Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Switzerland
Switzerland: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 208,287 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
208,287
Change on year
up 6.2%
World rank
33rd
of 183 countries
All-time high
208,287
in 2025
All-time low
9,200
in 1955
Years of data
75
1951–2025
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Switzerland, 1951–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Switzerland recorded 208,287 for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in 2025. That is the highest value across all 75 years on record.
The figure is up 6.2% on the previous year and up 184.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Switzerland peaked at 208,287 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 9,200, in 1955.
Switzerland ranks 33rd of 183 countries on this measure, 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 Switzerland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 10,000 | — |
| 1952 | 9,800 | -2.0% |
| 1953 | 9,500 | -3.1% |
| 1954 | 9,400 | -1.1% |
| 1955 | 9,200 | -2.1% |
| 1956 | 20,700 | +125.0% |
| 1957 | 20,500 | -1.0% |
| 1958 | 20,000 | -2.4% |
| 1959 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 20,500 | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 21,000 | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 26,000 | +23.8% |
| 1969 | 30,000 | +15.4% |
| 1970 | 31,000 | +3.3% |
| 1971 | 30,000 | -3.2% |
| 1972 | 35,000 | +16.7% |
| 1973 | 35,000 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 35,000 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 35,000 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 35,000 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 30,000 | -14.3% |
| 1978 | 30,000 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 30,000 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 32,000 | +6.7% |
| 1981 | 40,000 | +25.0% |
| 1982 | 33,404 | -16.5% |
| 1983 | 32,312 | -3.3% |
| 1984 | 31,201 | -3.4% |
| 1985 | 30,726 | -1.5% |
| 1986 | 31,343 | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 31,707 | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 31,949 | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 36,763 | +15.1% |
| 1990 | 40,943 | +11.4% |
| 1991 | 45,622 | +11.4% |
| 1992 | 51,930 | +13.8% |
| 1993 | 56,586 | +9.0% |
| 1994 | 75,295 | +33.1% |
| 1995 | 82,943 | +10.2% |
| 1996 | 84,413 | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 83,205 | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 81,875 | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 82,273 | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 57,624 | -30.0% |
| 2001 | 58,471 | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 54,081 | -7.5% |
| 2003 | 50,126 | -7.3% |
| 2004 | 47,654 | -4.9% |
| 2005 | 48,010 | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 48,508 | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 45,642 | -5.9% |
| 2008 | 46,131 | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 46,204 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 48,813 | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 50,401 | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 50,733 | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 52,448 | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 62,596 | +19.3% |
| 2015 | 73,326 | +17.1% |
| 2016 | 82,668 | +12.7% |
| 2017 | 93,030 | +12.5% |
| 2018 | 104,011 | +11.8% |
| 2019 | 110,162 | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 115,798 | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 118,829 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 182,474 | +53.6% |
| 2023 | 192,507 | +5.5% |
| 2024 | 196,167 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 208,287 | +6.2% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 208,287 is above the median for high income countries, which is 11,811, 17.6× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 208,287 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 70,349, 3.0× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Switzerland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | +125.0% | 9,200 | 20,700 |
| 2022 | +53.6% | 118,829 | 182,474 |
| 1994 | +33.1% | 56,586 | 75,295 |
| 2000 | -30.0% | 82,273 | 57,624 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 14,344 | 9,200 | 20,700 | 9 |
| 1960s | 21,750 | 20,000 | 30,000 | 10 |
| 1970s | 32,600 | 30,000 | 35,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 33,140 | 30,726 | 40,000 | 10 |
| 1990s | 68,508 | 40,943 | 84,413 | 10 |
| 2000s | 50,245 | 45,642 | 58,471 | 10 |
| 2010s | 72,819 | 48,813 | 110,162 | 10 |
| 2020s | 169,010 | 115,798 | 208,287 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More population data for Switzerland
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.0595 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2093 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 9,754 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4828 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1371 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.046 (2100)
- Population density 230.99 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 392,499 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Switzerland?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Switzerland was 208,287 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 208,287 in 2025.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 9,200 in 1955.
- How does Switzerland rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Switzerland ranks 33rd out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 184.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland 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
CSV · JSON — 75 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).