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Table 17. Individuals Granted Asylum Affirmatively by Region and Country of Nationality: Fiscal Years 2016 to 2018

The 2018 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics is a compendium of tables that provide data on foreign nationals who are granted lawful permanent residence (i.e., immigrants who receive a “green card”), admitted as temporary nonimmigrants, granted asylum or refugee status, or are naturalized. The Yearbook also presents data on immigration enforcement actions, including apprehensions and arrests, removals, and returns.

Table 17. Individuals Granted Asylum Affirmatively by Region of Nationality: Fiscal Years 2016 to 2018
Region of Nationality 2016 2017 2018
   Total 11,634 15,846 25,439
Africa 2,144 2,883 4,541
Asia 4,340 5,726 8,235
Europe 477 679 1,658
North America 4,135 5,834 4,415
Oceania 7 5 4
South America 503 688 6,519
Unknown 28 31 67

 

Table 17. Individuals Granted Asylum Affirmatively by Country of Nationality: Fiscal Years 2016 to 2018
Country of Nationality 2016 2017 2018
   Total 11,634 15,846 25,439
Afghanistan 79 88 76
Albania 7 16 47
Algeria 4 6 18
Angola 7 14 39
Armenia 12 33 115
Azerbaijan 14 17 74
Bahrain - D -
Bangladesh 44 108 159
Belarus 17 34 143
Bolivia 4 D 5
Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 D 10
Brazil 17 30 111
Bulgaria 4 5 7
Burkina Faso 29 58 118
Burma 11 20 71
Burundi 48 39 44
Cambodia - D 11
Cameroon 49 91 199
Central African Republic 4 10 22
Chad 7 9 29
China, People's Republic 1,387 2,820 3,844
Colombia 72 74 331
Congo, Democratic Republic 40 51 82
Congo, Republic 36 63 92
Cote d'Ivoire 17 35 41
Cuba 4 D D
Djibouti 39 17 22
Dominican Republic D D 6
Ecuador 82 65 62
Egypt 679 1,020 1,427
El Salvador 1,380 2,121 1,177
Eritrea 257 348 334
Ethiopia 307 289 416
Fiji 7 5 D
Gabon - D 10
Gambia 63 86 69
Georgia 27 25 49
Ghana 12 5 10
Guatemala 1,285 1,996 1,337
Guinea 32 58 66
Guyana - 4 17
Haiti 109 59 175
Honduras 856 1,089 841
India 164 215 371
Indonesia 13 33 54
Iran 376 314 329
Iraq 585 457 402
Israel 10 20 21
Jamaica 25 38 99
Jordan 38 51 122
Kazakhstan 45 45 122
Kenya 31 77 98
Kosovo 15 33 21
Kuwait 7 11 16
Kyrgyzstan 67 97 97
Laos D 5 10
Lebanon 29 29 42
Liberia 40 59 66
Libya 40 21 100
Macedonia D 5 13
Madagascar - - -
Malaysia 3 D 11
Mali 39 21 43
Mauritania 34 33 81
Mexico 449 485 732
Moldova 67 55 108
Mongolia 30 35 58
Morocco 6 5 7
Nepal 235 149 100
Nicaragua 19 30 32
Niger 13 8 27
Nigeria 69 124 485
Pakistan 267 247 475
Peru 9 26 22
Philippines 9 8 31
Romania 8 11 18
Russia 204 286 787
Rwanda 54 70 90
Saudi Arabia 45 61 117
Senegal 10 22 25
Serbia and Montenegro (former) 8 17 44
Sierra Leone 6 16 35
Somalia 23 16 13
South Africa D D 11
Sri Lanka 21 27 43
Sudan 48 67 107
Syria 646 614 558
Tajikistan 18 7 21
Tanzania 3 8 8
Togo 18 17 35
Tunisia 10 3 14
Turkey 11 17 501
Turkmenistan 7 15 34
Uganda 47 63 174
Ukraine 125 197 413
United Arab Emirates 13 18 44
Uzbekistan 69 52 129
Venezuela 316 482 5,966
Vietnam 8 16 35
Yemen 41 49 72
Zimbabwe 16 32 68
All other countries 1 40 75 104
Unknown 28 31 67

D Data withheld to limit disclosure.
- Represents zero.
1 Includes countries with fewer than 10 individuals granted asylum affirmatively per year.
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Last Updated: 11/22/2023
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