Refugees by country of origin — all countries

Refugees by country of origin — South Africa

Refugees by country of origin in South Africa in 2024 — 1,174 people. Ranked 100 in the world out of 200. Since 1966, the indicator has risen by 201%.

2024 1,174 people +27.75% vs 2023
World rank 100of 200
Period maximum 38,560 people1984
Period minimum 131 people2001

Trend over time

1966–2024 · people

Refugees by country of origin — South Africa, 1966–2024010,00020,00030,00040,000196619721978198419901996200220082014202020241966: 390 people1967: 450 people1968: 740 people1969: 290 people1970: 460 people1971: 850 people1972: 790 people1973: 940 people1974: 1,380 people1975: 1,360 people1976: 2,180 people1977: 2,395 people1978: 3,840 people1979: 7,280 people1980: 24,250 people1981: 24,900 people1982: 28,430 people1983: 34,520 people1984: 38,560 people1985: 38,110 people1986: 33,220 people1987: 26,150 people1988: 24,906 people1989: 17,135 people1990: 14,781 people1991: 11,205 people1992: 9,241 people1993: 9,087 people1994: 1,514 people1995: 492 people1996: 286 people1997: 241 people1998: 184 people1999: 190 people2000: 168 people2001: 131 people2002: 271 people2003: 284 people2004: 261 people2005: 259 people2006: 501 people2007: 474 people2008: 449 people2009: 380 people2010: 374 people2011: 422 people2012: 413 people2013: 424 people2014: 422 people2015: 447 people2016: 452 people2017: 461 people2018: 482 people2019: 441 people2020: 474 people2021: 643 people2022: 784 people2023: 919 people2024: 1,174 people
Change over the period: +784 (+201.03%) Average annual rate: 1.92 %

Comparison, 2024

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

South Africa 1,174 people
World computed 30.69M people
Sub-Saharan Africa computed 9.7M people
Southern Africa computed 2,244 people
Upper-middle-income countries computed 1.11M people
Refugees by country of origin — South Africa, by year South Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2024 1,174 +255 +27.75%
2023 919 +135 +17.22%
2022 784 +141 +21.93%
2021 643 +169 +35.65%
2020 474 +33 +7.48%
2019 441 −41 −8.51%
2018 482 +21 +4.56%
2017 461 +9 +1.99%
2016 452 +5 +1.12%
2015 447 +25 +5.92%
2014 422 −2 −0.47%
2013 424 +11 +2.66%
2012 413 −9 −2.13%
2011 422 +48 +12.83%
2010 374 −6 −1.58%
2009 380 −69 −15.37%
2008 449 −25 −5.27%
2007 474 −27 −5.39%
2006 501 +242 +93.44%
2005 259 −2 −0.77%
2004 261 −23 −8.1%
2003 284 +13 +4.8%
2002 271 +140 +106.87%
2001 131 −37 −22.02%
2000 168 −22 −11.58%
1999 190 +6 +3.26%
1998 184 −57 −23.65%
1997 241 −45 −15.73%
1996 286 −206 −41.87%
1995 492 −1,022 −67.5%
1994 1,514 −7,573 −83.34%
1993 9,087 −154 −1.67%
1992 9,241 −1,964 −17.53%
1991 11,205 −3,576 −24.19%
1990 14,781 −2,354 −13.74%
1989 17,135 −7,771 −31.2%
1988 24,906 −1,244 −4.76%
1987 26,150 −7,070 −21.28%
1986 33,220 −4,890 −12.83%
1985 38,110 −450 −1.17%
1984 38,560 +4,040 +11.7%
1983 34,520 +6,090 +21.42%
1982 28,430 +3,530 +14.18%
1981 24,900 +650 +2.68%
1980 24,250 +16,970 +233.1%
1979 7,280 +3,440 +89.58%
1978 3,840 +1,445 +60.33%
1977 2,395 +215 +9.86%
1976 2,180 +820 +60.29%
1975 1,360 −20 −1.45%
1974 1,380 +440 +46.81%
1973 940 +150 +18.99%
1972 790 −60 −7.06%
1971 850 +390 +84.78%
1970 460 +170 +58.62%
1969 290 −450 −60.81%
1968 740 +290 +64.44%
1967 450 +60 +15.38%
1966 390

Southern Africa, 2024

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The number of refugees originating from a given country, wherever they are located, according to UNHCR. This is the mirror side of the indicator by country of asylum: there people are counted by the place where they found protection, here by the country they left. It is this series that shows the scale of forced exodus, and the largest displacement crises of recent decades are visible in it.

Important: The indicator counts only those who have crossed a border. People displaced inside their own country are not included, although they are usually more numerous — that is separate statistics, kept by the IDMC.

Source: UNHCR Refugee Statistics, license CC BY 4.0.