Refugees by country of asylum in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Refugees by country of asylum was 232 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Sri Lanka, 1991–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of asylum in Sri Lanka stood at 232 people.
The figure is down 38.5% on the previous year and down 54.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Sri Lanka peaked at 1,041 people in 2019 and was at its lowest, 11 people, in 1994.
Sri Lanka ranks 140th of 183 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 15 people | — |
| 1992 | 21 people | +40.0% |
| 1993 | 19 people | -9.5% |
| 1994 | 11 people | -42.1% |
| 1995 | 12 people | +9.1% |
| 1996 | 11 people | -8.3% |
| 1997 | 21 people | +90.9% |
| 1998 | 25 people | +19.0% |
| 1999 | 18 people | -28.0% |
| 2000 | 12 people | -33.3% |
| 2001 | 13 people | +8.3% |
| 2002 | 22 people | +69.2% |
| 2003 | 26 people | +18.2% |
| 2004 | 60 people | +130.8% |
| 2005 | 106 people | +76.7% |
| 2006 | 162 people | +52.8% |
| 2007 | 184 people | +13.6% |
| 2008 | 271 people | +47.3% |
| 2009 | 251 people | -7.4% |
| 2010 | 224 people | -10.8% |
| 2011 | 187 people | -16.5% |
| 2012 | 109 people | -41.7% |
| 2013 | 143 people | +31.2% |
| 2014 | 508 people | +255.2% |
| 2015 | 781 people | +53.7% |
| 2016 | 602 people | -22.9% |
| 2017 | 820 people | +36.2% |
| 2018 | 796 people | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 1,041 people | +30.8% |
| 2020 | 1,008 people | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 907 people | -10.0% |
| 2022 | 504 people | -44.4% |
| 2023 | 377 people | -25.2% |
| 2024 | 232 people | -38.5% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 232 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6,251 people, 4% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17 people | 11 people | 25 people | 9 |
| 2000s | 110.7 people | 12 people | 271 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 521.1 people | 109 people | 1,041 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 605.6 people | 232 people | 1,008 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More reference data data for Sri Lanka
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1608 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.316 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1784 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.539 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1604 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9713 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Sri Lanka?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Sri Lanka was 232 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 1,041 people in 2019.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 11 people in 1994.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Sri Lanka ranks 140th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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 — 34 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.