Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Iraq
Iraq: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of was 318,461 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Iraq, 1979–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Iraq is 318,461, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.2% on the previous year and up 17.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Iraq peaked at 318,461 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 400, in 1979.
That places Iraq 12th out of 70 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
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 Iraq, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 400 | — |
| 1980 | 400 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 1,200 | +200.0% |
| 1982 | 1,200 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 1,200 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 1,200 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 83,200 | +6833.3% |
| 1986 | 111,000 | +33.4% |
| 1987 | 1,000 | -99.1% |
| 1990 | 900 | -10.0% |
| 1991 | 87,990 | +9676.7% |
| 1992 | 115,000 | +30.7% |
| 1993 | 109,066 | -5.2% |
| 1994 | 119,581 | +9.6% |
| 1995 | 116,722 | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 112,957 | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 104,032 | -7.9% |
| 1998 | 104,022 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 128,913 | +23.9% |
| 2000 | 127,787 | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 128,142 | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 134,190 | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 46,721 | -65.2% |
| 2004 | 46,053 | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 50,177 | +9.0% |
| 2006 | 44,406 | -11.5% |
| 2007 | 42,352 | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 39,503 | -6.7% |
| 2009 | 35,213 | -10.9% |
| 2010 | 34,647 | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 35,184 | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 98,818 | +180.9% |
| 2013 | 246,294 | +149.2% |
| 2014 | 271,137 | +10.1% |
| 2015 | 277,702 | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 261,863 | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 277,668 | +6.0% |
| 2018 | 283,018 | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 273,986 | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 270,377 | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 280,072 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 273,716 | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 286,480 | +4.7% |
| 2024 | 318,461 | +11.2% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 318,461 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 43,397, 7.3× the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 318,461 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 11,635, 27.4× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Iraq 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +9676.7% | 900 | 87,990 |
| 1985 | +6833.3% | 1,200 | 83,200 |
| 1981 | +200.0% | 400 | 1,200 |
| 2012 | +180.9% | 35,184 | 98,818 |
| 2013 | +149.2% | 98,818 | 246,294 |
| 1987 | -99.1% | 111,000 | 1,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 400 | 400 | 400 | 1 |
| 1980s | 25,050 | 400 | 111,000 | 8 |
| 1990s | 99,918 | 900 | 128,913 | 10 |
| 2000s | 69,454 | 35,213 | 134,190 | 10 |
| 2010s | 206,032 | 34,647 | 283,018 | 10 |
| 2020s | 285,821 | 270,377 | 318,461 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More health data for Iraq
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.4 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 898.9 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 5,830 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.988 % 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 0.0587 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9818 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Iraq?
- Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Iraq was 318,461 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 318,461 in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 400 in 1979.
- How does Iraq rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of?
- Iraq ranks 12th 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 Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq 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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