Overview
The UNHCR Representation to Central Asia is based in Almaty, managing UNHCR activities across the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Since their independence in 1991, Central Asian countries have generously sheltered thousands of people fleeing war, persecution, or human rights violations. Central Asia was also home to a considerable stateless population – largely a result of the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. UNHCR now works with Central Asian governments to support their protection of forcibly displaced and stateless people, focusing on strengthening local ownership of and investment in quality asylum systems, pursuing opportunities for local integration of refugees, eradicating statelessness, and building capacity to respond to emergencies.
Refugees in Central Asia JSON 
8,434
Last updated 30 Jun 2026
Source - Government, UNHCR 
Refugees by Location JSON  .CSV 
Location name Source Data date Population
Kazakhstan Government 30 Jun 2026   3.3% 278
Kyrgyzstan Government 30 Jun 2026   3.3% 281
Tajikistan UNHCR 30 Jun 2026   93.2% 7,858
Turkmenistan UNHCR 30 Jun 2026   0.1% 12
Uzbekistan UNHCR 30 Jun 2026   0.1% 5

Refugee-like in Central Asia JSON 
5,664
Last updated 30 Jun 2026
Source - UNHCR 
People in refugee-like situations by Location JSON 
Location name Source Data date Population
Kazakhstan UNHCR 30 Jun 2026   93.0% 5,269
Kyrgyzstan UNHCR 30 Jun 2026   7.0% 395

People in refugee-like situations refers to groups of people who are outside their country or territory of origin and who face protection risks similar to those of refugees, but for whom refugee status has not been ascertained for practical or other reasons. The figures presented are UNHCR estimates derived from government statistics and other publicly available information and sources.

Other People in Need of International Protection in Central Asia JSON 
124,376
Last updated 30 Jun 2026
Source - UNHCR 
Other people in need of international protection by Location JSON 
Location name Source Data date Population
Kazakhstan UNHCR 30 Jun 2026   50.1% 62,338
Kyrgyzstan UNHCR 30 Jun 2026   40.5% 50,338
Tajikistan UNHCR 30 Jun 2026   1.0% 1,300
Turkmenistan UNHCR 30 Jun 2026   2.5% 3,100
Uzbekistan UNHCR 30 Jun 2026   5.9% 7,300

Other people in need of international protection (OIP) refers to people who are outside their country or territory of origin and likely require international protection but are not reported under other population categories. The figures presented are UNHCR estimates derived from government statistics and other available information sources. For Uzbekistan, the population considered to be in need of international protection includes Afghan nationals residing temporarily in the country. Population estimates are derived from available information sources where official data are not accessible.

Asylum-seekers in Central Asia JSON 
5,116
Last updated 30 Jun 2026
Source - Government, UNHCR 
Asylum-seekers by Location JSON  .CSV 
Location name Source Data date Population
Kazakhstan Government 30 Jun 2026   4.0% 206
Kyrgyzstan Government 30 Jun 2026   43.1% 2,205
Tajikistan Government, UNHCR 30 Jun 2026   52.9% 2,705

Stateless persons in Central Asia JSON 
27,533
Last updated 30 Jun 2026
Source - Government, NGO, UNHCR 
Stateless persons by Location JSON 
Location name Source Data date Population
Kazakhstan Government, UNHCR 30 Jun 2026   26.5% 7,299
Kyrgyzstan Government, UNHCR 30 Jun 2026   2.0% 548
Tajikistan Government, UNHCR 30 Jun 2026   13.4% 3,686
Uzbekistan Government 30 Jun 2026   58.1% 16,000

  Latest Documents
  • Download

    Factsheet - Uzbekistan, September 2026

    Document
    UNHCR Central Asia publishes country factsheets to keep partners and the public informed about key figures, programmes, and overall priorities in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenis...
    Publish date: 1 October 2026 (17 days ago)
    Create date: 1 October 2026 (17 days ago)
  • Download

    Factsheet - National Office Kyrgyz Republic, September 2026

    Document
    UNHCR Central Asia publishes country factsheets to keep partners and the public informed about key figures, programmes, and overall priorities in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenis...
    Publish date: 1 October 2026 (17 days ago)
    Create date: 1 October 2026 (17 days ago)
  • Download

    Factsheet - Global Stockpile Termez, September 2026

    Document
    UNHCR Central Asia publishes country factsheets to keep partners and the public informed about key figures, programmes, and overall priorities in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenis...
    Publish date: 1 October 2026 (17 days ago)
    Create date: 1 October 2026 (17 days ago)
  • Download

    Factsheet - Uzbekistan, September 2026

    Document
    UNHCR Central Asia publishes country factsheets to keep partners and the public informed about key figures, programmes, and overall priorities in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenis...
    Publish date: 1 October 2026 (17 days ago)
    Create date: 1 October 2026 (17 days ago)
  • Download

    Factsheet - National Office Kyrgyz Republic, September 2026

    Document
    UNHCR Central Asia publishes country factsheets to keep partners and the public informed about key figures, programmes, and overall priorities in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenis...
    Publish date: 1 October 2026 (17 days ago)
    Create date: 1 October 2026 (17 days ago)
  • Download

    Factsheet - Global Stockpile Termez, September 2026

    Document
    UNHCR Central Asia publishes country factsheets to keep partners and the public informed about key figures, programmes, and overall priorities in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenis...
    Publish date: 1 October 2026 (17 days ago)
    Create date: 1 October 2026 (17 days ago)
  • Download

    Central Asia #IBelong Campaign Achievements - October 2024

    Document
    Publish date: 28 October 2024 (1 year ago)
    Create date: 28 October 2024 (1 year ago)
  • Download

    Central Asia #IBelong Campaign Achievements 2023

    Document
    Publish date: 12 July 2024 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 12 July 2024 (2 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Representation to Central Asia - Sub-Regional Overview Map

    Document
    Publish date: 23 April 2024 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 23 April 2024 (2 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Representation to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - subregional map

    Document
    Publish date: 1 August 2023 (3 years ago)
    Create date: 1 August 2023 (3 years ago)
  • Download

    Asia - UNHCR's total projected resettlement needs for 2018 by country of asylum - 01 June 2017

    Document
    Asia - UNHCR's total projected resettlement needs for 2018 by country of asylum - 01 June 2017
    Publish date: 20 July 2020 (6 years ago)
    Create date: 28 August 2017 (9 years ago)
  • Download

    Afghanistan Situation RRP - Mid-year Report 2023

    Document
    Publish date: 27 October 2023 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 27 October 2023 (2 years ago)
  • Download

    Regional Refugee Response Plan 2022 - Final Report

    Document
    Publish date: 8 May 2023 (3 years ago)
    Create date: 8 May 2023 (3 years ago)
  • Download

    Regional Refugee Response Plan 2023 - Afghanistan Situation

    Document
    Publish date: 16 March 2023 (3 years ago)
    Create date: 16 March 2023 (3 years ago)
  • Download

    Tajikistan: Results Monitoring Survey (RMS) Report 2023

    Document
    Tajikistan: Results Monitoring Survey (RMS) Report 2023
    Publish date: 20 June 2024 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 20 June 2024 (2 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Afghanistan Border Monitoring Report January-December 2023

    Document
    UNHCR Afghanistan Border Monitoring Report January-December 2023
    Publish date: 25 April 2024 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 25 April 2024 (2 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Afghanistan Voluntary Repatriation update 2022

    Document
    Publish date: 22 March 2023 (3 years ago)
    Create date: 22 March 2023 (3 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR RBAP 2022 Cash-Based Interventions in the Region

    Document
    Publish date: 19 April 2023 (3 years ago)
    Create date: 19 April 2023 (3 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Afghanistan Situation Update - 1 April 2024

    Document
    Publish date: 30 April 2024 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 1 May 2024 (2 years ago)
  • Download

    Afghanistan Situation Update - 1 January 2024

    Document
    Publish date: 22 January 2024 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 22 January 2024 (2 years ago)
  • Download

    Afghanistan Situation Update - 1 December 2023

    Document
    Publish date: 21 December 2023 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 21 December 2023 (2 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Operational Update July 2025 - September 2025 | Central Asia

    Document
    Publish date: 30 September 2025 (1 year ago)
    Create date: 5 January 2026 (9 months ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Operational Update April 2025 - June 2025 | Central Asia

    Document
    Publish date: 28 August 2025 (1 year ago)
    Create date: 28 August 2025 (1 year ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Operational Update January 2025 - March 2025 | Central Asia

    Document
    Publish date: 25 April 2025 (1 year ago)
    Create date: 28 April 2025 (1 year ago)
    •   View all (87)
    UNHCR is grateful for contributions directly to UNHCR Central Asia, and donors of unearmarked and flexible funding, including: Australia | Belgium | Denmark | European Union | Germany | Ireland | Kingdom of the Netherlands | Norway | Republic of Korea | Sweden | Switzerland | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

    Funding (2026)
    $7,920,000
    Total appeal
    Date of Funding Data 31 August 2026 (1 month ago)
    UNHCR Central Asia HELP
      UNHCR Central Asia News and Stories
    Afghan and Uzbek communities contribute to climate action in Surkhandarya
    [22 April 2026] On Earth Day, UNHCR looks back at its joint initiative with LONGi supporting climate resilience and self-reliance in Uzbekistan.
    Humanitarian heroes celebrated with UNHCR Nansen Refugee Awards
    [10 December 2025] UNHCR honours three remarkable individuals and one organization dedicated to helping refugees, internally displaced people, war-affected communities and others in Mexico, Iraq, Tajikistan and Ukraine.
    Supporting fair and efficient asylum procedures in Central Asia
    [30 June 2025] 33 government, NGO and legal representatives participated in the 2024 Refugee Status Determination Learning Programme, strengthening asylum procedures across the region.
      View all

      UNHCR Central Asia Microdata Library

    The UNHCR Microdata Library (MDL) contains unit-level microdata collected directly by UNHCR or indirectly through its partners. Metadata, reports, or survey questionnaires are also provided for complementary information on the datasets. All datasets on the MDL are anonymized and available to researchers and humanitarian organizations upon request. Organizations which collect relevant data are highly encouraged to submit datasets for dissemination through the MDL.

  • Cash Based Intervention-Post Distribution Monitoring - 2023

    Tajikistan, 2023   MicroData View details | Get Microdata
    Authoring Entity: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
    Published: 17 December 2025

  • Results Monitoring Survey 2023

    Tajikistan, 2023   MicroData View details | Get Microdata
    Authoring Entity: UNHCR
    Published: 01 April 2024

  • Post-Distribution Monitoring of Cash-Based Intervention 2023

    Kyrgyzstan, 2023   MicroData View details | Get Microdata
    Authoring Entity: UNHCR
    Published: 26 January 2024
    • UNHCR Central Asia Social Media
    @unhcr.ca


    For more information, please contact the following focal point(s)

    For any inquiry kazal@unhcr.org