A total of 58,179 persons were admitted to the United States as refugees during 2012. The leading countries of nationality for refugees were Bhutan, Burma, and Iraq. During 2012, 29,484 individuals were granted asylum, including 17,506 who were granted asylum affirmatively by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and 11,978 who were granted asylum defensively by the Department of Justice. The leading countries of nationality for persons granted either affirmative or defensive asylum were China, Egypt, and Ethiopia. Documents for travel to the United States were issued to 13,049 individuals who were approved for derivative asylum status while located abroad. The leading countries of nationality for the recipients of follow-to-join travel documents were China, Haiti, and Nepal. In addition to those approved overseas, 1,028 individuals were approved for derivative asylum status while residing in the United States.
Refugees and Asylees: 2012
http://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/ois_rfa_fr_2012.pdf
The United States provides refuge to persons who have been persecuted or have well-founded fear of persecution through two programs: one for refugees (persons outside the U.S. and their immediate relatives) and one for asylees (persons in the U.S. and their immediate relatives).
This Office of Immigration Statistics Annual Flow Report provides information on the number of persons admitted to the United States as refugees or granted asylum in the United States in 2012.