Refugees by country of asylum in France
France: Refugees by country of asylum was 721,771 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in France, 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 France is 721,771 people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 8.6% on the previous year and up 186.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in France peaked at 721,771 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 98,900 people, in 1972.
That places France 12th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in France, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 290,000 people | — |
| 1952 | 280,000 people | -3.4% |
| 1953 | 270,000 people | -3.6% |
| 1954 | 263,000 people | -2.6% |
| 1955 | 345,415 people | +31.3% |
| 1956 | 363,290 people | +5.2% |
| 1957 | 389,480 people | +7.2% |
| 1958 | 381,152 people | -2.1% |
| 1959 | 387,201 people | +1.6% |
| 1960 | 245,935 people | -36.5% |
| 1961 | 253,375 people | +3.0% |
| 1962 | 259,740 people | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 174,057 people | -33.0% |
| 1964 | 175,861 people | +1.0% |
| 1965 | 177,665 people | +1.0% |
| 1966 | 179,468 people | +1.0% |
| 1967 | 177,200 people | -1.3% |
| 1968 | 176,736 people | -0.3% |
| 1969 | 175,242 people | -0.8% |
| 1970 | 158,543 people | -9.5% |
| 1971 | 141,844 people | -10.5% |
| 1972 | 98,900 people | -30.3% |
| 1973 | 101,830 people | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 105,538 people | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 109,882 people | +4.1% |
| 1976 | 114,634 people | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 119,413 people | +4.2% |
| 1978 | 126,229 people | +5.7% |
| 1979 | 119,489 people | -5.3% |
| 1980 | 121,958 people | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 125,597 people | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 152,223 people | +21.2% |
| 1983 | 164,113 people | +7.8% |
| 1984 | 169,863 people | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 174,213 people | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 180,258 people | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 179,306 people | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 183,946 people | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 180,258 people | -2.0% |
| 1990 | 193,000 people | +7.1% |
| 1991 | 174,756 people | -9.5% |
| 1992 | 156,512 people | -10.4% |
| 1993 | 166,269 people | +6.2% |
| 1994 | 195,288 people | +17.5% |
| 1995 | 155,240 people | -20.5% |
| 1996 | 151,331 people | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 146,558 people | -3.2% |
| 1998 | 140,213 people | -4.3% |
| 1999 | 129,722 people | -7.5% |
| 2000 | 132,508 people | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 131,601 people | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 132,182 people | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 130,838 people | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 139,852 people | +6.9% |
| 2005 | 137,316 people | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 145,996 people | +6.3% |
| 2007 | 151,789 people | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 171,206 people | +12.8% |
| 2009 | 196,364 people | +14.7% |
| 2010 | 200,687 people | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 210,207 people | +4.7% |
| 2012 | 217,865 people | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 232,487 people | +6.7% |
| 2014 | 252,248 people | +8.5% |
| 2015 | 273,117 people | +8.3% |
| 2016 | 304,527 people | +11.5% |
| 2017 | 337,158 people | +10.7% |
| 2018 | 368,345 people | +9.2% |
| 2019 | 407,915 people | +10.7% |
| 2020 | 436,055 people | +6.9% |
| 2021 | 499,914 people | +14.6% |
| 2022 | 612,934 people | +22.6% |
| 2023 | 664,366 people | +8.4% |
| 2024 | 721,771 people | +8.6% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 721,771 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 10,077 people, 71.6× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- France's 721,771 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 68,603 people, 10.5× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in France 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -36.5% | 387,201 people | 245,935 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 329,949 people | 263,000 people | 389,480 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 199,528 people | 174,057 people | 259,740 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 119,630 people | 98,900 people | 158,543 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 163,174 people | 121,958 people | 183,946 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 160,889 people | 129,722 people | 195,288 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 146,965 people | 130,838 people | 196,364 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 280,456 people | 200,687 people | 407,915 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 587,008 people | 436,055 people | 721,771 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near France
More reference data data for France
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 18.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 11.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 14.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 106.68 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in France?
- Refugees by country of asylum in France was 721,771 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 721,771 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 98,900 people in 1972.
- How does France rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- France ranks 12th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 186.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France 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 — 74 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.