Refugees by country of asylum in Iran
Iran: Refugees by country of asylum was 3.49 million people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Iran, 1962–2024
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 Iran is 3.49 million people, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 7.3% on the previous year and up 255.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Iran peaked at 4.41 million people in 1991 and was at its lowest, 300 people, in 1968.
That places Iran 1st 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 Iran, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 2,000 people | — |
| 1963 | 1,500 people | -25.0% |
| 1968 | 300 people | -80.0% |
| 1969 | 300 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 130,100 people | +43266.7% |
| 1980 | 330,000 people | +153.7% |
| 1981 | 1.56 million people | +374.2% |
| 1982 | 1.70 million people | +8.6% |
| 1983 | 1.90 million people | +11.8% |
| 1984 | 2.00 million people | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 2.30 million people | +15.0% |
| 1986 | 2.59 million people | +12.6% |
| 1987 | 2.76 million people | +6.6% |
| 1988 | 2.85 million people | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 2.85 million people | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 4.17 million people | +46.5% |
| 1991 | 4.41 million people | +5.5% |
| 1992 | 4.15 million people | -5.8% |
| 1993 | 2.50 million people | -39.9% |
| 1994 | 2.24 million people | -10.4% |
| 1995 | 2.07 million people | -7.3% |
| 1996 | 2.03 million people | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 1.98 million people | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 1.93 million people | -2.6% |
| 1999 | 1.84 million people | -5.0% |
| 2000 | 1.87 million people | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 1.87 million people | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1.31 million people | -30.1% |
| 2003 | 984,895 people | -24.6% |
| 2004 | 1.05 million people | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 974,301 people | -6.9% |
| 2006 | 968,368 people | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 963,544 people | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 980,104 people | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 1.07 million people | +9.2% |
| 2010 | 1.07 million people | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 886,465 people | -17.4% |
| 2012 | 868,239 people | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 857,352 people | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 982,025 people | +14.5% |
| 2015 | 979,435 people | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 979,435 people | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 979,435 people | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 979,435 people | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 979,435 people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 800,025 people | -18.3% |
| 2021 | 798,343 people | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 3.43 million people | +329.0% |
| 2023 | 3.76 million people | +9.9% |
| 2024 | 3.49 million people | -7.3% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 3.49 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6,251 people, 558.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Iran's 3.49 million people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16,250 people, 214.7× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Iran 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +43266.7% | 300 people | 130,100 people |
| 1981 | +374.2% | 330,000 people | 1.56 million people |
| 2022 | +329.0% | 798,343 people | 3.43 million people |
| 1980 | +153.7% | 130,100 people | 330,000 people |
| 1968 | -80.0% | 1,500 people | 300 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,025 people | 300 people | 2,000 people | 4 |
| 1970s | 130,100 people | 130,100 people | 130,100 people | 1 |
| 1980s | 2.08 million people | 330,000 people | 2.85 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.73 million people | 1.84 million people | 4.41 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.20 million people | 963,544 people | 1.87 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 956,462 people | 857,352 people | 1.07 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.46 million people | 798,343 people | 3.76 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More reference data data for Iran
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 11.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.84 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 46.54 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 109.46 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 7.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Iran?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Iran was 3.49 million 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 4.41 million people in 1991.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 300 people in 1968.
- How does Iran rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Iran ranks 1st out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 255.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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 — 50 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.