Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in China

China: Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled was 153,564 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
153,564
Change on year
down 4.4%
World rank
20th
of 204 countries
All-time high
1.33 million
in 1965
All-time low
24
in 1980
Years of data
54
1964–2024

Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in China, 1964–2024

0500.0k1.0M1.5M196419942024

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in China is 153,564, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.4% on the previous year and down 27.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in China peaked at 1.33 million in 1965 and was at its lowest, 24, in 1980.

China ranks 20th 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.

Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in China, year by year

Annual values for Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in China, 1964 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1964 1.20 million
1965 1.33 million +10.8%
1966 1.33 million -0.2%
1967 74,000 -94.4%
1968 70,000 -5.4%
1969 65,000 -7.1%
1970 66,000 +1.5%
1971 70,000 +6.1%
1972 75,000 +7.1%
1980 24 -100.0%
1981 24 +0.0%
1982 104 +333.3%
1983 24 -76.9%
1984 24 +0.0%
1985 124 +416.7%
1986 154 +24.2%
1987 24 -84.4%
1988 265 +1004.2%
1989 413 +55.8%
1990 1,426 +245.3%
1991 2,011 +41.0%
1992 82,576 +4006.2%
1993 111,507 +35.0%
1994 113,908 +2.2%
1995 104,691 -8.1%
1996 105,806 +1.1%
1997 106,731 +0.9%
1998 109,396 +2.5%
1999 111,950 +2.3%
2000 110,967 -0.9%
2001 117,403 +5.8%
2002 132,099 +12.5%
2003 132,390 +0.2%
2004 134,708 +1.8%
2005 124,086 -7.9%
2006 140,584 +13.3%
2007 149,087 +6.0%
2008 175,169 +17.5%
2009 180,546 +3.1%
2010 184,601 +2.2%
2011 190,369 +3.1%
2012 193,449 +1.6%
2013 195,121 +0.9%
2014 210,793 +8.0%
2015 212,911 +1.0%
2016 207,768 -2.4%
2017 207,716 -0.0%
2018 212,039 +2.1%
2019 212,863 +0.4%
2020 175,361 -17.6%
2021 170,222 -2.9%
2022 161,366 -5.2%
2023 160,565 -0.5%
2024 153,564 -4.4%

China compared with similar countries

  • China's 153,564 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2,552, 60.2× the median. (57 countries reporting)
  • China's 153,564 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 55, 2792.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in China 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.

YearChange FromTo
1992 +4006.2% 2,011 82,576
1988 +1004.2% 24 265
1985 +416.7% 24 124
1982 +333.3% 24 104
1990 +245.3% 413 1,426
1980 -100.0% 75,000 24

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 677,635 65,000 1.33 million 6
1970s 70,333 66,000 75,000 3
1980s 118 24 413 10
1990s 85,000 1,426 113,908 10
2000s 139,704 110,967 180,546 10
2010s 202,763 184,601 212,911 10
2020s 164,216 153,564 175,361 5

Countries ranked near China

  1. 17 Western Sahara 174,578 compare
  2. 18 Ethiopia 164,418 compare
  3. 19 Iran 158,166 compare
  4. 21 Azerbaijan 153,154 compare
  5. 22 Burkina Faso 150,081 compare
  6. 23 Haiti 148,252 compare

See the full ranking of 204 places →

More population data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in China?
Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in China was 153,564 in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 1.33 million in 1965.
What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 24 in 1980.
How does China rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled?
China ranks 20th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
Is refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is down 27.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in China. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/refugee-population-by-country-or-territory-of-origin-gaps-filled/china/

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How this figure is calculated

Refugee population by country or territory of origin with 133 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
204 places, 7,323 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed

Refugee population by country or territory of origin with 133 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.