Iceland: Refugee population

The latest value from 2023 is 8715 refugees, an increase from 5240 refugees in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 233913 refugees, based on data from 159 countries. Historically, the average for Iceland from 1990 to 2023 is 691 refugees. The minimum value, 39 refugees, was reached in 2008 while the maximum of 8715 refugees was recorded in 2023. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.

Definition: Refugees are people who are recognized as refugees under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 Organization of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, people recognized as refugees in accordance with the UNHCR statute, people granted refugee-like humanitarian status, and people provided temporary protection. Asylum seekers--people who have applied for asylum or refugee status and who have not yet received a decision or who are registered as asylum seekers--are excluded. Palestinian refugees are people (and their descendants) whose residence was Palestine between June 1946 and May 1948 and who lost their homes and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. Country of asylum is the country where an asylum claim was filed and granted.