Refugee population by country or territory of origin in India
India: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 42,610 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in India, 1971–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of origin in India is 42,610, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.4% on the previous year and up 331.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in India peaked at 42,610 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1971.
That places India 37th out of 205 countries with data for 2025, 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
| 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% |
| 2025 | 42,610 | +8.4% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 42,610 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9,568, 4.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 42,610 is above the median for South Asia, which is 19,940, 2.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin in India 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +1415.4% | 13 | 197 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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 | 25,781 | 12,398 | 42,610 | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
More population data for India
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.2494 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4607 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 1.67 million Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.7665 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7604 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.512 (2100)
- Population density 506.27 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 66.77 million (2100)
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 42,610 in 2025, 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 42,610 in 2025.
- 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 37th out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 331.2%. 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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