Registered Refugees from Afghanistan

Refugee Returnees to Afghanistan

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations

JSON 
The humanitarian situation inside Afghanistan deteriorated in 2021 with significant consequences for the most vulnerable among the population. Some 3.4 million people are currently displaced by conflict. UNHCR is responding to this emergency. In Iran and Pakistan, which are neighbours of Afghanistan, there are also 2 million registered Afghan refugees. The majority of these refugees fled Afghanistan over the years, including from as early as 1979. A further 5.3 million refugees returned to Afghanistan in phases since 2002, but this trends has been declining in recent times. In August 2021, UNHCR has also released a non-return advisory for Afghanistan, calling for a halt on forced returns of Afghan nationals, including asylum seekers who have had their claims rejected. On this page you will find updates on UNHCR's work in support Afghan IDPs, refugees and returnees. Links are also provided below for the individual UNHCR country operation pages for additional information.

Registered Refugees from Afghanistan (in Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan) JSON 
760,874
Last updated 30 Jun 2024
Source - Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran (GIRI) 
Afghan Registered Refugees by country JSON 
Location name Source Data date Population
Iran (Islamic Republic of) Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran (GIRI) 30 Jun 2024   100.0% 760,874

Reported newly arrived Afghans in need of international protection to neighbouring countries since 1 January 2021 JSON 
90,247
Last updated 31 Mar 2024
Source - UNHCR 
Reported newly arrived Afghans by country JSON 
Location name Source Data date Population
Iran (Islamic Republic of) UNHCR 31 Mar 2024   100.0% 90,247

UNHCR collects data to inform advocacy, programming and response for the protection needs of Afghans in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Tajikistan as well as to support Governments and partners in asylum processes. UNHCR utilises multiple data collection methodologies, including border monitoring, cross-border movement tracking through Refugee Key Informant and Household interviews, individual protection assessments and various forms of mandate registration. The overall number of Afghans with international refugee protection needs is likely to be much higher. The increase on the overall figure does not necessarily reflect the displacement of that same period, but rather the date of assessment. Over 3,700 Afghans were hosted by the Iranian authorities at border locations since 1 January 2021, although most have returned. According to Government of Uzbekistan sources, some 13,020 Afghan citizens arrived in the country since January 2021. The majority arrived before August 15 with valid visas issued by the Uzbek consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif. This group is currently unwilling and unable to return and UNHCR considers that they may be in need of international protection.
Refugees facilitated for Voluntary Repatriation to Afghanistan by year JSON 
  Latest Documents
  • Download

    UNHCR Afghanistan Situation Update - 31 October 2024

    Document
    Publish date: 25 November 2024 (17 days ago)
    Create date: 25 November 2024 (16 days ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Afghanistan Border Monitoring Report January-September 2024

    Document
    UNHCR Afghanistan Border Monitoring Report January-September 2024: UNHCR’s border monitoring seeks to assess people’s access to the right to return and map potential protection risks and human rights ...
    Publish date: 19 November 2024 (23 days ago)
    Create date: 19 November 2024 (22 days ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: Iran at a Glance

    Document
    October 2024
    Publish date: 12 November 2024 (1 month ago)
    Create date: 12 November 2024 (29 days ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: Factsheet - September 2024

    Document
    Quarterly factsheet covering January-September 2024
    Publish date: 11 November 2024 (1 month ago)
    Create date: 11 November 2024 (1 month ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Afghanistan Situation Update - 30 September 2024

    Document
    Publish date: 29 October 2024 (1 month ago)
    Create date: 29 October 2024 (1 month ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran - Background Note on Resettlement - July 2021

    Document
    One-pager on the settlement of refugees living in Iran
    Publish date: 31 July 2021 (3 years ago)
    Create date: 2 August 2021 (3 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: Afghanistan Situation Update - 16 January 2022

    Document
    Emergency preparedness and response in Iran
    Publish date: 13 January 2022 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 15 January 2022 (2 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: Afghanistan Situation Update - 06 January 2022

    Document
    Emergency preparedness and response in Iran
    Publish date: 6 January 2022 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 6 January 2022 (2 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: Afghanistan Situation Update - 30 December 2021

    Document
    Emergency preparedness and response in Iran
    Publish date: 30 December 2021 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 30 December 2021 (2 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: Afghanistan Situation Update - 15 December 2021

    Document
    Emergency preparedness and response in Iran
    Publish date: 18 December 2021 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 18 December 2021 (2 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: Afghanistan Situation Update - 8 December 2021

    Document
    Emergency preparedness and response in Iran
    Publish date: 9 December 2021 (3 years ago)
    Create date: 9 December 2021 (3 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: COVID-19 Response in the Islamic Republic of Iran - December 2021

    Document
    Publish date: 14 April 2022 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 14 April 2022 (2 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: COVID-19 Response in the Islamic Republic of Iran - September 2021

    Document
    Publish date: 9 November 2021 (3 years ago)
    Create date: 9 November 2021 (3 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: COVID-19 Response in the Islamic Republic of Iran - June 2021

    Document
    Bi-monthly update
    Publish date: 30 June 2021 (3 years ago)
    Create date: 2 September 2021 (3 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: COVID-19 Response in the Islamic Republic of Iran - April 2021

    Document
    Bi-monthly update
    Publish date: 30 April 2021 (3 years ago)
    Create date: 5 July 2021 (3 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: COVID-19 Response in the Islamic Republic of Iran - February 2021

    Document
    Bi-monthly update
    Publish date: 28 February 2021 (3 years ago)
    Create date: 16 May 2021 (3 years ago)
  • Download

    Education Away from Home - The Islamic Republic of Iran (Education Brief - November 2023)

    Document
    Support ing education for Afghan refugee children and youth in Iran Education Brief November 2023)
    Publish date: 1 December 2023 (1 year ago)
    Create date: 1 December 2023 (1 year ago)
  • Download

    Afghanistan Situation Regional Refugee Response Plan - 2024 Mid-year report

    Document
    Publish date: 17 October 2024 (1 month ago)
    Create date: 17 October 2024 (1 month ago)
  • Download

    Regional Refugee Response Plan 2024-2025 - Afghanistan Situation

    Document
    Regional Refugee Response Plan 2024-2025 - Afghanistan Situation
    Publish date: 11 March 2024 (9 months ago)
    Create date: 11 March 2024 (9 months ago)
  • Download

    Regional Refugee Response Plan for Afghanistan Situation Summary 2024

    Document
    Regional Refugee Response Plan for Afghanistan Situation Summary 2024
    Publish date: 19 January 2024 (10 months ago)
    Create date: 19 January 2024 (10 months ago)
  • Download

    Afghanistan Regional Refugee Response Plan Summary 2023

    Document
    Afghanistan Regional Refugee Response Plan Summary 2023
    Publish date: 9 March 2023 (1 year ago)
    Create date: 10 March 2023 (1 year ago)
  • Download

    Protection and Solutions Strategy UNHCR Afghanistan 2025 - 2027

    Document
    Publish date: 17 October 2024 (1 month ago)
    Create date: 17 October 2024 (1 month ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: The Support Platform for the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees

    Document
    A Partnership for Solidarity and Resilience
    Publish date: 1 July 2020 (4 years ago)
    Create date: 25 February 2021 (3 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees

    Document
    Voluntary Repatriation, Sustainable Integration and Assistance to Host Countries
    Publish date: 1 October 2018 (6 years ago)
    Create date: 24 February 2021 (3 years ago)
  • Download

    ReSolve: for Resilience and Solutions 2023

    Document
    2023 Multi-Stakeholder Pledge for the Afghanistan Situation
    Publish date: 14 August 2023 (1 year ago)
    Create date: 15 August 2023 (1 year ago)
  • Download

    Education Away from Home - The Islamic Republic of Iran (Education Brief - November 2023)

    Document
    Support ing education for Afghan refugee children and youth in Iran Education Brief November 2023)
    Publish date: 1 December 2023 (1 year ago)
    Create date: 1 December 2023 (1 year ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Afghanistan Border Monitoring Report January-September 2024

    Document
    UNHCR Afghanistan Border Monitoring Report January-September 2024: UNHCR’s border monitoring seeks to assess people’s access to the right to return and map potential protection risks and human rights ...
    Publish date: 19 November 2024 (23 days ago)
    Create date: 19 November 2024 (22 days ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Afghanistan Border Monitoring Report January-June 2024

    Document
    UNHCR Afghanistan Border Monitoring Report January-June 2024
    Publish date: 15 August 2024 (3 months ago)
    Create date: 15 August 2024 (3 months ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Afghanistan Border Monitoring Report January-December 2023

    Document
    UNHCR Afghanistan Border Monitoring Report January-December 2023
    Publish date: 25 April 2024 (7 months ago)
    Create date: 25 April 2024 (7 months ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Afghanistan Voluntary Repatriation update 2022

    Document
    Publish date: 22 March 2023 (1 year ago)
    Create date: 22 March 2023 (1 year ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Afghanistan Situation Update - 31 October 2024

    Document
    Publish date: 25 November 2024 (17 days ago)
    Create date: 25 November 2024 (16 days ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Afghanistan Situation Update - 30 September 2024

    Document
    Publish date: 29 October 2024 (1 month ago)
    Create date: 29 October 2024 (1 month ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Afghanistan Situation Update - 1 September 2024

    Document
    Publish date: 19 September 2024 (2 months ago)
    Create date: 19 September 2024 (2 months ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Afghanistan Situation Update - 1 August 2024

    Document
    Publish date: 21 August 2024 (3 months ago)
    Create date: 21 August 2024 (3 months ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Afghanistan Situation Update - 1 July 2024

    Document
    Publish date: 19 July 2024 (4 months ago)
    Create date: 19 July 2024 (4 months ago)
  • Download

    Education Away from Home - The Islamic Republic of Iran (Education Brief - November 2023)

    Document
    Support ing education for Afghan refugee children and youth in Iran Education Brief November 2023)
    Publish date: 1 December 2023 (1 year ago)
    Create date: 1 December 2023 (1 year ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR 2022 Multi Sectorial Rapid Assessments - Analysis

    Document
    Publish date: 17 May 2023 (1 year ago)
    Create date: 17 May 2023 (1 year ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR RBAP 2022 Cash-Based Interventions in the Region

    Document
    Publish date: 19 April 2023 (1 year ago)
    Create date: 19 April 2023 (1 year ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: Afghanistan Situation Update - 15 May 2022

    Document
    Publish date: 23 May 2022 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 23 May 2022 (2 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: Afghanistan Situation Update - 30 April 2022

    Document
    Publish date: 9 May 2022 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 9 May 2022 (2 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: Refugee Settlements

    Document
    A map of refugee numbers and settlements in Iran
    Publish date: 9 December 2020 (4 years ago)
    Create date: 25 February 2021 (3 years ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: Iran at a Glance

    Document
    October 2024
    Publish date: 12 November 2024 (1 month ago)
    Create date: 12 November 2024 (29 days ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: Factsheet - September 2024

    Document
    Quarterly factsheet covering January-September 2024
    Publish date: 11 November 2024 (1 month ago)
    Create date: 11 November 2024 (1 month ago)
  • Download

    Afghan Returns - South West Asia Quarterly Update, 2024 Q3

    Document
    Publish date: 21 October 2024 (1 month ago)
    Create date: 21 October 2024 (1 month ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: Iran at a Glance

    Document
    August 2024
    Publish date: 9 September 2024 (3 months ago)
    Create date: 9 September 2024 (3 months ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR Iran: Factsheet - June 2024

    Document
    Quarterly factsheet covering April-June 2024
    Publish date: 18 August 2024 (3 months ago)
    Create date: 18 August 2024 (3 months ago)
  • Download

    Afghanistan Situation Regional RRP 2023 Final Report

    Document
    Publish date: 14 April 2024 (7 months ago)
    Create date: 26 June 2024 (5 months ago)
  • Download

    Regional Refugee Response Plan 2024-2025 - Afghanistan Situation

    Document
    Regional Refugee Response Plan 2024-2025 - Afghanistan Situation
    Publish date: 11 March 2024 (9 months ago)
    Create date: 11 March 2024 (9 months ago)
  • Download

    Regional Refugee Response Plan for Afghanistan Situation Summary 2024

    Document
    Regional Refugee Response Plan for Afghanistan Situation Summary 2024
    Publish date: 19 January 2024 (10 months ago)
    Create date: 19 January 2024 (10 months ago)
  • Download

    Afghanistan Situation RRP - Mid-year Report 2023

    Document
    Publish date: 27 October 2023 (1 year ago)
    Create date: 27 October 2023 (1 year ago)
  • Download

    Regional Refugee Response Plan 2022 - Final Report

    Document
    Publish date: 8 May 2023 (1 year ago)
    Create date: 8 May 2023 (1 year ago)
  • Afghanistan Situation Funding (2024)
    479.657.727,00 US$
    Total appeal
    Date of Funding Data 30 September 2024 (2 months ago)
      Links