Refugees by country of asylum in Belize
Belize: Refugees by country of asylum was 286 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Belize, 1980–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of asylum in Belize stood at 286 people.
That represents a change of up 33.6% on the previous year and up 2,760.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Belize peaked at 30,657 people in 1990 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 2016.
Belize ranks 137th of 183 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Belize, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 4,000 people | — |
| 1981 | 7,000 people | +75.0% |
| 1982 | 3,120 people | -55.4% |
| 1983 | 7,000 people | +124.4% |
| 1984 | 8,180 people | +16.9% |
| 1985 | 9,000 people | +10.0% |
| 1986 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 10,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1988 | 30,100 people | +201.0% |
| 1989 | 30,150 people | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 30,657 people | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 29,969 people | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 20,351 people | -32.1% |
| 1993 | 8,912 people | -56.2% |
| 1994 | 8,857 people | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 8,750 people | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 8,534 people | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 8,387 people | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 3,483 people | -58.5% |
| 1999 | 2,891 people | -17.0% |
| 2000 | 1,248 people | -56.8% |
| 2001 | 1,128 people | -9.6% |
| 2002 | 1,048 people | -7.1% |
| 2003 | 861 people | -17.8% |
| 2004 | 732 people | -15.0% |
| 2005 | 624 people | -14.8% |
| 2006 | 488 people | -21.8% |
| 2007 | 358 people | -26.6% |
| 2008 | 277 people | -22.6% |
| 2009 | 230 people | -17.0% |
| 2010 | 134 people | -41.7% |
| 2011 | 78 people | -41.8% |
| 2012 | 27 people | -65.4% |
| 2013 | 21 people | -22.2% |
| 2014 | 10 people | -52.4% |
| 2015 | 34 people | +240.0% |
| 2016 | 0 people | -100.0% |
| 2017 | 0 people | — |
| 2018 | 29 people | — |
| 2019 | 29 people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 29 people | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 86 people | +196.6% |
| 2022 | 145 people | +68.6% |
| 2023 | 214 people | +47.6% |
| 2024 | 286 people | +33.6% |
Belize compared with similar countries
- Belize's 286 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6,251 people, 5% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Belize's 286 people is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 166 people, 1.7× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Belize changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +240.0% | 10 people | 34 people |
| 1988 | +201.0% | 10,000 people | 30,100 people |
| 2021 | +196.6% | 29 people | 86 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 11,755 people | 3,120 people | 30,150 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 13,079 people | 2,891 people | 30,657 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 699.4 people | 230 people | 1,248 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.2 people | 0 people | 134 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 152 people | 29 people | 286 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Belize
More population data for Belize
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.2549 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.7058 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.0228 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.7058 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 17,603 people (2100)
- Population density 19.61 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.18 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.23 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Belize?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Belize was 286 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Belize?
- The highest recorded value was 30,657 people in 1990.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Belize?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 2016.
- How does Belize rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Belize ranks 137th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Belize?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2,760.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belize data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees who live in this country, not just those who arrived that year.