More Than 15,000 Artsakh Armenians Have Left Armenia Since 2023 Forced Mass Exodus

New data from Armenia’s National Security Service shows that more than 15,000 people forcibly displaced from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)  have left Armenia and have not yet returned since the September 2023 exodus.

According to official figures, by January 1, 2026, a total of 46,030 displaced Artsakh residents had departed Armenia at some point after arriving in the country. Out of that number, 30,901 later returned. This means that 15,129 people who fled Artsakh in 2023 have left Armenia and remain abroad.

The statistics reveal how migration patterns changed over time. From the spring of 2024 to the spring of 2025, the number of Artsakh Armenians who left Armenia and did not come back stayed relatively stable, ranging between 11,000 and 12,000 people. During those months, departures and returns appeared to balance each other at similar levels.

That situation shifted in mid-2025. Starting in May, officials recorded a new wave of departures. In only a few months, the number of people who had not returned grew by around 4,000 to 5,000. By August 2025, the figure had climbed to 16,735.

This rise occurred at the same time that the government changed its social assistance program for displaced Artsakh residents. The timing matched the suspension and later targeting of the “40+10 thousand” dram support scheme. Although departures reached their highest point in the summer of 2025, the trend eased toward the end of the year. By January 1, 2026, the number of those who had not returned fell back to 15,129, as more people began coming back to Armenia.

At the same time, authorities have seen a growing number of displaced Artsakh residents applying for Armenian passports. As of December 30, 2025, 25,901 people had submitted applications for new Armenian passports, and 19,319 had already received them. Holding a new passport is a required condition for participating in the state housing support program, which is meant to help families settle permanently in Armenia.

Earlier, Armenia’s Migration and Citizenship Service had told Infocom that the overall number of forcibly displaced Artsakh residents was close to 150,000. Officials also noted that it was difficult to give an exact figure, because movements in and out of the country continue and records change over time.

The latest numbers underline the ongoing uncertainty facing many families who fled Artsakh after the 2023 events. While thousands have returned to Armenia after traveling abroad, a significant group remains outside the country, and applications for citizenship documents continue as people seek confirmation of their legal status and access to long-term housing assistance.

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