Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Palestine
Palestine: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 48,323 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Palestine, 1976–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Palestine stood at 48,323.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.5% on the previous year and down 50.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Palestine peaked at 428,775 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 2,005, in 1987.
That places Palestine 34th 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 Palestine, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 3,200 | — |
| 1982 | 9,800 | +206.2% |
| 1983 | 9,110 | -7.0% |
| 1985 | 31,640 | +247.3% |
| 1986 | 52,705 | +66.6% |
| 1987 | 2,005 | -96.2% |
| 1988 | 5,014 | +150.1% |
| 1989 | 8,041 | +60.4% |
| 1990 | 8,521 | +6.0% |
| 1991 | 65,177 | +664.9% |
| 1992 | 95,343 | +46.3% |
| 1993 | 81,472 | -14.5% |
| 1994 | 82,559 | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 72,762 | -11.9% |
| 1996 | 80,202 | +10.2% |
| 1997 | 76,812 | -4.2% |
| 1998 | 77,517 | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 100,602 | +29.8% |
| 2000 | 110,641 | +10.0% |
| 2001 | 349,158 | +215.6% |
| 2002 | 428,775 | +22.8% |
| 2003 | 350,562 | -18.2% |
| 2004 | 349,827 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 349,663 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 334,127 | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 341,231 | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 340,004 | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 95,185 | -72.0% |
| 2010 | 93,312 | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 94,141 | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 94,916 | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 96,035 | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 97,207 | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 98,013 | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 97,794 | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 99,630 | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 100,728 | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 96,253 | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 100,153 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 103,581 | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 104,307 | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 41,077 | -60.6% |
| 2024 | 43,712 | +6.4% |
| 2025 | 48,323 | +10.5% |
Palestine compared with similar countries
- Palestine's 48,323 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9,568, 5.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Palestine's 48,323 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9,174, 5.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Palestine 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +664.9% | 8,521 | 65,177 |
| 1985 | +247.3% | 9,110 | 31,640 |
| 2001 | +215.6% | 110,641 | 349,158 |
| 1982 | +206.2% | 3,200 | 9,800 |
| 1988 | +150.1% | 2,005 | 5,014 |
| 1987 | -96.2% | 52,705 | 2,005 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3,200 | 3,200 | 3,200 | 1 |
| 1980s | 16,902 | 2,005 | 52,705 | 7 |
| 1990s | 74,097 | 8,521 | 100,602 | 10 |
| 2000s | 304,917 | 95,185 | 428,775 | 10 |
| 2010s | 96,803 | 93,312 | 100,728 | 10 |
| 2020s | 73,526 | 41,077 | 104,307 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Palestine
More population data for Palestine
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0758 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.21 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0758 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1948 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5205 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.062 (2100)
- Population density 1,906 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 600,680 (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development 0.062 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 0.3011 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of origin in Palestine?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Palestine was 48,323 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Palestine?
- The highest recorded value was 428,775 in 2002.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Palestine?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,005 in 1987.
- How does Palestine rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- Palestine ranks 34th out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Palestine?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Palestine 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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