Refugees by country of origin in Iran
Iran: Refugees by country of origin was 158,166 people in 2024. ▲ Rising
Refugees by country of origin in Iran, 1980–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of origin in Iran is 158,166 people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.2% on the previous year and up 92.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of origin in Iran peaked at 158,166 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 48 people, in 1980.
That places Iran 19th out of 204 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Refugees by country of origin in Iran, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 48 people | — |
| 1981 | 803 people | +1572.9% |
| 1982 | 2,480 people | +208.8% |
| 1983 | 5,577 people | +124.9% |
| 1984 | 5,244 people | -6.0% |
| 1985 | 88,245 people | +1582.8% |
| 1986 | 87,921 people | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 10,992 people | -87.5% |
| 1988 | 58,259 people | +430.0% |
| 1989 | 52,798 people | -9.4% |
| 1990 | 75,889 people | +43.7% |
| 1991 | 130,366 people | +71.8% |
| 1992 | 128,781 people | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 115,516 people | -10.3% |
| 1994 | 121,288 people | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 112,360 people | -7.4% |
| 1996 | 104,122 people | -7.3% |
| 1997 | 93,986 people | -9.7% |
| 1998 | 89,967 people | -4.3% |
| 1999 | 86,845 people | -3.5% |
| 2000 | 88,266 people | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 92,490 people | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 138,362 people | +49.6% |
| 2003 | 122,530 people | -11.4% |
| 2004 | 115,171 people | -6.0% |
| 2005 | 99,430 people | -13.7% |
| 2006 | 102,479 people | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 68,398 people | -33.3% |
| 2008 | 69,051 people | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 72,771 people | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 68,785 people | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 72,366 people | +5.2% |
| 2012 | 75,932 people | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 75,061 people | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 82,202 people | +9.5% |
| 2015 | 84,950 people | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 94,102 people | +10.8% |
| 2017 | 118,639 people | +26.1% |
| 2018 | 129,941 people | +9.5% |
| 2019 | 128,998 people | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 135,018 people | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 142,989 people | +5.9% |
| 2022 | 122,759 people | -14.1% |
| 2023 | 151,752 people | +23.6% |
| 2024 | 158,166 people | +4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 31,237 people | 48 people | 88,245 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 105,912 people | 75,889 people | 130,366 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 96,895 people | 68,398 people | 138,362 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 93,098 people | 68,785 people | 129,941 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 142,137 people | 122,759 people | 158,166 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iran
- 16 Rwanda 249,087 people compare
- 17 Western Sahara 174,578 people compare
- 18 Ethiopia 164,418 people compare
- 20 China 153,564 people compare
- 21 Azerbaijan 153,154 people compare
- 22 Burkina Faso 150,081 people compare
More population data for Iran
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.6632 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.91 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.6632 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5902 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 99,007 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4819 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5653 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 49.33 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.09 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of origin in Iran?
- Refugees by country of origin in Iran was 158,166 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of origin recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 158,166 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of origin recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 48 people in 1980.
- How does Iran rank for refugees by country of origin?
- Iran ranks 19th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of origin rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 92.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees, not just those who fled that year.