Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 581,072 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
581,072
Change on year
up 12.7%
World rank
14th
of 183 countries
All-time high
581,072
in 2025
All-time low
39,755
in 1988
Years of data
75
1951–2025
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in United Kingdom, 1951–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in United Kingdom stood at 581,072. That is the highest value across all 75 years on record.
That represents a change of up 12.7% on the previous year and up 372.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in United Kingdom peaked at 581,072 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 39,755, in 1988.
United Kingdom ranks 14th of 183 countries on this measure, 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 208,000 | — |
| 1952 | 200,000 | -3.8% |
| 1953 | 192,000 | -4.0% |
| 1954 | 182,000 | -5.2% |
| 1955 | 175,000 | -3.8% |
| 1956 | 182,000 | +4.0% |
| 1957 | 179,000 | -1.6% |
| 1958 | 175,000 | -2.2% |
| 1959 | 170,000 | -2.9% |
| 1960 | 167,000 | -1.8% |
| 1961 | 164,000 | -1.8% |
| 1962 | 160,000 | -2.4% |
| 1963 | 157,000 | -1.9% |
| 1964 | 160,000 | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 170,000 | +6.2% |
| 1966 | 167,000 | -1.8% |
| 1967 | 164,000 | -1.8% |
| 1968 | 161,000 | -1.8% |
| 1969 | 162,000 | +0.6% |
| 1970 | 162,000 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 150,000 | -7.4% |
| 1972 | 150,000 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 150,000 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 155,500 | +3.7% |
| 1975 | 153,000 | -1.6% |
| 1976 | 153,000 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 148,000 | -3.3% |
| 1978 | 150,000 | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 146,000 | -2.7% |
| 1980 | 148,000 | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 146,000 | -1.4% |
| 1982 | 143,000 | -2.1% |
| 1983 | 140,000 | -2.1% |
| 1984 | 135,000 | -3.6% |
| 1985 | 135,000 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 100,000 | -25.9% |
| 1987 | 100,000 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 39,755 | -60.2% |
| 1989 | 46,014 | +15.7% |
| 1990 | 43,625 | -5.2% |
| 1991 | 43,368 | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 64,717 | +49.2% |
| 1993 | 80,230 | +24.0% |
| 1994 | 85,159 | +6.1% |
| 1995 | 90,908 | +6.8% |
| 1996 | 98,577 | +8.4% |
| 1997 | 107,933 | +9.5% |
| 1998 | 121,715 | +12.8% |
| 1999 | 148,921 | +22.4% |
| 2000 | 186,247 | +25.1% |
| 2001 | 233,389 | +25.3% |
| 2002 | 260,687 | +11.7% |
| 2003 | 276,482 | +6.1% |
| 2004 | 298,826 | +8.1% |
| 2005 | 303,163 | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 301,537 | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 299,696 | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 292,076 | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 269,350 | -7.8% |
| 2010 | 238,128 | -11.6% |
| 2011 | 193,489 | -18.7% |
| 2012 | 149,782 | -22.6% |
| 2013 | 126,036 | -15.9% |
| 2014 | 117,226 | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 123,051 | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 118,973 | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 121,821 | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 126,708 | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 133,083 | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 132,304 | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 137,078 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 328,989 | +140.0% |
| 2023 | 448,620 | +36.4% |
| 2024 | 515,677 | +14.9% |
| 2025 | 581,072 | +12.7% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 581,072 is above the median for high income countries, which is 11,811, 49.2× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 581,072 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 70,349, 8.3× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +140.0% | 137,078 | 328,989 |
| 1988 | -60.2% | 100,000 | 39,755 |
| 1992 | +49.2% | 43,368 | 64,717 |
| 2023 | +36.4% | 328,989 | 448,620 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 184,778 | 170,000 | 208,000 | 9 |
| 1960s | 163,200 | 157,000 | 170,000 | 10 |
| 1970s | 151,750 | 146,000 | 162,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 113,277 | 39,755 | 148,000 | 10 |
| 1990s | 88,515 | 43,368 | 148,921 | 10 |
| 2000s | 272,145 | 186,247 | 303,163 | 10 |
| 2010s | 144,830 | 117,226 | 238,128 | 10 |
| 2020s | 357,290 | 132,304 | 581,072 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More population data for United Kingdom
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.1389 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0706 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 71,685 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.2666 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.169 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.184 (2100)
- Population density 307.14 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 3.21 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in United Kingdom?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in United Kingdom was 581,072 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 581,072 in 2025.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 39,755 in 1988.
- How does United Kingdom rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- United Kingdom ranks 14th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 372.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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).