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 305,504 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
305,504
Change on year
down 7.2%
World rank
4th
of 72 countries
All-time high
2.31 million
in 2007
All-time low
560
in 1978
Years of data
49
1968–2024
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Iraq, 1968–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Iraq is 305,504, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 7.2% on the previous year and down 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Iraq peaked at 2.31 million in 2007 and was at its lowest, 560, in 1978.
Iraq ranks 4th of 72 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 2,700 | — |
| 1969 | 2,700 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 560 | -79.3% |
| 1979 | 31,000 | +5435.7% |
| 1980 | 31,098 | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 66,589 | +114.1% |
| 1982 | 103,766 | +55.8% |
| 1983 | 103,721 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 101,724 | -1.9% |
| 1985 | 401,503 | +294.7% |
| 1986 | 400,745 | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 410,818 | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 508,468 | +23.8% |
| 1989 | 507,986 | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 1.13 million | +123.2% |
| 1991 | 1.32 million | +16.6% |
| 1992 | 1.34 million | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 771,074 | -42.6% |
| 1994 | 749,833 | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 718,717 | -4.1% |
| 1996 | 714,727 | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 707,342 | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 675,030 | -4.6% |
| 1999 | 642,875 | -4.8% |
| 2000 | 526,165 | -18.2% |
| 2001 | 530,508 | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 422,504 | -20.4% |
| 2003 | 368,577 | -12.8% |
| 2004 | 311,889 | -15.4% |
| 2005 | 262,302 | -15.9% |
| 2006 | 1.45 million | +453.1% |
| 2007 | 2.31 million | +59.2% |
| 2008 | 1.90 million | -17.6% |
| 2009 | 1.79 million | -6.2% |
| 2010 | 1.68 million | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 1.43 million | -15.2% |
| 2012 | 746,204 | -47.8% |
| 2013 | 401,461 | -46.2% |
| 2014 | 369,960 | -7.8% |
| 2015 | 264,086 | -28.6% |
| 2016 | 316,056 | +19.7% |
| 2017 | 362,536 | +14.7% |
| 2018 | 372,332 | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 336,274 | -9.7% |
| 2020 | 333,200 | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 343,899 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 287,446 | -16.4% |
| 2023 | 329,032 | +14.5% |
| 2024 | 305,504 | -7.2% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 305,504 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17,235, 17.7× the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 305,504 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6,895, 44.3× the median. (20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +5435.7% | 560 | 31,000 |
| 2006 | +453.1% | 262,302 | 1.45 million |
| 1985 | +294.7% | 101,724 | 401,503 |
| 1990 | +123.2% | 507,986 | 1.13 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2 |
| 1970s | 15,780 | 560 | 31,000 | 2 |
| 1980s | 263,642 | 31,098 | 508,468 | 10 |
| 1990s | 877,907 | 642,875 | 1.34 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 987,084 | 262,302 | 2.31 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 628,080 | 264,086 | 1.68 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 319,816 | 287,446 | 343,899 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 1 Syrian Arab Republic 5.95 million compare
- 2 Ukraine 5.12 million compare
- 3 Sudan 2.09 million compare
- 5 Iran, Islamic Republic of 158,171 compare
- 6 Azerbaijan 153,154 compare
- 7 Türkiye 139,640 compare
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 305,504 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 2.31 million in 2007.
- What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 560 in 1978.
- How does Iraq rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of?
- Iraq ranks 4th 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 Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.4%. 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 origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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