Refugees by country of asylum in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Refugees by country of asylum was 517,404 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1960–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of asylum in Democratic Republic of Congo is 517,404 people, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and up 332.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 1.72 million people in 1994 and was at its lowest, 65,106 people, in 2012.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 15th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 150,000 people | — |
| 1961 | 203,000 people | +35.3% |
| 1962 | 223,000 people | +9.9% |
| 1963 | 237,000 people | +6.3% |
| 1964 | 236,000 people | -0.4% |
| 1965 | 265,000 people | +12.3% |
| 1966 | 357,100 people | +34.8% |
| 1967 | 434,100 people | +21.6% |
| 1968 | 475,400 people | +9.5% |
| 1969 | 496,300 people | +4.4% |
| 1970 | 489,000 people | -1.5% |
| 1971 | 474,250 people | -3.0% |
| 1972 | 495,250 people | +4.4% |
| 1973 | 460,050 people | -7.1% |
| 1974 | 503,250 people | +9.4% |
| 1975 | 510,000 people | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 515,000 people | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 530,300 people | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 653,000 people | +23.1% |
| 1979 | 710,480 people | +8.8% |
| 1980 | 611,110 people | -14.0% |
| 1981 | 576,740 people | -5.6% |
| 1982 | 497,600 people | -13.7% |
| 1983 | 303,500 people | -39.0% |
| 1984 | 337,330 people | +11.1% |
| 1985 | 283,000 people | -16.1% |
| 1986 | 301,230 people | +6.4% |
| 1987 | 320,000 people | +6.2% |
| 1988 | 340,675 people | +6.5% |
| 1989 | 340,689 people | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 416,435 people | +22.2% |
| 1991 | 482,959 people | +16.0% |
| 1992 | 391,127 people | -19.0% |
| 1993 | 572,070 people | +46.3% |
| 1994 | 1.72 million people | +201.4% |
| 1995 | 1.43 million people | -16.9% |
| 1996 | 675,972 people | -52.9% |
| 1997 | 297,536 people | -56.0% |
| 1998 | 240,214 people | -19.3% |
| 1999 | 285,270 people | +18.8% |
| 2000 | 332,509 people | +16.6% |
| 2001 | 362,014 people | +8.9% |
| 2002 | 332,978 people | -8.0% |
| 2003 | 234,033 people | -29.7% |
| 2004 | 199,323 people | -14.8% |
| 2005 | 204,341 people | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 208,371 people | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 177,390 people | -14.9% |
| 2008 | 155,162 people | -12.5% |
| 2009 | 185,809 people | +19.8% |
| 2010 | 166,333 people | -10.5% |
| 2011 | 152,748 people | -8.2% |
| 2012 | 65,106 people | -57.4% |
| 2013 | 113,357 people | +74.1% |
| 2014 | 119,752 people | +5.6% |
| 2015 | 383,095 people | +219.9% |
| 2016 | 451,957 people | +18.0% |
| 2017 | 537,089 people | +18.8% |
| 2018 | 529,065 people | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 523,733 people | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 490,243 people | -6.4% |
| 2021 | 524,148 people | +6.9% |
| 2022 | 520,544 people | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 523,392 people | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 517,404 people | -1.1% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 517,404 people is above the median for low income countries, which is 42,512 people, 12.2× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 517,404 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25,275 people, 20.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Democratic Republic of Congo 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 | +219.9% | 119,752 people | 383,095 people |
| 1994 | +201.4% | 572,070 people | 1.72 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 307,690 people | 150,000 people | 496,300 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 534,058 people | 460,050 people | 710,480 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 391,187 people | 283,000 people | 611,110 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 651,970 people | 240,214 people | 1.72 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 239,193 people | 155,162 people | 362,014 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 304,224 people | 65,106 people | 537,089 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 515,146 people | 490,243 people | 524,148 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 12 France 721,771 people compare
- 13 Jordan 643,641 people compare
- 14 Kenya 604,257 people compare
- 16 United Kingdom 515,677 people compare
- 17 South Sudan 514,794 people compare
- 18 United States 435,333 people compare
More population data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.6699 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.57 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.6699 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6537 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1964 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.7% (2100)
- Population density 189.99 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 33.44 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.7% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 4.1 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Democratic Republic of Congo was 517,404 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 1.72 million people in 1994.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 65,106 people in 2012.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 15th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 332.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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 — 65 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.