Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Switzerland
Switzerland: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of was 196,167 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Switzerland, 1960–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Switzerland stood at 196,167. That is the highest value across all 65 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.9% on the previous year and up 213.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Switzerland peaked at 196,167 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 20,000, in 1960.
That places Switzerland 18th 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 Switzerland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 20,000 | — |
| 1961 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 20,500 | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 21,000 | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 26,000 | +23.8% |
| 1969 | 30,000 | +15.4% |
| 1970 | 31,000 | +3.3% |
| 1971 | 30,000 | -3.2% |
| 1972 | 35,000 | +16.7% |
| 1973 | 35,000 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 35,000 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 35,000 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 35,000 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 30,000 | -14.3% |
| 1978 | 30,000 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 30,000 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 32,000 | +6.7% |
| 1981 | 40,000 | +25.0% |
| 1982 | 33,404 | -16.5% |
| 1983 | 32,312 | -3.3% |
| 1984 | 31,201 | -3.4% |
| 1985 | 30,726 | -1.5% |
| 1986 | 31,343 | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 31,707 | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 31,949 | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 36,763 | +15.1% |
| 1990 | 40,943 | +11.4% |
| 1991 | 45,622 | +11.4% |
| 1992 | 51,930 | +13.8% |
| 1993 | 56,586 | +9.0% |
| 1994 | 75,295 | +33.1% |
| 1995 | 82,943 | +10.2% |
| 1996 | 84,413 | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 83,205 | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 81,875 | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 82,273 | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 57,624 | -30.0% |
| 2001 | 58,471 | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 54,081 | -7.5% |
| 2003 | 50,126 | -7.3% |
| 2004 | 47,654 | -4.9% |
| 2005 | 48,010 | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 48,508 | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 45,642 | -5.9% |
| 2008 | 46,131 | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 46,204 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 48,813 | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 50,401 | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 50,733 | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 52,448 | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 62,596 | +19.3% |
| 2015 | 73,326 | +17.1% |
| 2016 | 82,668 | +12.7% |
| 2017 | 93,030 | +12.5% |
| 2018 | 104,011 | +11.8% |
| 2019 | 110,162 | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 115,798 | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 118,829 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 182,474 | +53.6% |
| 2023 | 192,507 | +5.5% |
| 2024 | 196,167 | +1.9% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 196,167 is above the median for high income countries, which is 82,770, 2.4× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 196,167 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 67,218, 2.9× 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 Switzerland 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 | +53.6% | 118,829 | 182,474 |
| 1994 | +33.1% | 56,586 | 75,295 |
| 2000 | -30.0% | 82,273 | 57,624 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 21,750 | 20,000 | 30,000 | 10 |
| 1970s | 32,600 | 30,000 | 35,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 33,140 | 30,726 | 40,000 | 10 |
| 1990s | 68,508 | 40,943 | 84,413 | 10 |
| 2000s | 50,245 | 45,642 | 58,471 | 10 |
| 2010s | 72,819 | 48,813 | 110,162 | 10 |
| 2020s | 161,155 | 115,798 | 196,167 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More health data for Switzerland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.13 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -1.27 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,104 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 46 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.0481 % 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 0.0233 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.0927 % 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 Switzerland?
- Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Switzerland was 196,167 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 196,167 in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 20,000 in 1960.
- How does Switzerland rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of?
- Switzerland ranks 18th 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 Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 213.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland 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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