Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Malaysia
Malaysia: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 2,477 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Malaysia, 1991–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 2,477 for refugee population by country or territory of origin in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 104.9% on the previous year and up 469.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Malaysia peaked at 2,477 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5, in 1991.
Malaysia ranks 88th of 205 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5 | — |
| 1992 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 83 | +1560.0% |
| 1995 | 82 | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 105 | +28.0% |
| 1997 | 88 | -16.2% |
| 1998 | 87 | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 83 | -4.6% |
| 2000 | 79 | -4.8% |
| 2001 | 77 | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 117 | +51.9% |
| 2003 | 235 | +100.9% |
| 2004 | 287 | +22.1% |
| 2005 | 388 | +35.2% |
| 2006 | 575 | +48.2% |
| 2007 | 611 | +6.3% |
| 2008 | 607 | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 530 | -12.7% |
| 2010 | 550 | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 531 | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 523 | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 478 | -8.6% |
| 2014 | 458 | -4.2% |
| 2015 | 435 | -5.0% |
| 2016 | 453 | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 540 | +19.2% |
| 2018 | 817 | +51.3% |
| 2019 | 906 | +10.9% |
| 2020 | 1,058 | +16.8% |
| 2021 | 1,182 | +11.7% |
| 2022 | 1,359 | +15.0% |
| 2023 | 999 | -26.5% |
| 2024 | 1,209 | +21.0% |
| 2025 | 2,477 | +104.9% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 2,477 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2,477, 1.0× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 2,477 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 73, 33.9× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Malaysia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +1560.0% | 5 | 83 |
| 2025 | +104.9% | 1,209 | 2,477 |
| 2003 | +100.9% | 117 | 235 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 60.33 | 5 | 105 | 9 |
| 2000s | 350.6 | 77 | 611 | 10 |
| 2010s | 569.1 | 435 | 906 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,381 | 999 | 2,477 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More population data for Malaysia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.2671 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -5.88 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.2671 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.2686 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 41,032 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8625 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1472 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.278 (2100)
- Population density 134 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 1.91 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of origin in Malaysia?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Malaysia was 2,477 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 2,477 in 2025.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5 in 1991.
- How does Malaysia rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- Malaysia ranks 88th out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 469.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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
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