Refugees by country of asylum — all countries

Refugees by country of asylum — South America

Refugees by country of asylum in South America in 2024 — 323,091 people. Since 1972, the indicator has risen by 228%.

2024 323,091 people −7.95% vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 493,085 people2007
Period minimum 6,504 people1998

Trend over time

1972–2024 · people

Refugees by country of asylum — South America, 1972–20240200,000400,000600,00019721978198419901996200220082014202020241972: 98,500 people1974: 108,360 people1977: 98,900 people1978: 87,070 people1979: 82,630 people1980: 76,920 people1981: 75,940 people1982: 22,390 people1983: 22,280 people1985: 23,790 people1986: 22,990 people1987: 23,120 people1988: 23,726 people1989: 22,961 people1990: 20,925 people1991: 20,611 people1992: 21,086 people1993: 22,447 people1994: 18,669 people1995: 16,151 people1996: 16,514 people1997: 15,051 people1998: 6,504 people1999: 6,914 people2000: 8,570 people2001: 8,739 people2002: 10,660 people2003: 14,255 people2004: 17,021 people2005: 19,438 people2006: 21,996 people2007: 493,085 people2008: 312,867 people2009: 328,995 people2010: 334,280 people2011: 337,227 people2012: 339,596 people2013: 340,174 people2014: 311,074 people2015: 311,885 people2016: 292,708 people2017: 234,097 people2018: 189,912 people2019: 216,973 people2020: 246,518 people2021: 177,842 people2022: 179,053 people2023: 350,980 people2024: 323,091 people
Change over the period: +224,591 (+228.01%) Average annual rate: 2.31 %

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South America

South America 323,091 people
World computed 30.92M people
Refugees by country of asylum — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2024 323,091 −27,889 −7.95%
2023 350,980 +171,927 +96.02%
2022 179,053 +1,211 +0.68%
2021 177,842 −68,676 −27.86%
2020 246,518 +29,545 +13.62%
2019 216,973 +27,061 +14.25%
2018 189,912 −44,185 −18.87%
2017 234,097 −58,611 −20.02%
2016 292,708 −19,177 −6.15%
2015 311,885 +811 +0.26%
2014 311,074 −29,100 −8.55%
2013 340,174 +578 +0.17%
2012 339,596 +2,369 +0.7%
2011 337,227 +2,947 +0.88%
2010 334,280 +5,285 +1.61%
2009 328,995 +16,128 +5.15%
2008 312,867 −180,218 −36.55%
2007 493,085 +471,089 +2,141.7%
2006 21,996 +2,558 +13.16%
2005 19,438 +2,417 +14.2%
2004 17,021 +2,766 +19.4%
2003 14,255 +3,595 +33.72%
2002 10,660 +1,921 +21.98%
2001 8,739 +169 +1.97%
2000 8,570 +1,656 +23.95%
1999 6,914 +410 +6.3%
1998 6,504 −8,547 −56.79%
1997 15,051 −1,463 −8.86%
1996 16,514 +363 +2.25%
1995 16,151 −2,518 −13.49%
1994 18,669 −3,778 −16.83%
1993 22,447 +1,361 +6.45%
1992 21,086 +475 +2.3%
1991 20,611 −314 −1.5%
1990 20,925 −2,036 −8.87%
1989 22,961 −765 −3.22%
1988 23,726 +606 +2.62%
1987 23,120 +130 +0.57%
1986 22,990 −800 −3.36%
1985 23,790
1983 22,280 −110 −0.49%
1982 22,390 −53,550 −70.52%
1981 75,940 −980 −1.27%
1980 76,920 −5,710 −6.91%
1979 82,630 −4,440 −5.1%
1978 87,070 −11,830 −11.96%
1977 98,900
1974 108,360
1972 98,500

About the indicator

The number of refugees present in a country, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. A refugee is a person who has received protection outside their country of origin; the indicator covers both those recognized individually and those recognized on a group basis in situations of mass exodus. The series has been kept since 1951, that is since the adoption of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.

Important: This is the receiving side. It is not to be confused with the number of refugees FROM a country — that is a separate indicator, and the difference between the two shows whether a country hosts forced migration or produces it.

Source: UNHCR Refugee Statistics, license CC BY 4.0.