Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in France

France: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of was 721,771 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
721,771
Change on year
up 8.6%
World rank
7th
of 70 countries
All-time high
721,771
in 2024
All-time low
98,900
in 1972
Years of data
65
1960–2024

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in France, 1960–2024

0200.0k400.0k600.0k800.0k196019922024

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

In 2024, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in France stood at 721,771. That is the highest value across all 65 years on record.

That represents a change of up 8.6% on the previous year and up 186.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in France peaked at 721,771 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 98,900, in 1972.

That places France 7th out of 70 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in France, year by year

Annual values for Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum in France, 1960 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1960 245,935
1961 253,375 +3.0%
1962 259,740 +2.5%
1963 174,057 -33.0%
1964 175,861 +1.0%
1965 177,665 +1.0%
1966 179,468 +1.0%
1967 177,200 -1.3%
1968 176,736 -0.3%
1969 175,242 -0.8%
1970 158,543 -9.5%
1971 141,844 -10.5%
1972 98,900 -30.3%
1973 101,830 +3.0%
1974 105,538 +3.6%
1975 109,882 +4.1%
1976 114,634 +4.3%
1977 119,413 +4.2%
1978 126,229 +5.7%
1979 119,489 -5.3%
1980 121,958 +2.1%
1981 125,597 +3.0%
1982 152,223 +21.2%
1983 164,113 +7.8%
1984 169,863 +3.5%
1985 174,213 +2.6%
1986 180,258 +3.5%
1987 179,306 -0.5%
1988 183,946 +2.6%
1989 180,258 -2.0%
1990 193,000 +7.1%
1991 174,756 -9.5%
1992 156,512 -10.4%
1993 166,269 +6.2%
1994 195,288 +17.5%
1995 155,240 -20.5%
1996 151,331 -2.5%
1997 146,558 -3.2%
1998 140,213 -4.3%
1999 129,722 -7.5%
2000 132,508 +2.1%
2001 131,601 -0.7%
2002 132,182 +0.4%
2003 130,838 -1.0%
2004 139,852 +6.9%
2005 137,316 -1.8%
2006 145,996 +6.3%
2007 151,789 +4.0%
2008 171,206 +12.8%
2009 196,364 +14.7%
2010 200,687 +2.2%
2011 210,207 +4.7%
2012 217,865 +3.6%
2013 232,487 +6.7%
2014 252,248 +8.5%
2015 273,117 +8.3%
2016 304,527 +11.5%
2017 337,158 +10.7%
2018 368,345 +9.2%
2019 407,915 +10.7%
2020 436,055 +6.9%
2021 499,914 +14.6%
2022 612,934 +22.6%
2023 664,366 +8.4%
2024 721,771 +8.6%

France compared with similar countries

  • France's 721,771 is above the median for high income countries, which is 82,770, 8.7× the median. (40 countries reporting)
  • France's 721,771 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 67,218, 10.7× the median. (50 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in France 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.

YearChange FromTo
1963 -33.0% 259,740 174,057

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 199,528 174,057 259,740 10
1970s 119,630 98,900 158,543 10
1980s 163,174 121,958 183,946 10
1990s 160,889 129,722 195,288 10
2000s 146,965 130,838 196,364 10
2010s 280,456 200,687 407,915 10
2020s 587,008 436,055 721,771 5

Countries ranked near France

  1. 4 Poland 1.01 million compare
  2. 5 Sudan 793,395 compare
  3. 6 Lebanon 758,642 compare
  4. 8 Jordan 643,641 compare
  5. 9 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 515,677 compare
  6. 10 Spain 429,333 compare

See the full ranking of 70 places →

More health data for France

All data for France →

Frequently asked questions

What is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in France?
Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in France was 721,771 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in France?
The highest recorded value was 721,771 in 2024.
What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in France?
The lowest recorded value was 98,900 in 1972.
How does France rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of?
France ranks 7th out of 70 countries with data for 2024.
Is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of rising or falling in France?
Over the last ten years it is up 186.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this France data come from?
The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in France. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/refugees-under-the-mandate-of-the-unhcr-by-country-or-territory-of-asylum-2/france/

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About this data

Indicator
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
70 places, 2,993 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed