Refugees by country of asylum in Netherlands
Netherlands: Refugees by country of asylum was 263,399 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Netherlands, 1951–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of asylum in Netherlands stood at 263,399 people. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 10.8% on the previous year and up 219.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Netherlands peaked at 263,399 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 7,850 people, in 1975.
That places Netherlands 28th 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 Netherlands, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 14,200 people | — |
| 1952 | 14,100 people | -0.7% |
| 1953 | 13,900 people | -1.4% |
| 1954 | 12,400 people | -10.8% |
| 1955 | 11,400 people | -8.1% |
| 1956 | 13,600 people | +19.3% |
| 1957 | 13,500 people | -0.7% |
| 1958 | 13,000 people | -3.7% |
| 1959 | 12,800 people | -1.5% |
| 1960 | 12,000 people | -6.2% |
| 1961 | 10,000 people | -16.7% |
| 1962 | 10,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 9,500 people | -5.0% |
| 1964 | 9,500 people | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 9,000 people | -5.3% |
| 1966 | 8,500 people | -5.6% |
| 1967 | 8,000 people | -5.9% |
| 1968 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 8,524 people | +6.6% |
| 1971 | 8,600 people | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 8,830 people | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 8,400 people | -4.9% |
| 1974 | 8,015 people | -4.6% |
| 1975 | 7,850 people | -2.1% |
| 1976 | 7,900 people | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 8,000 people | +1.3% |
| 1978 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 10,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1980 | 12,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1981 | 13,000 people | +8.3% |
| 1982 | 14,000 people | +7.7% |
| 1983 | 14,500 people | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 15,000 people | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 15,500 people | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 16,000 people | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 24,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1988 | 25,963 people | +8.2% |
| 1989 | 16,971 people | -34.6% |
| 1990 | 17,337 people | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 19,020 people | +9.7% |
| 1992 | 29,721 people | +56.3% |
| 1993 | 43,521 people | +46.4% |
| 1994 | 62,152 people | +42.8% |
| 1995 | 79,949 people | +28.6% |
| 1996 | 102,573 people | +28.3% |
| 1997 | 118,057 people | +15.1% |
| 1998 | 131,481 people | +11.4% |
| 1999 | 138,633 people | +5.4% |
| 2000 | 146,174 people | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 151,919 people | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 148,349 people | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 140,877 people | -5.0% |
| 2004 | 126,792 people | -10.0% |
| 2005 | 118,172 people | -6.8% |
| 2006 | 100,565 people | -14.9% |
| 2007 | 86,576 people | -13.9% |
| 2008 | 77,589 people | -10.4% |
| 2009 | 75,996 people | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 74,948 people | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 74,587 people | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 71,888 people | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 74,700 people | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 82,483 people | +10.4% |
| 2015 | 88,518 people | +7.3% |
| 2016 | 101,727 people | +14.9% |
| 2017 | 103,843 people | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 101,824 people | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 94,417 people | -7.3% |
| 2020 | 95,897 people | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 99,585 people | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 237,368 people | +138.4% |
| 2023 | 237,767 people | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 263,399 people | +10.8% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 263,399 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 10,077 people, 26.1× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 263,399 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 68,603 people, 3.8× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Netherlands 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 | +138.4% | 99,585 people | 237,368 people |
| 1992 | +56.3% | 19,020 people | 29,721 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13,211 people | 11,400 people | 14,200 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 9,250 people | 8,000 people | 12,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 8,412 people | 7,850 people | 10,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 16,693 people | 12,000 people | 25,963 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 74,244 people | 17,337 people | 138,633 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 117,301 people | 75,996 people | 151,919 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 86,894 people | 71,888 people | 103,843 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 186,803 people | 95,897 people | 263,399 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
More reference data data for Netherlands
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.5851 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.79 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1102 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.79 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.83 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.59 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 18.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.6002 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Netherlands?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Netherlands was 263,399 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 Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 263,399 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,850 people in 1975.
- How does Netherlands rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Netherlands ranks 28th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is up 219.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Netherlands 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.