At-a-glance: Who takes the most asylum claims?

5 Jan 2011, 12:00 am   -   Source: UNHCR
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In 2009, one out of four refugees in the world was from Afghanistan (2.9 million). (AP)

In 2009, one out of four refugees in the world was from Afghanistan (2.9 million). (AP)

Figures show that developing countries accept the vast majority of the world's refugees, with Australia 47th on the list of host countries in 2009.

RELATED

While the Australian government grapples with a heated asylum seeker debate at home, it has emerged that developing countries are the ones bearing the brunt of the problem, hosting as many as four-fifths of the world's refugees.

Of the 10.4 million refugees under UNHCR mandate between 2005 and 2009, the largest numbers were being hosted by Pakistan (1,740,711), Iran (1,070,488), Syria (1,054,466), Germany (593,799), Jordan (450,756), the UNHCR's '2009 Global Trends' report reveals. 

The five major refugee-hosting countries accounted for almost half (47 per cent) of people deemed refugees by the UNHCR.

They were followed by Kenya (358,928), Chad (338,495), China (300,989), Vietnam (339,300), Eritrea (209,200) and Serbia (195,600).

Australia was ranked 47th, hosting 22,548 refugees between 2005 and 2009 (0.2 per cent of the global total).

Capacities and contributions of host countries

Pakistan hosted the highest number of refugees -- mainly from Afghanistan. It also hosted the most refugees when intakes were compared to national economies, with 745 refugees per 1 USD GDP (PPP) per capita.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo was second with 592 refugees per 1 USD GDP (PPP) per capita, followed by Zimbabwe (527), the Syrian Arab Republic (244), and Kenya (237).

The highest-placed developed country on this measure was Germany at 26th place with 17 refugees per 1 USD GDP (PPP) per capita.

Australia was 68th on a per capita basis and 91st relative to national wealth.

Asylum applications in 2009

South Africa received the highest number of asylum applications in 2009: 222,324.

Other leading countries for asylum applications were the Republic of Congo (95,945), Kenya (87,879), Ethiopia (45,763), France (42,118), Malaysia (40,063), Uganda (36,878), Ecuador (35,514), Yemen (34,471) and Canada (33,970).

The industrialised countries with the largest number of asylum applications in 2009 were the
United States (49,020), France (41,980), Canada (33,250), United Kingdom (29,840),
Germany (27,650) and Sweden (24,190).

Australia was ranked 33rd for total asylum applications with 6206 new applications in 2009.

It was 41st on a per capita basis and 71st relative to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Refugee resettlement

Australia continued to perform creditably in refugee resettlement, with the 11,080 refugees resettled from other nations between 2005 and 2009 making up 9.9 per cent of the global total of 112,442.

The United States alone received 71 per cent of all refugees resettled in 2009 (79,937).

However just 3441 asylum seekers were given refuge in Australia last year, roughly one per cent of the total migration to Australia during 2009.

Refugee ountries of origin

Afghan and Iraqi refugees accounted for almost half of all those falling under the UNHCR’s responsibility worldwide.

One in four of the world's refugees was from Afghanistan (2.9 million). Afghans were located in 71 different asylum countries.

Iraqis were the second largest refugee group, with 1.8 million having sought refuge primarily in neighbouring countries.

Somalis constituted the third largest group with 678,888 persons, while Congo DRC was the fourth-largest country of origin with 456,000 refugees.

During 2009, 631,905 asylum seekers were recognised as refugees worldwide.

The leading countries for refugee recognition on 2009 were Republic of Congo (94,126), Kenya (76,133), Ethiopia (42,693), Malaysia (35,524), Yemen (33,541), Chad (33,366), Syria (30,696), Uganda (29,558), Sudan (26,496) and Ecuador (26,342).

Below are some figures from the Department of Immigration comparing Australia's asylum seekers intake with the total annual migrant intake.

RELATED: Dept of Immigration's Annual report

Total permanent and temporary visas granted: 4,338,427

Working Holiday and Work and Holiday visas granted: 194,103

Student visas granted: 320,368

Temporary residents visas granted: 37,892

Temporary skilled Migration visas granted, Long Stay, (Subclass 457): 101,280

Family Stream outcome: 56,366

Skill Stream outcome: 114,777

State/Territory or Employer Sponsored visas granted: 59,214

Total Migration Program Outcome: 171,318

*Humanitarian Program visas granted: 13,507

Total number of people taken into immigration detention: 3,977

Refugees who arrived and receive help through the Humanitarian Settlement Strategy: 12,035

Number of people conferred Australian citizenship at ceremonies: 86,981

People approved as Australian citizens by conferral, descent and resumption: 118,196

Revenue generated by visa applications $751.8 million

RELATED: Australia's refugee and Humanitarian Program

*The Humanitarian Program includes asylum applications both from outside Australia and from asylum seekers being held in Australia's detention centres.

Asylum Seekers

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Migration

Stuart - from Bairnsdale Vic, 3 months ago

I suggest that all of the above commentators on this subject check out the Parliamentary Library on "The Facts on Asylum Seekers" The nonsense written by Jerry and others is deplorable to say the least and show a distinct lack of compassion for fellow human beings. I fought for this country in my youth, to make it a better place, but when I read some of these comments I wonder if it was worth while! Some 45% of Australian citizens were born overseas, including many who also served with me.

There are simply too many refugees.

Onion - from Sydney, 3 months ago

Watch the "Immigration Gumballs" video on YouTube. It shows how destructive the influx of economic migrants can be over time. The 3rd world creates over 80 million new refugees annually and they will simply swamp our social services if we let them. Sharing our wealth with the poor might give us a warm fuzzy feeling but the cold hard numbers will quickly dispel that sentiment. We also take-in their best and brightest and this leaves them deficient in their ability to manage their own society.

...

Meh - from Belconnen, 7 months ago

Bob, when your family came, Australia's unemployment rate was around 1%. If we used the original definition of unemployment, the rate would be 15% today. Quality of life was SIGNIFICANTLY higher than today. The private debt situation over here is terrible not to mention jobs. Let's focus on that rather than this distraction. In the end, the fact that most are not going to be able to retire at all will demonstrate that. Reality is, simply, reality. It doesn't care your feelings..

...

Meh - from Belconnen, 7 months ago

Our society is bankrupt. No wonder austerity is being so successfully implemented. Re-settlement is not equivalent to refugee intake. In the former, it refers to refugees from an intermediate nation. Unsurprising, Australia and the United States would score high due to the English language. On the other hand, refugee per capita is stunningly low. If rate were similar to Sweden, our intake would be over 160,000/ annum! PS: Australia does take in more, per capita, than US, though.

a little humanity goes a long way!

adrienne - from Adelaide, 9 months ago

A few responses, a refugee does not have to be poor, having an income or money does not mean you are free of persecution, not all refugees are economic refugees, most that come via sea are not, they have no documents that is why they come via sea instead of via air. On a per capita basis our intake appears ok, but we dont have a very big capita....and this is only compared to signatory countries, one of which is Japan whom only take 17 per year so I am sure this figure is not reflective.

Problem caused by own people

Gustav Rommell - from Brisbane, 9 months ago

We can not fix internal connflicts , where most of them refugees come from the problem is caused by their own kith and kin. as Tom Petty says in his song you don't have to be a refugee. the money that is spent by one immigrant to a people smuggler could out fit a Miltia to defend their community from the criminals. instead of just doing nothing they could become a feedom fighter.and fight for the same things our ancestors fought for against the japanese OUR FREEDOM.

Djri

Djri - from Djri, 9 months ago

Pakistan hosted over 6 million refugees from Afghanistan from 1977 to 1995. Most of them are still here. Not only Pakistan allowed them to stay but also gave them a daily ration of food supplies, a monthly supply of essential items like clothes, schooling for children and also a monthly stipend. This is from a nation of less than USD400 per capita GDP at that time. Most of the refugees stayed, worked, opened their busineesses and flourished. Apart from Afghanis there are thousands of others.

Travel Expenses JulesTAS

Theresa - from Perth, WA, 10 months ago

I bet if you had a son or daughter and the government was threatening to torture and kill them you could find 13K to send them to safety even if it was on a leaky boat. Doesn't mean you have any money left and why would you need it if a facist government controlling your countries airways is about to shoot you dead anyway. Too bad if they even reach Oz they get lock them up in a detention center policed by the same people who guard prisons and don't require working with children checks.

Biased reporting

Me - from Australia, 10 months ago

"Hosting" being the opt. word re: Iran/Pakistan. The refs are only hosted not allow. to stay. In fact they are even supp. by the UNHCR. Money mostly from west. Iran is in the process of return. refs to Afghan & in fact mills have already ret on their own. Another thing the article fails to mention is that these refs are not only from this war with Afghan. by the Soviet era (some let in under spec religious visas) & others stayed on to work bcs the Iranians wanted them & had $$ from oil. Wake up!

low stock

Jim - from Fremantle, 1 year

What I am getting sick of is the rush on tablecloths.Bugger it,gonna have to import some off of ebay

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