Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Benin
Benin: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 16,974 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Benin, 1969–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Benin recorded 16,974 for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in 2025.
That represents a change of up 4.6% on the previous year and up 3,127.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Benin peaked at 156,239 in 1993 and was at its lowest, 50, in 1983.
That places Benin 85th out of 183 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Benin, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 1,100 | — |
| 1983 | 50 | -95.5% |
| 1984 | 800 | +1500.0% |
| 1985 | 3,700 | +362.5% |
| 1986 | 3,740 | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 3,050 | -18.4% |
| 1988 | 1,176 | -61.4% |
| 1989 | 858 | -27.0% |
| 1990 | 456 | -46.9% |
| 1991 | 456 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 293 | -35.7% |
| 1993 | 156,239 | +53223.9% |
| 1994 | 70,403 | -54.9% |
| 1995 | 23,843 | -66.1% |
| 1996 | 5,961 | -75.0% |
| 1997 | 2,914 | -51.1% |
| 1998 | 2,898 | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 3,652 | +26.0% |
| 2000 | 4,290 | +17.5% |
| 2001 | 4,794 | +11.7% |
| 2002 | 5,014 | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 5,032 | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 4,800 | -4.6% |
| 2005 | 30,288 | +531.0% |
| 2006 | 10,785 | -64.4% |
| 2007 | 7,611 | -29.4% |
| 2008 | 6,927 | -9.0% |
| 2009 | 7,204 | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 7,136 | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 7,213 | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 4,960 | -31.2% |
| 2013 | 190 | -96.2% |
| 2014 | 414 | +117.9% |
| 2015 | 526 | +27.1% |
| 2016 | 804 | +52.9% |
| 2017 | 1,056 | +31.3% |
| 2018 | 1,167 | +10.5% |
| 2019 | 1,238 | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 1,396 | +12.8% |
| 2021 | 1,736 | +24.4% |
| 2022 | 1,779 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 2,825 | +58.8% |
| 2024 | 16,232 | +474.6% |
| 2025 | 16,974 | +4.6% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 16,974 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8,620, 2.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Benin's 16,974 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 35,241, 48% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Benin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +53223.9% | 293 | 156,239 |
| 1984 | +1500.0% | 50 | 800 |
| 2005 | +531.0% | 4,800 | 30,288 |
| 2024 | +474.6% | 2,825 | 16,232 |
| 1985 | +362.5% | 800 | 3,700 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1 |
| 1980s | 1,911 | 50 | 3,740 | 7 |
| 1990s | 26,712 | 293 | 156,239 | 10 |
| 2000s | 8,674 | 4,290 | 30,288 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,470 | 190 | 7,213 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6,824 | 1,396 | 16,974 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More population data for Benin
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4203 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4203 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6566 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 25,264 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.48 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1997 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.41 (2100)
- Population density 351.08 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 2.95 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Benin?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Benin was 16,974 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 156,239 in 1993.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 50 in 1983.
- How does Benin rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Benin ranks 85th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3,127.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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