SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. – The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has released data on refugee arrivals in Spokane County, showing that more than 1,000 refugees have resettled in the area. Nationwide, over 100,000 refugees have resettled in the U.S. in the past year.
According to IRC data, refugees from Afghanistan (210), the Democratic Republic of Congo (122), and Syria (106) made up the largest groups arriving in Spokane. IRC gathered this information through its quarterly consultations with service providers, such as World Relief and the State Refugee Coordinator, as well as key stakeholders involved in the refugee resettlement process.
IRC also reported that, in its fiscal year review for 2024, more than 100,034 refugees have resettled in the U.S., the most since 1992, when 132,531 refugees arrived. This marks a significant increase from 2023, when 77,672 refugees arrived. In Spokane, World Relief assisted with 686 arrivals, while IRC helped resettle 324 refugees.
Looking ahead, IRC expects about 196 refugees to arrive in Spokane County in the first quarter of 2025.
Many of the top countries of origin for refugees in Spokane are on IRC’s emergency watchlist, including Syria, Sudan and Somalia. IRC’s emergency watchlist highlights countries likely to experience escalating humanitarian crises due to factors such as war, economic instability, and climate change. The list identifies 20 countries that are at the forefront of global instability.
