Refugees, by country of asylum in Iran
Iran: Refugees, by country of asylum was 1.65 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugees, by country of asylum in Iran, 2001–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees, by country of asylum in Iran is 1.65 million, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 52.7% on the previous year and up 68.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees, by country of asylum in Iran peaked at 3.76 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 798,343, in 2021.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees, by country of asylum in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1.87 million | — |
| 2002 | 1.31 million | -30.1% |
| 2003 | 984,895 | -24.6% |
| 2004 | 1.05 million | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 974,301 | -6.9% |
| 2006 | 968,368 | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 963,544 | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 980,104 | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 1.07 million | +9.2% |
| 2010 | 1.07 million | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 886,465 | -17.4% |
| 2012 | 868,239 | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 857,352 | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 982,025 | +14.5% |
| 2015 | 979,435 | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 979,435 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 979,435 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 979,435 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 979,435 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 800,025 | -18.3% |
| 2021 | 798,343 | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 3.43 million | +329.0% |
| 2023 | 3.76 million | +9.9% |
| 2024 | 3.49 million | -7.3% |
| 2025 | 1.65 million | -52.7% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 1.65 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 17,392, 94.9× the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Iran's 1.65 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 436,226, 3.8× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees, by country of asylum in Iran 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 | +329.0% | 798,343 | 3.43 million |
| 2025 | -52.7% | 3.49 million | 1.65 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.13 million | 963,544 | 1.87 million | 9 |
| 2010s | 956,462 | 857,352 | 1.07 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.32 million | 798,343 | 3.76 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More health data for Iran
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.38 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.5627 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 1,070 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.88 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0311 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0327 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees, by country of asylum in Iran?
- Refugees, by country of asylum in Iran was 1.65 million in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest refugees, by country of asylum recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 3.76 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest refugees, by country of asylum recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 798,343 in 2021.
- How does Iran rank for refugees, by country of asylum?
- Iran ranks 1st out of 19 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugees, by country of asylum rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 68.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Refugees, by country of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).