Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Thailand
Thailand: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 84,017 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Thailand, 1975–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Thailand stood at 84,017.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 22.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Thailand peaked at 261,360 in 1980 and was at its lowest, 63,625, in 1992.
That places Thailand 54th out of 183 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Thailand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 75,760 | — |
| 1976 | 82,870 | +9.4% |
| 1977 | 97,600 | +17.8% |
| 1978 | 138,950 | +42.4% |
| 1979 | 151,620 | +9.1% |
| 1980 | 261,360 | +72.4% |
| 1981 | 192,990 | -26.2% |
| 1982 | 168,980 | -12.4% |
| 1983 | 144,320 | -14.6% |
| 1984 | 128,500 | -11.0% |
| 1985 | 130,420 | +1.5% |
| 1986 | 119,920 | -8.1% |
| 1987 | 112,740 | -6.0% |
| 1988 | 107,799 | -4.4% |
| 1989 | 99,935 | -7.3% |
| 1990 | 99,821 | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 88,164 | -11.7% |
| 1992 | 63,625 | -27.8% |
| 1993 | 119,232 | +87.4% |
| 1994 | 100,817 | -15.4% |
| 1995 | 106,565 | +5.7% |
| 1996 | 107,962 | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 169,154 | +56.7% |
| 1998 | 138,334 | -18.2% |
| 1999 | 100,133 | -27.6% |
| 2000 | 104,966 | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 110,711 | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 112,614 | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 119,056 | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 121,145 | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 117,050 | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 133,107 | +13.7% |
| 2007 | 125,627 | -5.6% |
| 2008 | 112,916 | -10.1% |
| 2009 | 105,286 | -6.8% |
| 2010 | 96,666 | -8.2% |
| 2011 | 89,245 | -7.7% |
| 2012 | 84,475 | -5.3% |
| 2013 | 136,489 | +61.6% |
| 2014 | 130,227 | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 108,252 | -16.9% |
| 2016 | 106,431 | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 104,605 | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 102,234 | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 97,556 | -4.6% |
| 2020 | 96,179 | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 100,510 | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 94,472 | -6.0% |
| 2023 | 87,314 | -7.6% |
| 2024 | 84,421 | -3.3% |
| 2025 | 84,017 | -0.5% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 84,017 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4,499, 18.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 84,017 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 51.5, 1631.4× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Thailand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +87.4% | 63,625 | 119,232 |
| 1980 | +72.4% | 151,620 | 261,360 |
| 2013 | +61.6% | 84,475 | 136,489 |
| 1997 | +56.7% | 107,962 | 169,154 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 109,360 | 75,760 | 151,620 | 5 |
| 1980s | 146,696 | 99,935 | 261,360 | 10 |
| 1990s | 109,381 | 63,625 | 169,154 | 10 |
| 2000s | 116,248 | 104,966 | 133,107 | 10 |
| 2010s | 105,618 | 84,475 | 136,489 | 10 |
| 2020s | 91,152 | 84,017 | 100,510 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More population data for Thailand
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.7473 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.57 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.7473 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.8771 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 67,880 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.0154 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4671 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.749 (2100)
- Population density 89.17 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 1.67 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Thailand?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Thailand was 84,017 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 261,360 in 1980.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 63,625 in 1992.
- How does Thailand rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Thailand ranks 54th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Thailand 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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