Costa Rica vs Malawi: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum
Costa Rica
36,395
in 2025
Malawi
35,241
in 2025
Costa Rica rank
70th
Malawi rank
71st
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum over time
- Costa Rica
- Malawi
How they compare
Costa Rica currently reports 36,395 against 35,241 in Malawi, a difference of 1,154.
The two have swapped places 3 times across 40 shared years of data; in 1986 it was Malawi ahead.
Costa Rica ranks 70th and Malawi ranks 71st of 183 countries.
Across the 5 decades both report, Costa Rica averaged higher in 2 and Malawi in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Costa Rica | Malawi | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 155,100 | 488,069 | 332,969 | Malawi |
| 1990s | 67,396 | 377,638 | 310,242 | Malawi |
| 2000s | 12,714 | 3,988 | 8,726 | Costa Rica |
| 2010s | 12,422 | 8,551 | 3,872 | Costa Rica |
| 2020s | 20,892 | 29,589 | 8,697 | Malawi |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher refugee population by country or territory of asylum, Costa Rica or Malawi?
- Costa Rica, at 36,395 against 35,241 in Malawi as of 2025.
- What is the difference in refugee population by country or territory of asylum between Costa Rica and Malawi?
- 1,154, with Costa Rica ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Costa Rica and Malawi?
- 40 years are reported by both, from 1986 to 2025.
- How do Costa Rica and Malawi rank globally for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Costa Rica ranks 70th and Malawi ranks 71st of 183 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Refugee population by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.