Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Iraq
Iraq: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 270,671 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
270,671
Change on year
down 11.4%
World rank
16th
of 205 countries
All-time high
2.31 million
in 2007
All-time low
560
in 1978
Years of data
50
1968–2025
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Iraq, 1968–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Iraq recorded 270,671 for refugee population by country or territory of origin in 2025.
That represents a change of down 11.4% on the previous year and up 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Iraq peaked at 2.31 million in 2007 and was at its lowest, 560, in 1978.
Iraq ranks 16th of 205 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 origin in Iraq, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 2,700 | — |
| 1969 | 2,700 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 560 | -79.3% |
| 1979 | 31,000 | +5435.7% |
| 1980 | 31,098 | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 66,589 | +114.1% |
| 1982 | 103,766 | +55.8% |
| 1983 | 103,721 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 101,724 | -1.9% |
| 1985 | 401,503 | +294.7% |
| 1986 | 400,745 | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 410,818 | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 508,468 | +23.8% |
| 1989 | 507,986 | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 1.13 million | +123.2% |
| 1991 | 1.32 million | +16.6% |
| 1992 | 1.34 million | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 771,074 | -42.6% |
| 1994 | 749,833 | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 718,717 | -4.1% |
| 1996 | 714,727 | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 707,342 | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 675,030 | -4.6% |
| 1999 | 642,875 | -4.8% |
| 2000 | 526,165 | -18.2% |
| 2001 | 530,508 | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 422,504 | -20.4% |
| 2003 | 368,577 | -12.8% |
| 2004 | 311,889 | -15.4% |
| 2005 | 262,302 | -15.9% |
| 2006 | 1.45 million | +453.1% |
| 2007 | 2.31 million | +59.2% |
| 2008 | 1.90 million | -17.6% |
| 2009 | 1.79 million | -6.2% |
| 2010 | 1.68 million | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 1.43 million | -15.2% |
| 2012 | 746,204 | -47.8% |
| 2013 | 401,461 | -46.2% |
| 2014 | 369,960 | -7.8% |
| 2015 | 264,086 | -28.6% |
| 2016 | 316,056 | +19.7% |
| 2017 | 362,536 | +14.7% |
| 2018 | 372,332 | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 336,274 | -9.7% |
| 2020 | 333,200 | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 343,899 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 287,446 | -16.4% |
| 2023 | 329,032 | +14.5% |
| 2024 | 305,504 | -7.2% |
| 2025 | 270,671 | -11.4% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 270,671 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2,477, 109.3× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 270,671 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9,174, 29.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Iraq 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +5435.7% | 560 | 31,000 |
| 2006 | +453.1% | 262,302 | 1.45 million |
| 1985 | +294.7% | 101,724 | 401,503 |
| 1990 | +123.2% | 507,986 | 1.13 million |
| 1981 | +114.1% | 31,098 | 66,589 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2 |
| 1970s | 15,780 | 560 | 31,000 | 2 |
| 1980s | 263,642 | 31,098 | 508,468 | 10 |
| 1990s | 877,907 | 642,875 | 1.34 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 987,084 | 262,302 | 2.31 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 628,080 | 264,086 | 1.68 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 311,625 | 270,671 | 343,899 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More population data for Iraq
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1891 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.65 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1891 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 74,515 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.07 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4379 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.169 (2100)
- Population density 231.84 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.99 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of origin in Iraq?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Iraq was 270,671 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 2.31 million in 2007.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 560 in 1978.
- How does Iraq rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- Iraq ranks 16th out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 50 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).