Refugees by country of asylum in Ireland
Ireland: Refugees by country of asylum was 124,730 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Ireland, 1984–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of asylum in Ireland stood at 124,730 people. That is the highest value across all 41 years on record.
The figure is up 9.5% on the previous year and up 2,038.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Ireland peaked at 124,730 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 69 people, in 1996.
That places Ireland 46th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Ireland, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 500 people | — |
| 1985 | 600 people | +20.0% |
| 1986 | 600 people | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 540 people | -10.0% |
| 1988 | 480 people | -11.1% |
| 1989 | 420 people | -12.5% |
| 1990 | 360 people | -14.3% |
| 1991 | 300 people | -16.7% |
| 1992 | 500 people | +66.7% |
| 1993 | 119 people | -76.2% |
| 1994 | 400 people | +236.1% |
| 1995 | 400 people | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 69 people | -82.8% |
| 1997 | 430 people | +523.2% |
| 1998 | 600 people | +39.5% |
| 1999 | 2,829 people | +371.5% |
| 2000 | 2,530 people | -10.6% |
| 2001 | 3,585 people | +41.7% |
| 2002 | 5,366 people | +49.7% |
| 2003 | 5,971 people | +11.3% |
| 2004 | 6,530 people | +9.4% |
| 2005 | 7,103 people | +8.8% |
| 2006 | 7,904 people | +11.3% |
| 2007 | 9,318 people | +17.9% |
| 2008 | 9,714 people | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 9,561 people | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 9,099 people | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 8,234 people | -9.5% |
| 2012 | 6,309 people | -23.4% |
| 2013 | 5,991 people | -5.0% |
| 2014 | 5,832 people | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 6,108 people | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 5,720 people | -6.4% |
| 2017 | 6,394 people | +11.8% |
| 2018 | 6,012 people | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 7,795 people | +29.7% |
| 2020 | 9,035 people | +15.9% |
| 2021 | 9,571 people | +5.9% |
| 2022 | 81,256 people | +749.0% |
| 2023 | 113,902 people | +40.2% |
| 2024 | 124,730 people | +9.5% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 124,730 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 10,077 people, 12.4× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 124,730 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 68,603 people, 1.8× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Ireland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +749.0% | 9,571 people | 81,256 people |
| 1997 | +523.2% | 69 people | 430 people |
| 1999 | +371.5% | 600 people | 2,829 people |
| 1994 | +236.1% | 119 people | 400 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 523.33 people | 420 people | 600 people | 6 |
| 1990s | 600.7 people | 69 people | 2,829 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 6,758 people | 2,530 people | 9,714 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,749 people | 5,720 people | 9,099 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 67,699 people | 9,035 people | 124,730 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More reference data data for Ireland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0921 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 21.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.5015 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Ireland?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Ireland was 124,730 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 124,730 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 69 people in 1996.
- How does Ireland rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Ireland ranks 46th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2,038.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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 — 41 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.