Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of was 515,677 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in United Kingdom, 1960–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 515,677 for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in 2024. That is the highest value across all 65 years on record.
The figure is up 14.9% on the previous year and up 339.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in United Kingdom peaked at 515,677 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 39,755, in 1988.
United Kingdom ranks 9th of 70 countries on this measure, 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 167,000 | — |
| 1961 | 164,000 | -1.8% |
| 1962 | 160,000 | -2.4% |
| 1963 | 157,000 | -1.9% |
| 1964 | 160,000 | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 170,000 | +6.2% |
| 1966 | 167,000 | -1.8% |
| 1967 | 164,000 | -1.8% |
| 1968 | 161,000 | -1.8% |
| 1969 | 162,000 | +0.6% |
| 1970 | 162,000 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 150,000 | -7.4% |
| 1972 | 150,000 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 150,000 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 155,500 | +3.7% |
| 1975 | 153,000 | -1.6% |
| 1976 | 153,000 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 148,000 | -3.3% |
| 1978 | 150,000 | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 146,000 | -2.7% |
| 1980 | 148,000 | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 146,000 | -1.4% |
| 1982 | 143,000 | -2.1% |
| 1983 | 140,000 | -2.1% |
| 1984 | 135,000 | -3.6% |
| 1985 | 135,000 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 100,000 | -25.9% |
| 1987 | 100,000 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 39,755 | -60.2% |
| 1989 | 46,014 | +15.7% |
| 1990 | 43,625 | -5.2% |
| 1991 | 43,368 | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 64,717 | +49.2% |
| 1993 | 80,230 | +24.0% |
| 1994 | 85,159 | +6.1% |
| 1995 | 90,908 | +6.8% |
| 1996 | 98,577 | +8.4% |
| 1997 | 107,933 | +9.5% |
| 1998 | 121,715 | +12.8% |
| 1999 | 148,921 | +22.4% |
| 2000 | 186,247 | +25.1% |
| 2001 | 233,389 | +25.3% |
| 2002 | 260,687 | +11.7% |
| 2003 | 276,482 | +6.1% |
| 2004 | 298,826 | +8.1% |
| 2005 | 303,163 | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 301,537 | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 299,701 | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 292,081 | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 269,355 | -7.8% |
| 2010 | 238,133 | -11.6% |
| 2011 | 193,494 | -18.7% |
| 2012 | 149,790 | -22.6% |
| 2013 | 126,036 | -15.9% |
| 2014 | 117,226 | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 123,051 | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 118,973 | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 121,821 | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 126,708 | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 133,083 | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 132,304 | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 137,078 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 328,989 | +140.0% |
| 2023 | 448,620 | +36.4% |
| 2024 | 515,677 | +14.9% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 515,677 is above the median for high income countries, which is 82,770, 6.2× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 515,677 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 67,218, 7.7× 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 United Kingdom 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 | +140.0% | 137,078 | 328,989 |
| 1988 | -60.2% | 100,000 | 39,755 |
| 1992 | +49.2% | 43,368 | 64,717 |
| 2023 | +36.4% | 328,989 | 448,620 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 163,200 | 157,000 | 170,000 | 10 |
| 1970s | 151,750 | 146,000 | 162,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 113,277 | 39,755 | 148,000 | 10 |
| 1990s | 88,515 | 43,368 | 148,921 | 10 |
| 2000s | 272,147 | 186,247 | 303,163 | 10 |
| 2010s | 144,832 | 117,226 | 238,133 | 10 |
| 2020s | 312,534 | 132,304 | 515,677 | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More health data for United Kingdom
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7128 % 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 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7724 % 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 United Kingdom?
- Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in United Kingdom was 515,677 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 515,677 in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 39,755 in 1988.
- How does United Kingdom rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of?
- United Kingdom ranks 9th 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 United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 339.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.
Download this data
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