Refugees by country of asylum in Syria
Syria: Refugees by country of asylum was 11,635 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Syria, 1978–2024
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 Syria is 11,635 people, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 3.1% on the previous year and down 92.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Syria peaked at 1.50 million people in 2007 and was at its lowest, 170 people, in 1978.
That places Syria 91st out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Syria, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 170 people | — |
| 1979 | 200 people | +17.6% |
| 1980 | 350 people | +75.0% |
| 1981 | 1,050 people | +200.0% |
| 1982 | 26,570 people | +2430.5% |
| 1983 | 40,490 people | +52.4% |
| 1984 | 34,230 people | -15.5% |
| 1985 | 47,750 people | +39.5% |
| 1986 | 1,330 people | -97.2% |
| 1988 | 280 people | -78.9% |
| 1990 | 4,125 people | +1373.2% |
| 1991 | 4,210 people | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 6,310 people | +49.9% |
| 1993 | 38,710 people | +513.5% |
| 1994 | 40,285 people | +4.1% |
| 1995 | 36,222 people | -10.1% |
| 1996 | 27,758 people | -23.4% |
| 1997 | 22,705 people | -18.2% |
| 1998 | 20,969 people | -7.6% |
| 1999 | 6,464 people | -69.2% |
| 2000 | 3,461 people | -46.5% |
| 2001 | 3,348 people | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 2,914 people | -13.0% |
| 2003 | 3,676 people | +26.1% |
| 2004 | 15,600 people | +324.4% |
| 2005 | 26,087 people | +67.2% |
| 2006 | 702,202 people | +2591.8% |
| 2007 | 1.50 million people | +114.2% |
| 2008 | 1.11 million people | -26.5% |
| 2009 | 1.05 million people | -4.6% |
| 2010 | 1.01 million people | -4.6% |
| 2011 | 755,435 people | -24.9% |
| 2012 | 476,496 people | -36.9% |
| 2013 | 149,286 people | -68.7% |
| 2014 | 149,135 people | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 21,112 people | -85.8% |
| 2016 | 19,807 people | -6.2% |
| 2017 | 19,425 people | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 18,817 people | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 16,213 people | -13.8% |
| 2020 | 15,304 people | -5.6% |
| 2021 | 14,308 people | -6.5% |
| 2022 | 13,121 people | -8.3% |
| 2023 | 12,011 people | -8.5% |
| 2024 | 11,635 people | -3.1% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 11,635 people is below the median for low income countries, which is 42,512 people, 27% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Syria's 11,635 people is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16,250 people, 72% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Syria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +2591.8% | 26,087 people | 702,202 people |
| 1982 | +2430.5% | 1,050 people | 26,570 people |
| 1990 | +1373.2% | 280 people | 4,125 people |
| 1993 | +513.5% | 6,310 people | 38,710 people |
| 2004 | +324.4% | 3,676 people | 15,600 people |
| 1981 | +200.0% | 350 people | 1,050 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 185 people | 170 people | 200 people | 2 |
| 1980s | 19,006 people | 280 people | 47,750 people | 8 |
| 1990s | 20,776 people | 4,125 people | 40,285 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 442,121 people | 2,914 people | 1.50 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 263,120 people | 16,213 people | 1.01 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 13,276 people | 11,635 people | 15,304 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Syria
More reference data data for Syria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1191 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.5377 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 7.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3995 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1542 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 16.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 29.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.93 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Syria?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Syria was 11,635 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 Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 1.50 million people in 2007.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 170 people in 1978.
- How does Syria rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Syria ranks 91st out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 92.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Syria 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 — 45 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.