Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Turkey
Turkey: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 2.39 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.39 million
Change on year
down 18.7%
World rank
2nd
of 183 countries
All-time high
3.76 million
in 2021
All-time low
1,050
in 1977
Years of data
75
1951–2025
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Turkey, 1951–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Turkey is 2.39 million, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 18.7% on the previous year and down 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Turkey peaked at 3.76 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1,050, in 1977.
That places Turkey 2nd out of 183 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
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 Turkey, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 2,700 | — |
| 1952 | 2,000 | -25.9% |
| 1953 | 2,000 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 2,500 | +25.0% |
| 1955 | 2,200 | -12.0% |
| 1956 | 2,100 | -4.5% |
| 1957 | 2,200 | +4.8% |
| 1958 | 2,150 | -2.3% |
| 1959 | 2,150 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 2,200 | +2.3% |
| 1961 | 2,300 | +4.5% |
| 1962 | 2,300 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 2,300 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 2,300 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 2,000 | -13.0% |
| 1966 | 1,900 | -5.0% |
| 1967 | 1,850 | -2.6% |
| 1968 | 1,980 | +7.0% |
| 1969 | 1,400 | -29.3% |
| 1970 | 1,170 | -16.4% |
| 1971 | 1,150 | -1.7% |
| 1972 | 1,160 | +0.9% |
| 1973 | 1,160 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 1,060 | -8.6% |
| 1975 | 1,060 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 1,060 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 1,050 | -0.9% |
| 1978 | 1,070 | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 1,060 | -0.9% |
| 1980 | 6,100 | +475.5% |
| 1981 | 1,180 | -80.7% |
| 1982 | 1,670 | +41.5% |
| 1983 | 1,320 | -21.0% |
| 1984 | 2,600 | +97.0% |
| 1985 | 1,790 | -31.2% |
| 1986 | 1,920 | +7.3% |
| 1987 | 2,200 | +14.6% |
| 1988 | 4,450 | +102.3% |
| 1989 | 33,067 | +643.1% |
| 1990 | 28,000 | -15.3% |
| 1991 | 30,462 | +8.8% |
| 1992 | 28,477 | -6.5% |
| 1993 | 23,267 | -18.3% |
| 1994 | 24,927 | +7.1% |
| 1995 | 12,841 | -48.5% |
| 1996 | 8,166 | -36.4% |
| 1997 | 2,448 | -70.0% |
| 1998 | 2,529 | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 2,810 | +11.1% |
| 2000 | 3,096 | +10.2% |
| 2001 | 3,466 | +12.0% |
| 2002 | 3,302 | -4.7% |
| 2003 | 2,488 | -24.7% |
| 2004 | 3,029 | +21.7% |
| 2005 | 2,395 | -20.9% |
| 2006 | 2,624 | +9.6% |
| 2007 | 6,941 | +164.5% |
| 2008 | 11,090 | +59.8% |
| 2009 | 10,339 | -6.8% |
| 2010 | 10,025 | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 14,457 | +44.2% |
| 2012 | 267,063 | +1747.3% |
| 2013 | 609,931 | +128.4% |
| 2014 | 1.59 million | +160.3% |
| 2015 | 2.54 million | +60.1% |
| 2016 | 2.87 million | +12.9% |
| 2017 | 3.48 million | +21.3% |
| 2018 | 3.68 million | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 3.58 million | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 3.65 million | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 3.76 million | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 3.57 million | -5.1% |
| 2023 | 3.25 million | -8.9% |
| 2024 | 2.94 million | -9.5% |
| 2025 | 2.39 million | -18.7% |
Turkey compared with similar countries
- Turkey's 2.39 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4,499, 531.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Turkey's 2.39 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 70,349, 34.0× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Turkey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +1747.3% | 14,457 | 267,063 |
| 1989 | +643.1% | 4,450 | 33,067 |
| 1980 | +475.5% | 1,060 | 6,100 |
| 2007 | +164.5% | 2,624 | 6,941 |
| 2014 | +160.3% | 609,931 | 1.59 million |
| 2013 | +128.4% | 267,063 | 609,931 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2,222 | 2,000 | 2,700 | 9 |
| 1960s | 2,053 | 1,400 | 2,300 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1,100 | 1,050 | 1,170 | 10 |
| 1980s | 5,630 | 1,180 | 33,067 | 10 |
| 1990s | 16,393 | 2,448 | 30,462 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,877 | 2,395 | 11,090 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.86 million | 10,025 | 3.68 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.26 million | 2.39 million | 3.76 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Turkey
More population data for Turkey
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.1546 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.543 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.9701 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -1 (2100)
- Population density 84.9 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 2.26 million (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -1 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 0.1677 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Turkey?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Turkey was 2.39 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Turkey?
- The highest recorded value was 3.76 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Turkey?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,050 in 1977.
- How does Turkey rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Turkey ranks 2nd out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Turkey?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Turkey 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).