Refugees by country of asylum in Cameroon
Cameroon: Refugees by country of asylum was 427,706 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Cameroon, 1970–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of asylum in Cameroon stood at 427,706 people.
That represents a change of down 11.9% on the previous year and up 61.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Cameroon peaked at 485,285 people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4,190 people, in 1983.
Cameroon ranks 20th of 183 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8,000 people | — |
| 1975 | 30,000 people | +275.0% |
| 1976 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 30,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 19,990 people | -33.4% |
| 1980 | 128,000 people | +540.3% |
| 1981 | 172,710 people | +34.9% |
| 1982 | 36,820 people | -78.7% |
| 1983 | 4,190 people | -88.6% |
| 1984 | 13,690 people | +226.7% |
| 1985 | 35,150 people | +156.8% |
| 1986 | 53,600 people | +52.5% |
| 1987 | 59,190 people | +10.4% |
| 1988 | 51,160 people | -13.6% |
| 1989 | 48,630 people | -4.9% |
| 1990 | 49,876 people | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 45,237 people | -9.3% |
| 1992 | 42,233 people | -6.6% |
| 1993 | 44,013 people | +4.2% |
| 1994 | 44,036 people | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 45,781 people | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 46,407 people | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 47,057 people | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 47,826 people | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 49,227 people | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 43,680 people | -11.3% |
| 2001 | 41,186 people | -5.7% |
| 2002 | 58,288 people | +41.5% |
| 2003 | 58,583 people | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 58,861 people | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 52,042 people | -11.6% |
| 2006 | 35,083 people | -32.6% |
| 2007 | 60,137 people | +71.4% |
| 2008 | 81,033 people | +34.7% |
| 2009 | 99,950 people | +23.3% |
| 2010 | 104,269 people | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 100,368 people | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 98,961 people | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 114,744 people | +15.9% |
| 2014 | 264,122 people | +130.2% |
| 2015 | 342,970 people | +29.9% |
| 2016 | 375,413 people | +9.5% |
| 2017 | 337,382 people | -10.1% |
| 2018 | 380,327 people | +12.7% |
| 2019 | 406,259 people | +6.8% |
| 2020 | 436,396 people | +7.4% |
| 2021 | 457,269 people | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 473,887 people | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 485,285 people | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 427,706 people | -11.9% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 427,706 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9,240 people, 46.3× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 427,706 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25,275 people, 16.9× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Cameroon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +540.3% | 19,990 people | 128,000 people |
| 1975 | +275.0% | 8,000 people | 30,000 people |
| 1984 | +226.7% | 4,190 people | 13,690 people |
| 1985 | +156.8% | 13,690 people | 35,150 people |
| 2014 | +130.2% | 114,744 people | 264,122 people |
| 1983 | -88.6% | 36,820 people | 4,190 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 24,665 people | 8,000 people | 30,000 people | 6 |
| 1980s | 60,314 people | 4,190 people | 172,710 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 46,169 people | 42,233 people | 49,876 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 58,884 people | 35,083 people | 99,950 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 252,482 people | 98,961 people | 406,259 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 456,109 people | 427,706 people | 485,285 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More population data for Cameroon
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5077 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.5809 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5809 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.6% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.42 million people (2100)
- Population density 188.01 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.6% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1831 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.39 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Cameroon?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Cameroon was 427,706 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 Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 485,285 people in 2023.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,190 people in 1983.
- How does Cameroon rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Cameroon ranks 20th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 61.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cameroon 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
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.