Leslie Massey
Australia has a long history of humanitarian resettlement, providing safety to more than 870,000 refugees since World War II. In 2013, Chris Bowen claimed that Australia takes more refugees per head of population than any other nation, and is second or third in absolute terms. However, this claim has been disputed, with sources citing Australia's world rankings for refugee intake as much lower. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, between 2005 and 2009, Australia ranked 47th out of 198 countries in terms of the number of refugees hosted. In 2012, Australia was ranked 22nd on a per capita basis for countries accepting refugees.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of refugees worldwide in 2023 | 31.6 million |
| Number of refugees resettled in 2023 | 158,700 |
| Number of refugees Australia granted visas to in 2023 | 20,000 |
| Number of refugees resettled in Australia since World War II | 870,000-970,000+ |
| Australia's rank in the number of refugees hosted (2005-2009) | 47th out of 198 countries |
| Australia's rank in refugee acceptance per capita (2012) | 22nd |
| Australia's rank in refugee resettlement (2012) | 2nd in the world overall, 3rd per capita, 3rd as a proportion of GDP |
| Number of refugees settled in Australia on humanitarian grounds (2016-2017) | 24,162 |
| Australia's rank in per capita refugee intake (2010) | 69th |
| Australia's rank in absolute refugee intake (2012) | 49th |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's refugee resettlement ranking
Australia has a long history of humanitarian resettlement, providing safety to more than 970,000 people since World War II. Between 1945 and the early 1990s, more than half a million refugees and other displaced persons were accepted into Australia. In the 1930s, over 7,000 refugees from Nazi Germany were accepted into the country. In the eight years after World War II, nearly 200,000 European refugees settled in Australia.
Australia has consistently ranked as one of the top three resettlement countries in the world, alongside the United States of America and Canada. In 2012, the Refugee Council of Australia ranked Australia 22nd on a per capita basis in a list of countries that accept refugees. The Council found that in terms of resettlement, as opposed to "receiving", asylum seekers, Australia ranks 2nd in the world overall, 3rd per capita, and 3rd as a proportion of GDP.
In 2016-2017, Australia accepted more refugees than ever before since it started a dedicated humanitarian migration program, with 24,162 migrants settled on humanitarian grounds. In 2023, Australia granted 20,000 refugee and humanitarian visas for people under their financial year quota.
Australia's Refugee and Humanitarian Program comprises both onshore protection and offshore resettlement. The offshore resettlement program contains three categories: Refugee, Special Humanitarian Program, or Community Support Program (CSP). The refugee visa has four different categories, including people referred to Australia by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), people who are still living in their country and have been unable to leave, and women at risk of harm.
Historically, Australia has been viewed as a world leader in resettling refugees, but it has also been criticized for its mandatory detention and offshore processing of asylum seekers who arrive without valid visas.
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Refugees in Australia: social and economic impact
Australia has a long history of humanitarian resettlement, providing safety to more than 970,000 people since World War II. In 2023, Australia granted 20,000 refugee and humanitarian visas for people under their financial year quota. The 740,000 refugees and humanitarian migrants settled by Australia have had a profound impact on enhancing the nation's social, cultural, and economic life.
Refugees make an important contribution to Australia in many areas, including social engagement, workforce participation, business ownership, and volunteering. Refugees are more than twice as likely to establish their own businesses compared to the broader population. Many of Australia's successful and respected citizens have been refugees, having fled their home country to escape persecution. The positive impact of refugees has also been felt in regional and rural Australia, where successful refugee resettlement programs have helped plug population gaps, supplied much-needed labour, and stimulated economic growth and service delivery.
However, it is important to acknowledge that humanitarian migrants in Australia are vulnerable to psychological distress and overall poor emotional health due to past trauma and settlement challenges. It is estimated that around half of refugees internationally experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and psychological distress, and one-sixth have severe mental illness. Despite this, only around one-fifth of refugees in Australia seek help, either professional or informal. This can significantly impact their ability to integrate into a new country and can cause cycles of intergenerational trauma.
There is a need for longitudinal data collection and research into the economic progress made by refugees in Australia, including an exploration of factors contributing to differential labour market outcomes. More empirical data is required concerning the skills, accreditation, and former work experience of humanitarian entrants to better determine how they can address skill shortages in the Australian economy.
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Australia's refugee intake: historical perspective
Australia has a long history of humanitarian resettlement, providing safety to more than 870,000 refugees since World War II. Between 1945 and the early 1990s, more than half a million refugees and other displaced persons were accepted into Australia. In the eight years after the end of World War II, almost 200,000 European refugees settled in Australia. During the 1930s, more than 7,000 refugees from Nazi Germany were also accepted.
Australia's refugee intake has fluctuated over the years. In 2002, arrivals dropped to 1, down from 5,516 the previous year. From 2001 to 2007, fewer than 300 asylum seekers arrived each year. After the 2007 election, the Labor Party under Kevin Rudd abandoned the Pacific Solution, installing a more liberal asylum policy. Over the next few years, the number of asylum seekers arriving in the country increased substantially. In 2008, there were 161 immigrants under asylum laws, and in 2009, claims jumped to 2,800. In 2011-2012, asylum seekers arriving by boat outnumbered those arriving by plane for the first time.
In 2012, the Refugee Council of Australia ranked Australia 22nd on a per capita basis among countries that accept refugees. That same year, Australia ranked second in the world for the resettlement of refugees per capita, and third per capita and as a proportion of GDP. In absolute terms, the top three resettlement countries were America, Canada, and Australia.
In 2016-2017, Australia accepted more refugees than ever since it started a dedicated humanitarian migration program, with 24,162 migrants settled on humanitarian grounds. In 2023, Australia granted 20,000 refugee and humanitarian visas under its financial year quota.
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Refugee intake: global statistics
In 2023, there were 31.6 million refugees worldwide, with 24 countries resettling 158,700 of these refugees. In the same year, Australia granted 20,000 refugee and humanitarian visas, ranking 47th out of 198 countries in terms of refugee intake. However, when adjusted for population size, Australia ranked 22nd per capita in 2012.
Historically, Australia has been viewed as a world leader in resettling refugees, providing safety to more than 970,000 people since World War II. In the eight years following World War II, almost 200,000 European refugees settled in Australia, and during the 1930s, the country accepted over 7,000 refugees from Nazi Germany. Australia's annual refugee quota in 2012 was 20,000 people, and the country has a long history of humanitarian resettlement, allowing refugees immediate access to income support and other assistance.
Other countries have also made significant contributions to refugee resettlement. In 2024, Germany and Türkiye hosted more than 3 million and 3.3 million refugees and asylum seekers, respectively. The same year, Iraq hosted around 338,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including a significant number of Syrians. The East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region hosted around 5.4 million refugees and asylum seekers and 18.8 million internally displaced people by mid-2024.
The rate of global displacement has been increasing, with 1 in 69 people forcibly displaced as of 2023, up from 1 in 159 in 2010. War, civil unrest, and persecution are the main factors driving refugee movements. The Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority in Myanmar, have faced significant displacement, with over 1.1 million people forced to flee abroad as of 2024. The war in Ukraine has also led to large-scale displacement, with an estimated 12.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2025.
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Australia's refugee policy
Australia has a long history of humanitarian resettlement, providing safety to more than 970,000 people since World War II. In the eight years after the war, almost 200,000 European refugees settled in Australia, and in the 1930s, the country accepted over 7,000 refugees from Nazi Germany. Australia has also been viewed as a world leader in resettling refugees, with more than 870,000 refugees resettled there since World War II.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, between 2005 and 2009, Australia ranked 47th out of 198 countries in the number of refugees hosted. However, in 2012, the Refugee Council of Australia ranked the country 22nd on a per capita basis in refugee acceptance. The Council also found that in terms of resettlement (rather than "receiving") asylum seekers, Australia ranks 2nd in the world overall, 3rd per capita, and 3rd as a proportion of GDP.
Australia's visa policy includes the detention of those without valid visas until they can be returned to their home countries. This has resulted in indefinite detention for some asylum seekers and refugees awaiting claim assessments or security checks.
Despite the controversies, Australia granted 20,000 refugee and humanitarian visas in its 2023-24 financial year quota, and the country's refugee intake peaked in 2017 with 24,162 humanitarian migrants settled. Refugees in Australia can access income support, caseworkers, housing assistance, and English classes to help them become independent community members. They are also more likely to establish their own businesses, and many of Australia's successful citizens have been refugees.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Australia does not take in the most refugees compared to other countries. According to the UNHCR Global Trends Report 2010, Australia ranked 69th in the world for per capita refugee intake. However, Australia has a long history of humanitarian resettlement, providing safety to more than 870,000 refugees since World War II.
The number of refugees accepted by Australia varies annually. In 2012, Australia accepted nearly 30,000 refugees, and in 2016-2017, the number peaked at 24,162 migrants settled on humanitarian grounds. In 2023, Australia granted 20,000 refugee and humanitarian visas under its financial year quota.
Australia has a unique policy of mandatory detention and offshore processing of asylum seekers who arrive without valid visas. Refugees arriving in Australia through the Humanitarian Program become permanent residents with immediate access to income support and services like caseworkers, housing assistance, and English classes.
