| 1965 | 14,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 17,000 people | +21.4% |
| 1967 | 20,000 people | +17.6% |
| 1968 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 23,000 people | +15.0% |
| 1970 | 29,500 people | +28.3% |
| 1971 | 38,000 people | +28.8% |
| 1972 | 40,000 people | +5.3% |
| 1973 | 26,000 people | -35.0% |
| 1974 | 18,000 people | -30.8% |
| 1975 | 16,000 people | -11.1% |
| 1976 | 16,500 people | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 15,000 people | -9.1% |
| 1978 | 15,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 26,000 people | +73.3% |
| 1980 | 21,500 people | -17.3% |
| 1981 | 21,500 people | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 23,500 people | +9.3% |
| 1983 | 23,700 people | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 9,900 people | -58.2% |
| 1985 | 9,300 people | -6.1% |
| 1986 | 10,200 people | +9.7% |
| 1987 | 9,200 people | -9.8% |
| 1988 | 8,691 people | -5.5% |
| 1989 | 8,676 people | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 8,303 people | -4.3% |
| 1991 | 4,005 people | -51.8% |
| 1992 | 4,040 people | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 4,990 people | +23.5% |
| 1994 | 5,351 people | +7.2% |
| 1995 | 5,840 people | +9.1% |
| 1996 | 5,672 people | -2.9% |
| 1997 | 5,512 people | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 5,918 people | +7.4% |
| 1999 | 6,708 people | +13.3% |
| 2000 | 6,982 people | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 6,804 people | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 6,783 people | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 5,912 people | -12.8% |
| 2004 | 5,690 people | -3.8% |
| 2005 | 5,369 people | -5.6% |
| 2006 | 5,269 people | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 5,143 people | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 4,649 people | -9.6% |
| 2009 | 3,960 people | -14.8% |
| 2010 | 3,814 people | -3.7% |
| 2011 | 4,220 people | +10.6% |
| 2012 | 4,502 people | +6.7% |
| 2013 | 4,641 people | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 5,797 people | +24.9% |
| 2015 | 6,447 people | +11.2% |
| 2016 | 12,983 people | +101.4% |
| 2017 | 17,541 people | +35.1% |
| 2018 | 20,437 people | +16.5% |
| 2019 | 57,751 people | +182.6% |
| 2020 | 103,624 people | +79.4% |
| 2021 | 122,539 people | +18.3% |
| 2022 | 314,490 people | +156.6% |
| 2023 | 385,701 people | +22.6% |
| 2024 | 429,333 people | +11.3% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 429,333 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 10,077 people, 42.6× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Spain's 429,333 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 68,603 people, 6.3× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Spain 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | +600.0% | 2,000 people | 14,000 people |
| 2019 | +182.6% | 20,437 people | 57,751 people |
| 2022 | +156.6% | 122,539 people | 314,490 people |
| 2016 | +101.4% | 6,447 people | 12,983 people |
| 2020 | +79.4% | 57,751 people | 103,624 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2,000 people | 2,000 people | 2,000 people | 2 |
| 1960s | 12,667 people | 2,000 people | 23,000 people | 9 |
| 1970s | 24,000 people | 15,000 people | 40,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 14,617 people | 8,676 people | 23,700 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 5,634 people | 4,005 people | 8,303 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,656 people | 3,960 people | 6,982 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 13,813 people | 3,814 people | 57,751 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 271,137 people | 103,624 people | 429,333 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Spain
- 16 United Kingdom 515,677 people compare
- 17 South Sudan 514,794 people compare
- 18 United States 435,333 people compare
- 20 Cameroon 427,706 people compare
- 21 Czechia 391,133 people compare
- 22 Niger 369,836 people compare
More population data for Spain
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.527 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.98 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.527 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6358 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 44,220 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1636 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2658 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Population density 66.29 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.24 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Spain?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Spain was 429,333 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 429,333 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,000 people in 1951.
- How does Spain rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Spain ranks 19th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7,306.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Spain data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees who live in this country, not just those who arrived that year.