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Refugees by country of origin — all countries

Refugees by country of origin — Western Sahara

Refugees by country of origin in Western Sahara in 2024 — 174,578 people. Ranked 184 in the world out of 200. Since 1975, the indicator has risen by 772.9%.

2024 174,578 people +91.9% vs 2023
World rank 184of 200
Period maximum 174,578 people2024
Period minimum 20,000 people1975

Trend over time

1975–2024 · people

Refugees by country of origin — Western Sahara, 1975–2024050,000100,000150,000200,000197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 20,000 people1976: 35,000 people1977: 50,000 people1978: 50,000 people1979: 50,000 people1980: 50,000 people1981: 165,000 people1982: 165,000 people1983: 165,000 people1984: 165,000 people1985: 165,000 people1986: 165,000 people1987: 165,000 people1988: 165,000 people1989: 167,190 people1990: 165,000 people1991: 165,000 people1992: 165,000 people1993: 165,000 people1994: 166,493 people1995: 165,000 people1996: 166,328 people1997: 166,099 people1998: 165,968 people1999: 165,868 people2000: 165,808 people2001: 165,908 people2002: 165,884 people2003: 165,729 people2004: 165,728 people2005: 90,650 people2006: 90,611 people2007: 116,594 people2008: 116,528 people2009: 116,469 people2010: 116,411 people2011: 116,414 people2012: 116,451 people2013: 116,500 people2014: 116,478 people2015: 116,542 people2016: 116,648 people2017: 116,762 people2018: 116,790 people2019: 116,908 people2020: 116,925 people2021: 117,041 people2022: 91,026 people2023: 90,974 people2024: 174,578 people
Change over the period: +154,578 (+772.89%) Average annual rate: 4.52 %

Comparison, 2024

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

Western Sahara 174,578 people
World computed 30.69M people
Middle East & North Africa computed 6.77M people
Northern Africa computed 2.33M people
Refugees by country of origin — Western Sahara, by year Western Sahara All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2024 174,578 +83,604 +91.9%
2023 90,974 −52 −0.06%
2022 91,026 −26,015 −22.23%
2021 117,041 +116 +0.1%
2020 116,925 +17 +0.01%
2019 116,908 +118 +0.1%
2018 116,790 +28 +0.02%
2017 116,762 +114 +0.1%
2016 116,648 +106 +0.09%
2015 116,542 +64 +0.05%
2014 116,478 −22 −0.02%
2013 116,500 +49 +0.04%
2012 116,451 +37 +0.03%
2011 116,414 +3 +0%
2010 116,411 −58 −0.05%
2009 116,469 −59 −0.05%
2008 116,528 −66 −0.06%
2007 116,594 +25,983 +28.68%
2006 90,611 −39 −0.04%
2005 90,650 −75,078 −45.3%
2004 165,728 −1 −0%
2003 165,729 −155 −0.09%
2002 165,884 −24 −0.01%
2001 165,908 +100 +0.06%
2000 165,808 −60 −0.04%
1999 165,868 −100 −0.06%
1998 165,968 −131 −0.08%
1997 166,099 −229 −0.14%
1996 166,328 +1,328 +0.8%
1995 165,000 −1,493 −0.9%
1994 166,493 +1,493 +0.9%
1993 165,000 +0 +0%
1992 165,000 +0 +0%
1991 165,000 +0 +0%
1990 165,000 −2,190 −1.31%
1989 167,190 +2,190 +1.33%
1988 165,000 +0 +0%
1987 165,000 +0 +0%
1986 165,000 +0 +0%
1985 165,000 +0 +0%
1984 165,000 +0 +0%
1983 165,000 +0 +0%
1982 165,000 +0 +0%
1981 165,000 +115,000 +230%
1980 50,000 +0 +0%
1979 50,000 +0 +0%
1978 50,000 +0 +0%
1977 50,000 +15,000 +42.86%
1976 35,000 +15,000 +75%
1975 20,000 — —

Northern Africa, 2024

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

TN Tunisia 3,593 DZ Algeria 8,800 MA Morocco 10,609 LY Libya 17,235 EG Egypt 23,736 EH Western Sahara 174,578 SD Sudan 2.09M
Full table for all countries

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.