Refugees by country of asylum in Portugal
Portugal: Refugees by country of asylum was 68,603 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Portugal, 1975–2024
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 Portugal is 68,603 people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 49 years on record.
The figure is up 9.2% on the previous year and up 9,644.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Portugal peaked at 68,603 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 150 people, in 1975.
Portugal ranks 59th of 183 countries on this measure, 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 Portugal, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 150 people | — |
| 1977 | 7,500 people | +4900.0% |
| 1978 | 7,500 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 7,600 people | +1.3% |
| 1980 | 7,600 people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 7,600 people | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 7,600 people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 700 people | -90.8% |
| 1984 | 600 people | -14.3% |
| 1985 | 700 people | +16.7% |
| 1986 | 800 people | +14.3% |
| 1987 | 800 people | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 789 people | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 657 people | -16.7% |
| 1990 | 867 people | +32.0% |
| 1991 | 998 people | +15.1% |
| 1992 | 1,778 people | +78.2% |
| 1993 | 600 people | -66.3% |
| 1994 | 248 people | -58.7% |
| 1995 | 248 people | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 297 people | +19.8% |
| 1997 | 310 people | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 329 people | +6.1% |
| 1999 | 364 people | +10.6% |
| 2000 | 416 people | +14.3% |
| 2001 | 444 people | +6.7% |
| 2002 | 460 people | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 414 people | -10.0% |
| 2004 | 368 people | -11.1% |
| 2005 | 355 people | -3.5% |
| 2006 | 322 people | -9.3% |
| 2007 | 346 people | +7.5% |
| 2008 | 393 people | +13.6% |
| 2009 | 383 people | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 368 people | -3.9% |
| 2011 | 399 people | +8.4% |
| 2012 | 473 people | +18.5% |
| 2013 | 596 people | +26.0% |
| 2014 | 704 people | +18.1% |
| 2015 | 851 people | +20.9% |
| 2016 | 1,189 people | +39.7% |
| 2017 | 1,619 people | +36.2% |
| 2018 | 2,130 people | +31.6% |
| 2019 | 2,375 people | +11.5% |
| 2020 | 2,405 people | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 2,651 people | +10.2% |
| 2022 | 59,777 people | +2154.9% |
| 2023 | 62,807 people | +5.1% |
| 2024 | 68,603 people | +9.2% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 68,603 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 10,077 people, 6.8× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 68,603 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 68,603 people, 1.0× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Portugal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | +4900.0% | 150 people | 7,500 people |
| 2022 | +2154.9% | 2,651 people | 59,777 people |
| 1983 | -90.8% | 7,600 people | 700 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5,688 people | 150 people | 7,600 people | 4 |
| 1980s | 2,785 people | 600 people | 7,600 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 603.9 people | 248 people | 1,778 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 390.1 people | 322 people | 460 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,070 people | 368 people | 2,375 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 39,249 people | 2,405 people | 68,603 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More reference data data for Portugal
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5144 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.4372 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0472 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2572 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Portugal?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Portugal was 68,603 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 68,603 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 150 people in 1975.
- How does Portugal rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Portugal ranks 59th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9,644.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal 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 — 49 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.