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Ireland

Key statistics

156,516

people were under UNHCR’s mandate in Ireland in 2024, including refugees and asylum-seekers

124,747

are registered refugees by the end of 2024, reflecting its continued role as a key country of asylum in Europe

31,769

people are asylum-seekers in Ireland by the end of 2024, arriving mostly from Ukraine, Algeria and Pakistan

UNHCR has maintained a continuous presence in Ireland since 1998, working to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees, asylum-seekers, and stateless persons. We provide guidance, training, and support to authorities, promote alignment with international standards, and offer assistance to individuals and those working on their behalf.

In 2024, Ireland’s asylum system experienced significant strain due to a record number of new applications. UNHCR supported efforts to scale up system capacity, including training 433 decision-makers, auditing 317 decisions, and contributing to legal proceedings that reaffirmed the right to adequate living standards. Educational pathways were strengthened, with scholarships offered to refugees through Irish universities, and community sponsorship initiatives expanded in collaboration with civil society.

The Irish Refugee Resettlement Programme, operational since 2000 in partnership with UNHCR, continued to provide protection to refugees unable to return home due to war or persecution. UNHCR also advanced legal reform, promoted statelessness determination, and ensured that gender, diversity, and trauma-informed approaches were embedded in national systems to protect and include forcibly displaced people.

Ireland as a donor

Find out more about the funds raised by the government and private sector in Ireland to support UNHCR.

Visit the donor page

Population and financial overview

Data on population and financials are available at the multi-country office level, which oversees operations across several countries.

Ireland

Use the year selector to access information from previous years.

Populations

Population types

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.

Population by country

NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.

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

Population by origin

NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.

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

Financial

Budget and expenditure trend

Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.

Budget by pillar
Budget by objective

Note: The table presents the  budget for this operation broken down at the objective level. Resource allocation at the objective level is subject to change during the course of the year as the operational situation evolves and priorities shift. The current budget, reflected in the bottom line of this table, is updated on a monthly basis and is replaced by the final budget at year-end.

Expenditure by Outcome Area
Budget by Impact Area
Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions

Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.

Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.

Budget by Impact Area
Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions

Source: 2024 budget and 2023 current budget are taken from the budget document approved by UNHCR's Executive Committee in October 2023.

Budget by Impact Area
Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions

Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.

Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.

Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.

Budget by Impact Area
Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

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Strategy - Country

Strategy

For more information about our work in Ireland:

Ireland website

Find more information on our work in the area and the latest local news and stories.

Visit the Ireland website

 

Refworld

Find legislation, case law and UNHCR policy relating to claims for international protection.

Visit Refworld

 

Office contact details

Email: [email protected]

Ireland is covered by the following UNHCR office:

The Representation for EU Affairs, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands

 

Street address and mailing address:
Avenue Louise 283, B-1050 Brussels, BC, Belgium

Telephone:
+32 2 627 5999

Time zone:
GMT + 1

Working hours

  • Monday: 9:00 – 18:00
  • Tuesday: 9:00 – 18:00
  • Wednesday: 9:00 – 18:00
  • Thursday: 9:00 – 18:00
  • Friday: 9:00 – 18:00
  • Saturday: closed
  • Sunday: closed

Note: if you are a forcibly displaced or stateless person who needs assistance, please consult the Help website. You can also contact us by phone on +32-472 18 92 65:

  • Tuesday 9:30 – 12:30
  • Thursday 13:30 – 16:30.