Refugee population by country or territory of origin in India

India: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 39,303 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
39,303
Change on year
up 55.2%
World rank
36th
of 202 countries
All-time high
39,303
in 2024
All-time low
0
in 1971
Years of data
39
1971–2024

Refugee population by country or territory of origin in India, 1971–2024

010.0k20.0k30.0k40.0k1971199720241971: 01972: 01988: 101989: 131990: 1971991: 4061992: 1.0k1993: 1.5k1994: 3.3k1995: 5.0k1996: 7.5k1997: 8.9k1998: 9.7k1999: 9.8k2000: 11.4k2001: 11.6k2002: 14.3k2003: 13.7k2004: 13.3k2005: 16.3k2006: 17.8k2007: 20.5k2008: 19.6k2009: 19.5k2010: 17.8k2011: 16.2k2012: 14.2k2013: 11.0k2014: 10.4k2015: 9.9k2016: 7.3k2017: 7.9k2018: 9.6k2019: 11.8k2020: 12.4k2021: 14.2k2022: 20.8k2023: 25.3k2024: 39.3k

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of origin in India is 39,303, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.

That represents a change of up 55.2% on the previous year and up 276.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in India peaked at 39,303 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1971.

That places India 36th out of 202 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 origin in India, year by year

Annual values for Refugee population by country or territory of origin in India, 1971 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1971 0
1972 0
1988 10
1989 13 +30.0%
1990 197 +1415.4%
1991 406 +106.1%
1992 1,021 +151.5%
1993 1,491 +46.0%
1994 3,266 +119.0%
1995 5,011 +53.4%
1996 7,546 +50.6%
1997 8,918 +18.2%
1998 9,663 +8.4%
1999 9,846 +1.9%
2000 11,397 +15.8%
2001 11,560 +1.4%
2002 14,349 +24.1%
2003 13,703 -4.5%
2004 13,335 -2.7%
2005 16,275 +22.0%
2006 17,797 +9.4%
2007 20,455 +14.9%
2008 19,551 -4.4%
2009 19,496 -0.3%
2010 17,766 -8.9%
2011 16,226 -8.7%
2012 14,245 -12.2%
2013 11,032 -22.6%
2014 10,431 -5.4%
2015 9,882 -5.3%
2016 7,288 -26.2%
2017 7,926 +8.8%
2018 9,586 +20.9%
2019 11,787 +23.0%
2020 12,398 +5.2%
2021 14,230 +14.8%
2022 20,828 +46.4%
2023 25,319 +21.6%
2024 39,303 +55.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 0 0 0 2
1980s 11.5 10 13 2
1990s 4,736 197 9,846 10
2000s 15,792 11,397 20,455 10
2010s 11,617 7,288 17,766 10
2020s 22,416 12,398 39,303 5

Countries ranked near India

  1. 33 Niger 44,119 compare
  2. 34 Palestine, State of 43,701 compare
  3. 35 Guinea 42,096 compare
  4. 37 Mexico 39,241 compare
  5. 38 Mauritania 38,111 compare
  6. 39 Guatemala 36,323 compare

See the full ranking of 204 places →

More population data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is refugee population by country or territory of origin in India?
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in India was 39,303 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 39,303 in 2024.
What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1971.
How does India rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
India ranks 36th out of 202 countries with data for 2024.
Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is up 276.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this India data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Refugee population by country or territory of origin in India. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/refugee-population-by-country-or-territory-of-origin-2/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Refugee population by country or territory of origin
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
204 places, 7,190 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed