Refugees by country of origin — all countries

Refugees by country of origin — Western Africa

Refugees by country of origin in Western Africa in 2024 — 1,190,485 people. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 25.9%.

2024 1.19M people +32.56% vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 1.55M people1994
Period minimum 233,566 people2009

Trend over time

1991–2024 · people

Refugees by country of origin — Western Africa, 1991–20240500,0001M1.5M2M1991199519992003200720112015201920231991: 945,547 people1992: 972,859 people1993: 1,527,436 people1994: 1,549,828 people1995: 1,423,950 people1996: 1,373,002 people1997: 958,332 people1998: 887,679 people1999: 854,303 people2000: 739,969 people2001: 492,534 people2002: 541,302 people2003: 555,176 people2004: 498,300 people2005: 432,586 people2006: 339,857 people2007: 252,980 people2008: 251,155 people2009: 233,566 people2010: 252,627 people2011: 366,229 people2012: 411,744 people2013: 399,622 people2014: 433,903 people2015: 526,710 people2016: 561,738 people2017: 569,410 people2018: 622,733 people2019: 653,435 people2020: 713,634 people2021: 785,969 people2022: 827,615 people2023: 898,050 people2024: 1,190,485 people
Change over the period: +244,938 (+25.9%) Average annual rate: 0.7 %

Comparison, 2024

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

Western Africa 1.19M people
World computed 30.69M people
Refugees by country of origin — Western Africa, by year Western Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2024 1.19M +292,435 +32.56%
2023 898,050 +70,435 +8.51%
2022 827,615 +41,646 +5.3%
2021 785,969 +72,335 +10.14%
2020 713,634 +60,199 +9.21%
2019 653,435 +30,702 +4.93%
2018 622,733 +53,323 +9.36%
2017 569,410 +7,672 +1.37%
2016 561,738 +35,028 +6.65%
2015 526,710 +92,807 +21.39%
2014 433,903 +34,281 +8.58%
2013 399,622 −12,122 −2.94%
2012 411,744 +45,515 +12.43%
2011 366,229 +113,602 +44.97%
2010 252,627 +19,061 +8.16%
2009 233,566 −17,589 −7%
2008 251,155 −1,825 −0.72%
2007 252,980 −86,877 −25.56%
2006 339,857 −92,729 −21.44%
2005 432,586 −65,714 −13.19%
2004 498,300 −56,876 −10.24%
2003 555,176 +13,874 +2.56%
2002 541,302 +48,768 +9.9%
2001 492,534 −247,435 −33.44%
2000 739,969 −114,334 −13.38%
1999 854,303 −33,376 −3.76%
1998 887,679 −70,653 −7.37%
1997 958,332 −414,670 −30.2%
1996 1.37M −50,948 −3.58%
1995 1.42M −125,878 −8.12%
1994 1.55M +22,392 +1.47%
1993 1.53M +554,577 +57%
1992 972,859 +27,312 +2.89%
1991 945,547

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.