Refugees by country of asylum in Indonesia
Indonesia: Refugees by country of asylum was 7,799 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Indonesia, 1978–2024
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 Indonesia is 7,799 people, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.7% on the previous year and up 82.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Indonesia peaked at 162,492 people in 1999 and was at its lowest, 19 people, in 1995.
That places Indonesia 99th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Indonesia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 2,240 people | — |
| 1979 | 32,330 people | +1343.3% |
| 1980 | 8,460 people | -73.8% |
| 1981 | 14,900 people | +76.1% |
| 1982 | 13,220 people | -11.3% |
| 1983 | 10,070 people | -23.8% |
| 1984 | 9,500 people | -5.7% |
| 1985 | 8,230 people | -13.4% |
| 1986 | 4,020 people | -51.2% |
| 1987 | 2,450 people | -39.1% |
| 1988 | 2,434 people | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 999 people | -59.0% |
| 1990 | 3,278 people | +228.1% |
| 1991 | 3,157 people | -3.7% |
| 1992 | 3,530 people | +11.8% |
| 1993 | 2,402 people | -32.0% |
| 1994 | 97 people | -96.0% |
| 1995 | 19 people | -80.4% |
| 1996 | 61 people | +221.1% |
| 1997 | 29 people | -52.5% |
| 1998 | 51 people | +75.9% |
| 1999 | 162,492 people | +318511.8% |
| 2000 | 122,611 people | -24.5% |
| 2001 | 73,542 people | -40.0% |
| 2002 | 28,593 people | -61.1% |
| 2003 | 230 people | -99.2% |
| 2004 | 164 people | -28.7% |
| 2005 | 82 people | -50.0% |
| 2006 | 291 people | +254.9% |
| 2007 | 306 people | +5.2% |
| 2008 | 360 people | +17.6% |
| 2009 | 794 people | +120.6% |
| 2010 | 808 people | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 1,004 people | +24.3% |
| 2012 | 1,811 people | +80.4% |
| 2013 | 3,195 people | +76.4% |
| 2014 | 4,267 people | +33.6% |
| 2015 | 5,954 people | +39.5% |
| 2016 | 7,824 people | +31.4% |
| 2017 | 9,782 people | +25.0% |
| 2018 | 10,786 people | +10.3% |
| 2019 | 10,287 people | -4.6% |
| 2020 | 10,114 people | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 9,982 people | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 9,785 people | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 8,450 people | -13.6% |
| 2024 | 7,799 people | -7.7% |
Indonesia compared with similar countries
- Indonesia's 7,799 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6,251 people, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Indonesia's 7,799 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 51.5 people, 151.4× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Indonesia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +318511.8% | 51 people | 162,492 people |
| 1979 | +1343.3% | 2,240 people | 32,330 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 17,285 people | 2,240 people | 32,330 people | 2 |
| 1980s | 7,428 people | 999 people | 14,900 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 17,512 people | 19 people | 162,492 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 22,697 people | 82 people | 122,611 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,572 people | 808 people | 10,786 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 9,226 people | 7,799 people | 10,114 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Indonesia
More reference data data for Indonesia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 9.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 38.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 3.58 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 38.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 23.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 46.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 187.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 19.49 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Indonesia?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Indonesia was 7,799 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 Indonesia?
- The highest recorded value was 162,492 people in 1999.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Indonesia?
- The lowest recorded value was 19 people in 1995.
- How does Indonesia rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Indonesia ranks 99th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Indonesia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 82.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Indonesia 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 — 47 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.