Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Turkey
Turkey: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 149,405 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Turkey, 1972–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Turkey recorded 149,405 for refugee population by country or territory of origin in 2025.
That represents a change of up 7.0% on the previous year and up 150.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Turkey peaked at 227,236 in 2006 and was at its lowest, 60, in 1978.
That places Turkey 23rd 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 Turkey, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 250 | — |
| 1977 | 70 | -72.0% |
| 1978 | 60 | -14.3% |
| 1979 | 60 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 300 | +400.0% |
| 1983 | 540 | +80.0% |
| 1984 | 1,040 | +92.6% |
| 1985 | 810 | -22.1% |
| 1986 | 850 | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 1,085 | +27.6% |
| 1988 | 150 | -86.2% |
| 1989 | 2,764 | +1742.7% |
| 1990 | 5,508 | +99.3% |
| 1991 | 6,452 | +17.1% |
| 1992 | 10,089 | +56.4% |
| 1993 | 16,767 | +66.2% |
| 1994 | 28,872 | +72.2% |
| 1995 | 44,866 | +55.4% |
| 1996 | 50,355 | +12.2% |
| 1997 | 47,339 | -6.0% |
| 1998 | 45,019 | -4.9% |
| 1999 | 44,012 | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 47,154 | +7.1% |
| 2001 | 47,085 | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 193,697 | +311.4% |
| 2003 | 185,086 | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 174,572 | -5.7% |
| 2005 | 170,557 | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 227,236 | +33.2% |
| 2007 | 221,937 | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 214,365 | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 146,378 | -31.7% |
| 2010 | 146,785 | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 139,763 | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 135,353 | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 66,558 | -50.8% |
| 2014 | 63,882 | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 59,545 | -6.8% |
| 2016 | 57,915 | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 61,383 | +6.0% |
| 2018 | 68,900 | +12.2% |
| 2019 | 83,239 | +20.8% |
| 2020 | 93,730 | +12.6% |
| 2021 | 105,019 | +12.0% |
| 2022 | 93,537 | -10.9% |
| 2023 | 127,738 | +36.6% |
| 2024 | 139,640 | +9.3% |
| 2025 | 149,405 | +7.0% |
Turkey compared with similar countries
- Turkey's 149,405 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2,477, 60.3× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Turkey's 149,405 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 422, 354.0× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Turkey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +1742.7% | 150 | 2,764 |
| 1982 | +400.0% | 60 | 300 |
| 2002 | +311.4% | 47,085 | 193,697 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 110 | 60 | 250 | 4 |
| 1980s | 942.38 | 150 | 2,764 | 8 |
| 1990s | 29,928 | 5,508 | 50,355 | 10 |
| 2000s | 162,807 | 47,085 | 227,236 | 10 |
| 2010s | 88,332 | 57,915 | 146,785 | 10 |
| 2020s | 118,178 | 93,537 | 149,405 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Turkey
More population data for Turkey
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.1546 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.543 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.9701 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -1 (2100)
- Population density 84.9 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 2.26 million (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -1 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 0.1677 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of origin in Turkey?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Turkey was 149,405 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Turkey?
- The highest recorded value was 227,236 in 2006.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Turkey?
- The lowest recorded value was 60 in 1978.
- How does Turkey rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- Turkey ranks 23rd out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Turkey?
- Over the last ten years it is up 150.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Turkey 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 — 48 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).