Refugees by country of origin in Iraq
Iraq: Refugees by country of origin was 305,493 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of origin in Iraq, 1968–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Iraq recorded 305,493 people for refugees by country of origin in 2024.
That represents a change of down 7.2% on the previous year and down 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of origin in Iraq peaked at 2.31 million people in 2007 and was at its lowest, 560 people, in 1978.
Iraq ranks 15th of 204 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of origin in Iraq, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 2,700 people | — |
| 1969 | 2,700 people | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 560 people | -79.3% |
| 1979 | 31,000 people | +5435.7% |
| 1980 | 31,098 people | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 66,589 people | +114.1% |
| 1982 | 103,766 people | +55.8% |
| 1983 | 103,721 people | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 101,724 people | -1.9% |
| 1985 | 401,503 people | +294.7% |
| 1986 | 400,745 people | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 410,818 people | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 508,468 people | +23.8% |
| 1989 | 507,986 people | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 1.13 million people | +123.2% |
| 1991 | 1.32 million people | +16.6% |
| 1992 | 1.34 million people | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 771,074 people | -42.6% |
| 1994 | 749,833 people | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 718,717 people | -4.1% |
| 1996 | 714,727 people | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 707,342 people | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 675,030 people | -4.6% |
| 1999 | 642,875 people | -4.8% |
| 2000 | 526,165 people | -18.2% |
| 2001 | 530,508 people | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 422,504 people | -20.4% |
| 2003 | 368,577 people | -12.8% |
| 2004 | 311,889 people | -15.4% |
| 2005 | 262,302 people | -15.9% |
| 2006 | 1.45 million people | +453.1% |
| 2007 | 2.31 million people | +59.2% |
| 2008 | 1.90 million people | -17.6% |
| 2009 | 1.79 million people | -6.2% |
| 2010 | 1.68 million people | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 1.43 million people | -15.2% |
| 2012 | 746,204 people | -47.8% |
| 2013 | 401,461 people | -46.2% |
| 2014 | 369,960 people | -7.8% |
| 2015 | 264,086 people | -28.6% |
| 2016 | 316,056 people | +19.7% |
| 2017 | 362,536 people | +14.7% |
| 2018 | 372,332 people | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 336,274 people | -9.7% |
| 2020 | 333,200 people | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 343,883 people | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 287,432 people | -16.4% |
| 2023 | 329,020 people | +14.5% |
| 2024 | 305,493 people | -7.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,700 people | 2,700 people | 2,700 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 15,780 people | 560 people | 31,000 people | 2 |
| 1980s | 263,642 people | 31,098 people | 508,468 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 877,907 people | 642,875 people | 1.34 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 987,084 people | 262,302 people | 2.31 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 628,080 people | 264,086 people | 1.68 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 319,806 people | 287,432 people | 343,883 people | 5 |
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)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 231.84 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.99 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of origin in Iraq?
- Refugees by country of origin in Iraq was 305,493 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 2.31 million people in 2007.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of origin recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 560 people in 1978.
- How does Iraq rank for refugees by country of origin?
- Iraq ranks 15th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of origin rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq 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.