The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 2004 to 2025 Southeast Asia
Refugees and internally displaced persons Thailand, in 22 editions.
The entry for Thailand published Refugees and internally displaced persons in 22 editions of 36, from 2004 to 2025. The text changed in 17 editions. Each is shown as published. Refugees and internally displaced persons in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 17
- the first edition with it
- 2004
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Refugees and internally displaced persons” (2004 to 2025).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2023 edition
Changed since 2022The same text in 2004 and 2005.
- refugees (country of origin):
- 118,407 (Burma) (2004)
refugees (country of origin): 118,407 (Burma) (2004)
- refugees (country of origin):
- 120,814 (Burma)
- IDPs:
- 6,000 (26 December 2004 tsunami) (2005)
refugees (country of origin): 118,407 120,814 (Burma) (2004)
IDPs: 6,000 (26 December 2004 tsunami) (2005)
- refugees (country of origin):
- 116,499 (Burma) (2006)
refugees (country of origin): 120,814 116,499 (Burma)
IDPs: 6,000 (26 December 2004 tsunami) (2005)
- refugees (country of origin):
- 132,241 (Burma) (2007)
refugees (country of origin): 116,499 132,241 (Burma) (2006) (2007)
The same text in 3 editions, 2009 to 2011.
- refugees (country of origin):
- 132,241 (Burma) (2007)
refugees (country of origin):
132,241 (Burma) (2007)
- refugees (country of origin):
- 88,148 (Burma) (2011)
- IDPs:
- undetermined (resurgence in ethno-nationalist violence in south of country since 2004)(2011)
refugees (country of origin):132,241 88,148 (Burma) (2007) (2011)
IDPs:
undetermined (resurgence in ethno-nationalist violence in south of country since 2004)(2011)
- refugees (country of origin):
- 83,317 (Burma) (2012)
- IDPs:
- undetermined (resurgence in ethno-nationalist violence in south of country since 2004) (2011)
- stateless persons:
- 506,197 (2012);
- note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population;
- most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand;
- children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless;
- most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless;
- stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled;
- stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
Rewritten: too little of the 2012 text remains to mark the changes.
refugees (country of origin):
83,317 (Burma) (2012)
IDPs:
undetermined (resurgence in ethno-nationalist violence in south of country since 2004) (2011)
stateless persons:
506,197 (2012); note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population; most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand; children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless; most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless; stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled; stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
- refugees (country of origin):
- 78,970 (Burma) (2013)
- IDPs:
- up to 35,000 (resurgence in ethno-nationalist violence in south of country since 2004) (2013)
- stateless persons:
- 506,197 (2012);
- note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population;
- most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand;
- children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless;
- most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless;
- stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled;
- stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
refugees (country of origin):83,317 78,970 (Burma) (2012) (2013)
IDPs:undetermined up to 35,000 (resurgence in ethno-nationalist violence in south of country since 2004) (2011) (2013)
stateless persons:
506,197 (2012); note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population; most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand; children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless; most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless; stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled; stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
- refugees (country of origin):
- 128,863 (Burma) (2014)
- IDPs:
- up to 35,000 (resurgence in ethno-nationalist violence in south of country since 2004) (2015)
- stateless persons:
- 506,197 (2014);
- note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population;
- most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand;
- children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless;
- most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless;
- stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled;
- stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
refugees (country of origin):
78,970(2013) (2014)
IDPs:(2013) (2015)
stateless persons:(2012); (2014); note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population; most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand; children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless; most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless; stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled; stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
- refugees (country of origin):
- 106,349 (Burma) (2015)
- IDPs:
- 35,000 (resurgence in ethno-nationalist violence in south of country since 2004) (2015)
- stateless persons:
- 443,862 (2015);
- note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population;
- most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand;
- children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless;
- most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless;
- stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled;
- stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 18,000 stateless persons in the last 3 years (2015)
refugees (country of origin): 128,863 106,349 (Burma) (2014) (2015)
IDPs: up to 35,000 (resurgence in ethno-nationalist violence in south of country since 2004) (2015)
stateless persons: 506,197 (2014); 443,862 (2015); note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population; most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand; children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless; most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless; stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled; stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 18,000 stateless persons in the last 3 years (2015)
- refugees (country of origin):
- 102,633 (Burma) (2016)
- IDPs:
- 35,000 (resurgence in ethno-nationalist violence in south of country since 2004) (2016)
- stateless persons:
- 487,741 (2016);
- note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population;
- most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand;
- children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless;
- most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless;
- stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled;
- stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 18,000 stateless persons in the last 3 years (2015)
refugees (country of origin): 106,349 102,633 (Burma) (2015) (2016)
IDPs: 35,000 (resurgence in ethno-nationalist violence in south of country since 2004) (2015) (2016)
stateless persons: 443,862 (2015); 487,741 (2016); note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population; most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand; children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless; most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless; stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled; stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 18,000 stateless persons in the last 3 years (2015)
- refugees (country of origin):
- 99,982 (Burma) (2017)
- IDPs:
- 41,000 (resurgence in ethno-nationalist violence in south of country since 2004) (2017)
- stateless persons:
- 486,440 (2017) (estimate represents stateless persons registered with the Thai Government; actual number may be as high as 3.5 million);
- note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population;
- most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand;
- children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless;
- most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless;
- stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled;
- stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 23,000 stateless persons between 2012 and 2016; in 2016, the Government of Thailand approved changes to its citizenship laws that could make 80,000 stateless persons eligible for citizenship, as part of its effort to achieve zero statelessness by 2024 (2018)
refugees (country of origin): 102,633 99,982 (Burma) (2016) (2017)
IDPs: 35,000 41,000 (resurgence in ethno-nationalist violence in south of country since 2004) (2016) (2017)
stateless persons: 487,741 (2016); 486,440 (2017) (estimate represents stateless persons registered with the Thai Government; actual number may be as high as 3.5 million); note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population; most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand; children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless; most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless; stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled; stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 18,000 23,000 stateless persons between 2012 and 2016; in 2016, the last 3 years (2015) Government of Thailand approved changes to its citizenship laws that could make 80,000 stateless persons eligible for citizenship, as part of its effort to achieve zero statelessness by 2024 (2018)
- refugees (country of origin):
- 97,603 (Burma) (2018)
- stateless persons:
- 478,883 (2018) (estimate represents stateless persons registered with the Thai Government; actual number may be as high as 3.5 million);
- note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population;
- most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand;
- children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless;
- most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless;
- stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled;
- stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 23,000 stateless persons between 2012 and 2016; in 2016, the Government of Thailand approved changes to its citizenship laws that could make 80,000 stateless persons eligible for citizenship, as part of its effort to achieve zero statelessness by 2024 (2018)
refugees (country of origin): 99,982 97,603 (Burma) (2017) (2018)
IDPs: 41,000 (resurgence in ethno-nationalist violence in south of country since 2004) (2017)
stateless persons: 486,440 (2017) 478,883 (2018) (estimate represents stateless persons registered with the Thai Government; actual number may be as high as 3.5 million); note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population; most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand; children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless; most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless; stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled; stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 23,000 stateless persons between 2012 and 2016; in 2016, the Government of Thailand approved changes to its citizenship laws that could make 80,000 stateless persons eligible for citizenship, as part of its effort to achieve zero statelessness by 2024 (2018)
- refugees (country of origin):
- 91,806 (Burma) (2020)
- stateless persons:
- 475,009 (2019) (estimate represents stateless persons registered with the Thai Government; actual number may be as high as 3.5 million);
- note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population;
- most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand;
- children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless;
- most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless;
- stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled;
- stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 23,000 stateless persons between 2012 and 2016; in 2016, the Government of Thailand approved changes to its citizenship laws that could make 80,000 stateless persons eligible for citizenship, as part of its effort to achieve zero statelessness by 2024 (2018)
refugees (country of origin): 97,603 91,806 (Burma) (2018) (2020)
stateless persons: 478,883 (2018) 475,009 (2019) (estimate represents stateless persons registered with the Thai Government; actual number may be as high as 3.5 million); note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population; most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand; children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless; most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless; stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled; stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 23,000 stateless persons between 2012 and 2016; in 2016, the Government of Thailand approved changes to its citizenship laws that could make 80,000 stateless persons eligible for citizenship, as part of its effort to achieve zero statelessness by 2024 (2018)
- refugees (country of origin):
- 91,479 (Burma) (2021)
- IDPs:
- 41,000
- stateless persons:
- 480,695 (2020) (estimate represents stateless persons registered with the Thai Government; actual number may be as high as 3.5 million);
- note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population;
- most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand;
- children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless;
- most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless;
- stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled;
- stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 23,000 stateless persons between 2012 and 2016; in 2016, the Government of Thailand approved changes to its citizenship laws that could make 80,000 stateless persons eligible for citizenship, as part of its effort to achieve zero statelessness by 2024 (2018)
refugees (country of origin): 91,806 91,479 (Burma) (2020) (2021)
IDPs: 41,000
stateless persons: 475,009 (2019) 480,695 (2020) (estimate represents stateless persons registered with the Thai Government; actual number may be as high as 3.5 million); note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population; most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand; children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless; most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless; stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled; stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 23,000 stateless persons between 2012 and 2016; in 2016, the Government of Thailand approved changes to its citizenship laws that could make 80,000 stateless persons eligible for citizenship, as part of its effort to achieve zero statelessness by 2024 (2018)
- refugees (country of origin):
- 91,349 (Burma) (2022)
- IDPs:
- 41,000 (2021)
- stateless persons:
- 554,103 (mid-year 2021) (estimate represents stateless persons registered with the Thai Government; actual number may be as high as 3.5 million);
- note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population;
- most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand;
- children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless;
- most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless;
- stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled;
- stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 23,000 stateless persons between 2012 and 2016 and more than 18,000 between 2018 and 2021; in 2016, the Government of Thailand approved changes to its citizenship laws that could make 80,000 stateless persons eligible for citizenship, as part of its effort to achieve zero statelessness by 2024 (2021)
refugees (country of origin): 91,479 91,349 (Burma) (2021) (2022)
IDPs: 41,000 (2021)
stateless persons: 480,695 (2020) 554,103 (mid-year 2021) (estimate represents stateless persons registered with the Thai Government; actual number may be as high as 3.5 million); note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population; most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand; children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless; most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless; stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled; stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 23,000 stateless persons between 2012 and 2016; 2016 and more than 18,000 between 2018 and 2021; in 2016, the Government of Thailand approved changes to its citizenship laws that could make 80,000 stateless persons eligible for citizenship, as part of its effort to achieve zero statelessness by 2024 (2018) (2021)
The same text in 2023 and 2024.
- refugees (country of origin):
- 91,339 (Burma) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2023)
- IDPs:
- 41,000 (2022)
- stateless persons:
- 566,900 (2022) (estimate represents stateless persons registered with the Thai Government; actual number may be as high as 3.5 million);
- note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population;
- most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand;
- children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless;
- most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless;
- stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled;
- stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 23,000 stateless persons between 2012 and 2016 and more than 18,000 between 2018 and 2021; in 2016, the Government of Thailand approved changes to its citizenship laws that could make 80,000 stateless persons eligible for citizenship, as part of its effort to achieve zero statelessness by 2024 (2021)
refugees (country of origin): 91,349 91,339 (Burma) (2022) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2023)
IDPs: 41,000 (2021) (2022)
stateless persons: 554,103 (mid-year 2021) 566,900 (2022) (estimate represents stateless persons registered with the Thai Government; actual number may be as high as 3.5 million); note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population; most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand; children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless; most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless; stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled; stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 23,000 stateless persons between 2012 and 2016 and more than 18,000 between 2018 and 2021; in 2016, the Government of Thailand approved changes to its citizenship laws that could make 80,000 stateless persons eligible for citizenship, as part of its effort to achieve zero statelessness by 2024 (2021)
- refugees:
- 87,025 (2024 est.)
- IDPs:
- 19 (2023 est.)
- stateless persons:
- 612,524 (2024 est.)
Rewritten: too little of the 2024 text remains to mark the changes.
refugees: 87,025 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 19 (2023 est.)
stateless persons: 612,524 (2024 est.)
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Thailand: Refugees and internally displaced persons.” The World Factbook, 2004–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/thailand/refugees-and-internally-displaced-persons.