Refugees by country of asylum in Australia
Australia: Refugees by country of asylum was 29,511 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Australia, 1951–2024
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 Australia is 29,511 people, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 14.5% on the previous year and down 17.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Australia peaked at 317,000 people in 1981 and was at its lowest, 20,915 people, in 2008.
Australia ranks 74th 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 Australia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 180,000 people | — |
| 1965 | 40,000 people | -77.8% |
| 1966 | 40,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 44,000 people | +10.0% |
| 1968 | 43,000 people | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 42,000 people | -2.3% |
| 1970 | 42,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 304,000 people | +623.8% |
| 1979 | 304,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 304,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 317,000 people | +4.3% |
| 1982 | 317,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 317,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 89,000 people | -71.9% |
| 1985 | 89,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 85,900 people | -3.5% |
| 1987 | 87,600 people | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 90,970 people | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 97,915 people | +7.6% |
| 1990 | 97,915 people | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 53,117 people | -45.8% |
| 1992 | 52,604 people | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 53,505 people | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 57,575 people | +7.6% |
| 1995 | 62,145 people | +7.9% |
| 1996 | 67,298 people | +8.3% |
| 1997 | 66,056 people | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 69,714 people | +5.5% |
| 1999 | 64,879 people | -6.9% |
| 2000 | 60,219 people | -7.2% |
| 2001 | 57,885 people | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 59,422 people | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 56,242 people | -5.4% |
| 2004 | 63,478 people | +12.9% |
| 2005 | 64,955 people | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 68,942 people | +6.1% |
| 2007 | 22,161 people | -67.9% |
| 2008 | 20,915 people | -5.6% |
| 2009 | 22,543 people | +7.8% |
| 2010 | 21,790 people | -3.3% |
| 2011 | 23,423 people | +7.5% |
| 2012 | 30,056 people | +28.3% |
| 2013 | 34,485 people | +14.7% |
| 2014 | 35,565 people | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 36,917 people | +3.8% |
| 2016 | 42,187 people | +14.3% |
| 2017 | 48,480 people | +14.9% |
| 2018 | 56,934 people | +17.4% |
| 2019 | 58,529 people | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 57,411 people | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 55,606 people | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 54,430 people | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 34,502 people | -36.6% |
| 2024 | 29,511 people | -14.5% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 29,511 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 10,077 people, 2.9× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Australia's 29,511 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 51.5 people, 573.0× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +623.8% | 42,000 people | 304,000 people |
| 1965 | -77.8% | 180,000 people | 40,000 people |
| 1984 | -71.9% | 317,000 people | 89,000 people |
| 2007 | -67.9% | 68,942 people | 22,161 people |
| 1991 | -45.8% | 97,915 people | 53,117 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 180,000 people | 180,000 people | 180,000 people | 1 |
| 1960s | 41,800 people | 40,000 people | 44,000 people | 5 |
| 1970s | 216,667 people | 42,000 people | 304,000 people | 3 |
| 1980s | 179,538 people | 85,900 people | 317,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 64,481 people | 52,604 people | 97,915 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 49,676 people | 20,915 people | 68,942 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 38,837 people | 21,790 people | 58,529 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 46,292 people | 29,511 people | 57,411 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More reference data data for Australia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 28.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 118.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 170.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 13.9 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Australia?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Australia was 29,511 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 Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 317,000 people in 1981.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 20,915 people in 2008.
- How does Australia rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Australia ranks 74th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia 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 — 54 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.