Islamic Republic of Iran

The Islamic Republic of Iran is host to the largest refugee population in the world, hosting refugees and people in refugee-like situations for over four decades.
 

$140 million

are urgently needed from January to December 2025

Check the latest Funding Update

man with sunflowers
A young Afghan refugee working as a florist in Pakdasht, Iran. @UNHCR/Zahra Nazari
View All

According to the information available to UNHCR, Iran (Islamic Republic of) hosts some 773,000 refugees with Amayesh (761,000 Afghans) and Hoviat cards (12,000 Iraqis), which grant foreign nationals temporary residence and provide holders with refugee protection. In 2022, the Government of Iran undertook a headcount of undocumented Afghan nationals in the country, issuing headcount slips to those identified. 

UNHCR estimates that around 3.8 million forcibly displaced people of various documentation statuses reside in Iran (Islamic Republic of) in 2024, making it the largest refugee-hosting country in the world.

Explore UNHCR’s Operational Data Portal for more information and updates related to Iran and the Afghanistan situation.
View All

Populations

valDoubleCounted
nbHost
nbTotalPoc
valTotalStateless
Islamic Republic of Iran | 2025
Total1.9 millionRefugees | 40%Refugee-like situation | 60%

Note: The "Stateless" category does not include stateless people who are also in other categories, to avoid double counting. The total number of stateless, across all categories, is .

NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.

Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.

View All

Financials

Islamic Republic of Iran
Budget (USD)Expenditure (USD)
201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025-20 million40 million60 million80 million100 million120 million140 million

Budget information for the current year is updated monthly, while budget and expenditure information for all other years are final.

View All
txtBudgetDesc
View All
View All
yearselected
Strategy
Strategy - Country
View All
View All
View All

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
UNHCR GIS data is publicly accessible in the Operational Data Portal