Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Sweden
Sweden: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of was 163,029 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Sweden, 1960–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Sweden stood at 163,029.
That represents a change of down 31.4% on the previous year and up 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Sweden peaked at 277,726 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 17,000, in 1968.
That places Sweden 22nd out of 70 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 under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 26,000 | — |
| 1961 | 26,000 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 26,000 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 26,000 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 24,000 | -7.7% |
| 1965 | 22,000 | -8.3% |
| 1966 | 20,000 | -9.1% |
| 1967 | 18,000 | -10.0% |
| 1968 | 17,000 | -5.6% |
| 1969 | 17,000 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 20,000 | +17.6% |
| 1971 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 43,000 | +115.0% |
| 1984 | 90,600 | +110.7% |
| 1985 | 90,600 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 120,000 | +32.5% |
| 1987 | 130,000 | +8.3% |
| 1988 | 139,783 | +7.5% |
| 1989 | 139,783 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 109,654 | -21.6% |
| 1991 | 124,457 | +13.5% |
| 1992 | 131,069 | +5.3% |
| 1993 | 162,386 | +23.9% |
| 1994 | 200,774 | +23.6% |
| 1995 | 199,194 | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 191,159 | -4.0% |
| 1997 | 186,719 | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 178,782 | -4.3% |
| 1999 | 159,504 | -10.8% |
| 2000 | 157,206 | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 146,480 | -6.8% |
| 2002 | 142,170 | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 112,148 | -21.1% |
| 2004 | 73,383 | -34.6% |
| 2005 | 74,889 | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 79,895 | +6.7% |
| 2007 | 75,055 | -6.1% |
| 2008 | 77,016 | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 81,346 | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 82,620 | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 86,603 | +4.8% |
| 2012 | 92,869 | +7.2% |
| 2013 | 114,172 | +22.9% |
| 2014 | 142,197 | +24.5% |
| 2015 | 169,516 | +19.2% |
| 2016 | 230,158 | +35.8% |
| 2017 | 240,954 | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 248,210 | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 253,787 | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 248,372 | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 240,854 | -3.0% |
| 2022 | 277,726 | +15.3% |
| 2023 | 237,632 | -14.4% |
| 2024 | 163,029 | -31.4% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 163,029 is above the median for high income countries, which is 82,770, 2.0× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 163,029 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 67,218, 2.4× 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 Sweden 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | +115.0% | 20,000 | 43,000 |
| 1984 | +110.7% | 43,000 | 90,600 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 22,200 | 17,000 | 26,000 | 10 |
| 1970s | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 81,377 | 20,000 | 139,783 | 10 |
| 1990s | 164,370 | 109,654 | 200,774 | 10 |
| 2000s | 101,959 | 73,383 | 157,206 | 10 |
| 2010s | 166,109 | 82,620 | 253,787 | 10 |
| 2020s | 233,523 | 163,029 | 277,726 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More health data for Sweden
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.8581 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,109 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 30 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -3.12 % 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 0.0243 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -3.2 % 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 Sweden?
- Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Sweden was 163,029 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 277,726 in 2022.
- What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 17,000 in 1968.
- How does Sweden rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of?
- Sweden ranks 22nd 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 Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sweden 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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