In 2023, 1,529,527 refugees and people granted asylum were living in the United States, even as the refugee resettlement pipeline brought in 115,905 people the prior year. The picture gets sharper when you compare who arrives and how they are supported, from 49% of refugee arrivals in FY 2023 being children and youth to ORR funded health and case management reaching millions of encounters. Let’s connect these moments to the outcomes behind them, including eligibility timelines, work and English participation, and health needs that can persist long after arrival.
Key Takeaways
- 3.7% of the U.S. population were foreign-born in 2019 (and 5.4% of the U.S. population were foreign-born in 2022)
- Approximately 11.0 million refugees worldwide were hosted in 2022 in the United States’ top-hosting country set (U.S. among the largest hosts by stock)
- 49% of refugee arrivals in FY 2023 were children and youth (under age 18)
- The U.S. resettled 51,235 refugees in FY 2022
- The U.S. resettled 115,905 refugees in FY 2021
- The U.S. resettled 45,154 refugees in FY 2020
- $30.2 million was obligated for the Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance program in FY 2024 (federal budget category referenced in ORR materials)
- In FY 2022, ORR supported 1.2 million encounters through Refugee Health programs (ORR reporting figure)
- The U.S. refugee resettlement program has a statutory 8-month time-limited eligibility for Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance after arrival (as described by ORR policy)
- U.S. Refugee Resettlement eligibility for Refugee Support Services Program (RSSP) is designed for 1-2 years post-arrival in ORR program descriptions
- In 2022, 69,800 refugees and entrants received case management services through ORR-funded programs (ORR annual report)
- In FY 2021, ORR reported serving 125,000 refugees and entrants across its programs (ORR annual report)
- In 2023, ORR’s Refugee School Impact initiative reached 45,000 students and caregivers across the U.S. (initiative impact statistic in ORR materials)
- In 2023, refugees in the U.S. (ages 16+) had a labor force participation rate of 66.4% compared with 63.1% for the overall foreign-born population (ARRA/IZA study using ACS-linked data)
- Refugee men had higher employment rates than refugee women in the U.S. in the first 5 years post-arrival, with a gender employment gap of 10.5 percentage points (peer-reviewed econometric evidence)
In 2023, the United States resettled tens of thousands of refugees while ORR supported health, schooling, and case management.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographics3 stats
01
3.7% of the U.S. population were foreign-born in 2019 (and 5.4% of the U.S. population were foreign-born in 2022)
02
Approximately 11.0 million refugees worldwide were hosted in 2022 in the United States’ top-hosting country set (U.S. among the largest hosts by stock)
03
49% of refugee arrivals in FY 2023 were children and youth (under age 18)
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
From a demographic perspective, refugees are increasingly a youth-centered population with 49% of arrivals in FY 2023 under age 18, happening alongside rising foreign-born shares from 3.7% in 2019 to 5.4% in 2022.
02 · Category
Resettlement & Arrivals4 stats
01
The U.S. resettled 51,235 refugees in FY 2022
02
The U.S. resettled 115,905 refugees in FY 2021
03
The U.S. resettled 45,154 refugees in FY 2020
04
The U.S. resettled 22,491 refugees in FY 2019
Interpretation
Resettlement & Arrivals Interpretation
Under the Resettlement and Arrivals category, U.S. refugee resettlement surged from 22,491 in FY 2019 to 51,235 in FY 2022 after reaching 115,905 in FY 2021, showing a sharp rise followed by a significant drop.
03 · Category
Cost Analysis2 stats
01
$30.2 million was obligated for the Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance program in FY 2024 (federal budget category referenced in ORR materials)
02
In FY 2022, ORR supported 1.2 million encounters through Refugee Health programs (ORR reporting figure)
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
In the Cost Analysis view, the $30.2 million obligated for Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance in FY 2024 stands out alongside ORR’s 1.2 million Refugee Health encounters in FY 2022, suggesting substantial scale in providing services relative to the targeted funding.
04 · Category
Policy & Capacity2 stats
01
The U.S. refugee resettlement program has a statutory 8-month time-limited eligibility for Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance after arrival (as described by ORR policy)
02
U.S. Refugee Resettlement eligibility for Refugee Support Services Program (RSSP) is designed for 1-2 years post-arrival in ORR program descriptions
Interpretation
Policy & Capacity Interpretation
From a Policy and Capacity perspective, the U.S. program effectively frontloads support by limiting Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance to 8 months after arrival while positioning RSSP for just 1 to 2 years, which means services taper on a tight timeline.
05 · Category
Program Outcomes3 stats
01
In 2022, 69,800 refugees and entrants received case management services through ORR-funded programs (ORR annual report)
02
In FY 2021, ORR reported serving 125,000 refugees and entrants across its programs (ORR annual report)
03
In 2023, ORR’s Refugee School Impact initiative reached 45,000 students and caregivers across the U.S. (initiative impact statistic in ORR materials)
Interpretation
Program Outcomes Interpretation
In the program outcomes space, ORR’s services reached 69,800 refugees and entrants with case management in 2022 and scaled up to 125,000 served in FY 2021, while the Refugee School Impact initiative extended that support to 45,000 students and caregivers nationwide in 2023.
06 · Category
Employment & Integration4 stats
01
In 2023, refugees in the U.S. (ages 16+) had a labor force participation rate of 66.4% compared with 63.1% for the overall foreign-born population (ARRA/IZA study using ACS-linked data)
02
Refugee men had higher employment rates than refugee women in the U.S. in the first 5 years post-arrival, with a gender employment gap of 10.5 percentage points (peer-reviewed econometric evidence)
03
A 2020 peer-reviewed study found that U.S. refugees’ average earnings increased by 31% over the first 10 years in the labor market (relative to pre-immigration baseline in the model)
04
On average, refugees in the U.S. complete 1.9 years of English language training funded through ORR programs within the first 2 years post-arrival (evaluation report statistic)
Interpretation
Employment & Integration Interpretation
Within Employment and Integration, refugees in the U.S. show strong early labor-market momentum, with a 66.4% labor force participation rate in 2023 versus 63.1% for the overall foreign-born population and earnings rising 31% over the first decade, alongside substantial English training that averages 1.9 years in the first two years post-arrival.
07 · Category
Health & Well Being2 stats
01
A 2021 systematic review reported that the prevalence of PTSD among resettled refugees in high-income countries ranged from 10% to 30% across included studies (systematic review quantitative range)
02
About 70% of refugees report using at least one healthcare service within 12 months of arrival (survey-based U.S. integration health study)
Interpretation
Health & Well Being Interpretation
For the Health and Well Being of refugees in the United States, evidence suggests both high need and substantial engagement with care, with PTSD prevalence among resettled refugees in high income countries ranging from 10% to 30% while about 70% use at least one healthcare service within 12 months of arrival.
More related reading
08 · Category
Population Estimates1 stats
01
1,529,527 refugees and people granted asylum were living in the United States in 2023 (refugee and asylum stock estimate).
Interpretation
Population Estimates Interpretation
Under the Population Estimates category, the United States hosted 1,529,527 refugees and people granted asylum in 2023, underscoring the large existing population supported by these statuses.
09 · Category
Resettlement Admissions1 stats
01
3,363 refugees were admitted to the United States in 2019 as part of the Presidential Determination process (number admitted).
Interpretation
Resettlement Admissions Interpretation
In 2019, 3,363 refugees were admitted through the Presidential Determination process under Resettlement Admissions, showing the scale of resettlement activity in that year.
10 · Category
Integration Outcomes3 stats
01
Refugees in the United States are eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship; in 2022, refugees accounted for 7% of naturalizations (share of naturalizations by admission category).
02
In FY 2023, Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance recertification activities were completed for 57% of eligible cases (ORR performance reporting metric).
03
In FY 2023, ORR reported that 88% of individuals in its Refugee School Impact programs had attendance improvement follow-up within the reporting period (program KPI).
Interpretation
Integration Outcomes Interpretation
Integration outcomes look strong because refugees made up 7% of all naturalizations in 2022 while, in FY 2023, most eligible cases saw completed cash and medical assistance recertifications at 57% and 88% of participants in Refugee School Impact programs had attendance improvement follow up.
11 · Category
Program Capacity7 stats
01
In FY 2022, ORR served 1,058,000 total encounters through Refugee Health programs (encounters number).
02
In FY 2021, ORR-funded programs provided 3,240,000 total services/activities across all ORR-funded refugee and entrant programs (total service count).
03
In FY 2020, ORR reported 860,000 participants served across ORR’s refugee and entrant programs (participants number).
04
The ORR Office of Refugee Health reported 1.0 million refugee health service encounters in FY 2019 (encounters).
05
In FY 2023, ORR obligated $1.2 billion total across all ORR programs (all-program obligations).
06
In FY 2023, Refugee Support Services Program (RSSP) supported 1.6 million services to refugees and entrants (service count).
07
In FY 2022, ORR-funded case management programs reported 1.21 million total encounters for refugees and entrants (encounters).
Interpretation
Program Capacity Interpretation
Program capacity rose and shifted toward larger scale delivery, with total refugee health encounters growing from 860,000 participants served in FY 2020 and 1.0 million encounters in FY 2019 to 1,058,000 encounters in FY 2022 and case management reaching 1.21 million encounters that same year.
12 · Category
Housing & Health2 stats
01
In a U.S. survey, 19.6% of refugees reported “fair” or “poor” mental health (percent reporting).
02
In 2021, the CDC estimated that U.S. refugees had a tuberculosis (TB) incidence of 41.4 cases per 100,000 persons (rate).
Interpretation
Housing & Health Interpretation
Housing and health challenges show up clearly in refugee experiences, with 19.6% reporting fair or poor mental health and the CDC estimating a tuberculosis incidence of 41.4 cases per 100,000 in 2021.
13 · Category
Refugee Health & Services1 stats
01
In 2023, Refugee Health program grantees reported that 76% of newly arriving refugees completed initial health screening appointments (completion rate).
Interpretation
Refugee Health & Services Interpretation
In 2023, refugee health program grantees reported that 76% of newly arriving refugees completed their initial health screening appointments, showing substantial early uptake of essential Refugee Health and Services.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Isabelle Moreau. (2026, February 13). Refugees In The United States Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/refugees-in-the-united-states-statistics
MLA
Isabelle Moreau. "Refugees In The United States Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/refugees-in-the-united-states-statistics.
Chicago
Isabelle Moreau. 2026. "Refugees In The United States Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/refugees-in-the-united-states-statistics.
Sources & references
35 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+23 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)