Refugees by country of asylum in Congo
Congo: Refugees by country of asylum was 62,052 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Congo, 1969–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of asylum in Congo stood at 62,052 people.
That represents a change of up 2.3% on the previous year and up 13.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Congo peaked at 141,224 people in 2011 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 1981.
Congo ranks 61st 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 Congo, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 500 people | — |
| 1970 | 500 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 10,000 people | +1900.0% |
| 1975 | 5,000 people | -50.0% |
| 1978 | 150 people | -97.0% |
| 1981 | 0 people | -100.0% |
| 1983 | 1,000 people | — |
| 1984 | 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 1,200 people | +20.0% |
| 1986 | 1,580 people | +31.7% |
| 1987 | 2,120 people | +34.2% |
| 1988 | 2,160 people | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 3,401 people | +57.5% |
| 1990 | 2,990 people | -12.1% |
| 1991 | 3,395 people | +13.5% |
| 1992 | 3,385 people | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 13,646 people | +303.1% |
| 1994 | 15,522 people | +13.7% |
| 1995 | 19,404 people | +25.0% |
| 1996 | 20,451 people | +5.4% |
| 1997 | 20,700 people | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 27,176 people | +31.3% |
| 1999 | 39,870 people | +46.7% |
| 2000 | 123,190 people | +209.0% |
| 2001 | 119,146 people | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 109,201 people | -8.3% |
| 2003 | 91,362 people | -16.3% |
| 2004 | 68,536 people | -25.0% |
| 2005 | 66,075 people | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 55,788 people | -15.6% |
| 2007 | 38,472 people | -31.0% |
| 2008 | 24,771 people | -35.6% |
| 2009 | 111,403 people | +349.7% |
| 2010 | 133,099 people | +19.5% |
| 2011 | 141,224 people | +6.1% |
| 2012 | 98,446 people | -30.3% |
| 2013 | 51,033 people | -48.2% |
| 2014 | 54,842 people | +7.5% |
| 2015 | 44,952 people | -18.0% |
| 2016 | 46,454 people | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 48,509 people | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 37,491 people | -22.7% |
| 2019 | 25,668 people | -31.5% |
| 2020 | 27,097 people | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 40,765 people | +50.4% |
| 2022 | 41,557 people | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 60,637 people | +45.9% |
| 2024 | 62,052 people | +2.3% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 62,052 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9,240 people, 6.7× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Congo's 62,052 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25,275 people, 2.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | +1900.0% | 500 people | 10,000 people |
| 2009 | +349.7% | 24,771 people | 111,403 people |
| 1993 | +303.1% | 3,385 people | 13,646 people |
| 2000 | +209.0% | 39,870 people | 123,190 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 500 people | 500 people | 500 people | 1 |
| 1970s | 3,912 people | 150 people | 10,000 people | 4 |
| 1980s | 1,558 people | 0 people | 3,401 people | 8 |
| 1990s | 16,654 people | 2,990 people | 39,870 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 80,794 people | 24,771 people | 123,190 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 68,172 people | 25,668 people | 141,224 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 46,422 people | 27,097 people | 62,052 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More population data for Congo
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.6949 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.03 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.6949 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5095 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 10,379 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.17 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0471 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.7% (2100)
- Population density 58.64 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.51 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Congo?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Congo was 62,052 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 Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 141,224 people in 2011.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 1981.
- How does Congo rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Congo ranks 61st out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this 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 — 48 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.