Refugees by country of asylum in India
India: Refugees by country of asylum was 236,763 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in India, 1964–2024
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 India is 236,763 people, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.4% on the previous year and up 18.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in India peaked at 262,802 people in 1993 and was at its lowest, 3,510 people, in 1981.
India ranks 31st of 183 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in India, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 44,000 people | — |
| 1965 | 45,000 people | +2.3% |
| 1966 | 45,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 50,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1968 | 55,000 people | +10.0% |
| 1969 | 56,150 people | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 56,500 people | +0.6% |
| 1971 | 56,180 people | -0.6% |
| 1972 | 57,680 people | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 58,840 people | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 59,900 people | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 3,510 people | -94.1% |
| 1982 | 5,010 people | +42.7% |
| 1983 | 6,930 people | +38.3% |
| 1984 | 7,200 people | +3.9% |
| 1985 | 6,720 people | -6.7% |
| 1986 | 6,440 people | -4.2% |
| 1987 | 6,720 people | +4.3% |
| 1988 | 6,645 people | -1.1% |
| 1989 | 9,549 people | +43.7% |
| 1990 | 212,743 people | +2127.9% |
| 1991 | 210,569 people | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 258,372 people | +22.7% |
| 1993 | 262,802 people | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 258,342 people | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 227,481 people | -11.9% |
| 1996 | 233,371 people | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 223,072 people | -4.4% |
| 1998 | 185,516 people | -16.8% |
| 1999 | 180,031 people | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 170,940 people | -5.0% |
| 2001 | 169,548 people | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 168,853 people | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 164,754 people | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 162,683 people | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 139,284 people | -14.4% |
| 2006 | 158,358 people | +13.7% |
| 2007 | 161,534 people | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 184,539 people | +14.2% |
| 2009 | 185,318 people | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 184,814 people | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 185,118 people | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 185,644 people | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 188,391 people | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 199,931 people | +6.1% |
| 2015 | 201,379 people | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 197,848 people | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 197,142 people | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 195,887 people | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 195,103 people | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 195,373 people | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 212,413 people | +8.7% |
| 2022 | 242,835 people | +14.3% |
| 2023 | 252,867 people | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 236,763 people | -6.4% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 236,763 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9,240 people, 25.6× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in India 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +2127.9% | 9,549 people | 212,743 people |
| 1981 | -94.1% | 59,900 people | 3,510 people |
| 1989 | +43.7% | 6,645 people | 9,549 people |
| 1982 | +42.7% | 3,510 people | 5,010 people |
| 1983 | +38.3% | 5,010 people | 6,930 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 49,192 people | 44,000 people | 56,150 people | 6 |
| 1970s | 57,820 people | 56,180 people | 59,900 people | 5 |
| 1980s | 6,525 people | 3,510 people | 9,549 people | 9 |
| 1990s | 225,230 people | 180,031 people | 262,802 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 166,581 people | 139,284 people | 185,318 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 193,126 people | 184,814 people | 201,379 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 228,050 people | 195,373 people | 252,867 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
More reference data data for India
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 68.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 70.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 309.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,063 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 85.03 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in India?
- Refugees by country of asylum in India was 236,763 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 262,802 people in 1993.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,510 people in 1981.
- How does India rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- India ranks 31st out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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 — 55 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.