Refugees by country of asylum in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Refugees by country of asylum was 20,866 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Afghanistan, 1990–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of asylum in Afghanistan is 20,866 people, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 40.1% on the previous year and down 93.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Afghanistan peaked at 300,421 people in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 1998.
Afghanistan ranks 82nd of 183 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.
Refugees by country of asylum in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 50 people | — |
| 1991 | 38 people | -24.0% |
| 1992 | 60,025 people | +157860.5% |
| 1993 | 32,131 people | -46.5% |
| 1994 | 19,134 people | -40.5% |
| 1995 | 19,605 people | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 18,779 people | -4.2% |
| 1997 | 5 people | -100.0% |
| 1998 | 0 people | -100.0% |
| 1999 | 0 people | — |
| 2000 | 0 people | — |
| 2001 | 10 people | — |
| 2002 | 0 people | -100.0% |
| 2003 | 24 people | — |
| 2004 | 31 people | +29.2% |
| 2005 | 31 people | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 34 people | +9.7% |
| 2007 | 43 people | +26.5% |
| 2008 | 37 people | -14.0% |
| 2009 | 36 people | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 6,434 people | +17772.2% |
| 2011 | 3,011 people | -53.2% |
| 2012 | 16,184 people | +437.5% |
| 2013 | 16,861 people | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 300,421 people | +1681.8% |
| 2015 | 257,553 people | -14.3% |
| 2016 | 59,770 people | -76.8% |
| 2017 | 75,927 people | +27.0% |
| 2018 | 72,228 people | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 72,227 people | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 72,278 people | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 66,949 people | -7.4% |
| 2022 | 52,159 people | -22.1% |
| 2023 | 34,826 people | -33.2% |
| 2024 | 20,866 people | -40.1% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 20,866 people is below the median for low income countries, which is 42,512 people, 49% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 20,866 people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16,250 people, 1.3× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Afghanistan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +157860.5% | 38 people | 60,025 people |
| 2010 | +17772.2% | 36 people | 6,434 people |
| 2014 | +1681.8% | 16,861 people | 300,421 people |
| 2012 | +437.5% | 3,011 people | 16,184 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14,977 people | 0 people | 60,025 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.6 people | 0 people | 43 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 88,062 people | 3,011 people | 300,421 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 49,416 people | 20,866 people | 72,278 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More reference data data for Afghanistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.8991 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4362 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 18.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.38 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Afghanistan?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Afghanistan was 20,866 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 300,421 people in 2014.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 1998.
- How does Afghanistan rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Afghanistan ranks 82nd out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 93.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan 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 asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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 who live in this country, not just those who arrived that year.