Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country … origin UNICEF in Iran
Iran: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country … origin UNICEF was 158,171 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Iran, 1980–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Iran is 158,171, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 92.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Iran peaked at 158,171 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 48, in 1980.
Iran ranks 5th of 72 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country … origin UNICEF in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 48 | — |
| 1981 | 803 | +1572.9% |
| 1982 | 2,480 | +208.8% |
| 1983 | 5,577 | +124.9% |
| 1984 | 5,244 | -6.0% |
| 1985 | 88,245 | +1582.8% |
| 1986 | 87,921 | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 10,992 | -87.5% |
| 1988 | 58,259 | +430.0% |
| 1989 | 52,798 | -9.4% |
| 1990 | 75,889 | +43.7% |
| 1991 | 130,366 | +71.8% |
| 1992 | 128,781 | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 115,516 | -10.3% |
| 1994 | 121,288 | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 112,360 | -7.4% |
| 1996 | 104,122 | -7.3% |
| 1997 | 93,986 | -9.7% |
| 1998 | 89,967 | -4.3% |
| 1999 | 86,845 | -3.5% |
| 2000 | 88,266 | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 92,490 | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 138,362 | +49.6% |
| 2003 | 122,530 | -11.4% |
| 2004 | 115,171 | -6.0% |
| 2005 | 99,430 | -13.7% |
| 2006 | 102,479 | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 68,398 | -33.3% |
| 2008 | 69,051 | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 72,771 | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 68,785 | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 72,366 | +5.2% |
| 2012 | 75,932 | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 75,061 | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 82,202 | +9.5% |
| 2015 | 84,950 | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 94,102 | +10.8% |
| 2017 | 118,639 | +26.1% |
| 2018 | 129,941 | +9.5% |
| 2019 | 128,998 | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 135,018 | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 142,994 | +5.9% |
| 2022 | 122,764 | -14.1% |
| 2023 | 151,757 | +23.6% |
| 2024 | 158,171 | +4.2% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 158,171 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17,235, 9.2× the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Iran's 158,171 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6,895, 22.9× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country … origin UNICEF in Iran 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | +1582.8% | 5,244 | 88,245 |
| 1981 | +1572.9% | 48 | 803 |
| 1988 | +430.0% | 10,992 | 58,259 |
| 1982 | +208.8% | 803 | 2,480 |
| 1983 | +124.9% | 2,480 | 5,577 |
| 1987 | -87.5% | 87,921 | 10,992 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 31,237 | 48 | 88,245 | 10 |
| 1990s | 105,912 | 75,889 | 130,366 | 10 |
| 2000s | 96,895 | 68,398 | 138,362 | 10 |
| 2010s | 93,098 | 68,785 | 129,941 | 10 |
| 2020s | 142,141 | 122,764 | 158,171 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More health data for Iran
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.38 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.5627 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 1,070 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.88 % 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 0.0311 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0327 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Iran?
- Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Iran was 158,171 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 158,171 in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 48 in 1980.
- How does Iran rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of?
- Iran ranks 5th out of 72 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 92.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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