Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Djibouti
Djibouti: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 24,899 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Djibouti, 1977–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Djibouti stood at 24,899.
The figure is up 3.8% on the previous year and up 28.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Djibouti peaked at 96,144 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 1,272, in 1988.
Djibouti ranks 78th 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.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Djibouti, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 8,000 | — |
| 1978 | 20,000 | +150.0% |
| 1979 | 28,800 | +44.0% |
| 1980 | 45,310 | +57.3% |
| 1981 | 31,800 | -29.8% |
| 1982 | 34,200 | +7.5% |
| 1983 | 29,170 | -14.7% |
| 1984 | 16,770 | -42.5% |
| 1985 | 17,280 | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 16,720 | -3.2% |
| 1987 | 13,140 | -21.4% |
| 1988 | 1,272 | -90.3% |
| 1989 | 31,409 | +2369.3% |
| 1990 | 77,606 | +147.1% |
| 1991 | 96,144 | +23.9% |
| 1992 | 28,000 | -70.9% |
| 1993 | 34,065 | +21.7% |
| 1994 | 33,410 | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 27,310 | -18.3% |
| 1996 | 25,080 | -8.2% |
| 1997 | 23,589 | -5.9% |
| 1998 | 23,577 | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 23,266 | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 23,238 | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 23,172 | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 21,702 | -6.3% |
| 2003 | 27,034 | +24.6% |
| 2004 | 18,033 | -33.3% |
| 2005 | 10,455 | -42.0% |
| 2006 | 9,257 | -11.5% |
| 2007 | 6,653 | -28.1% |
| 2008 | 9,228 | +38.7% |
| 2009 | 12,106 | +31.2% |
| 2010 | 15,102 | +24.7% |
| 2011 | 20,336 | +34.7% |
| 2012 | 19,136 | -5.9% |
| 2013 | 20,010 | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 20,525 | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 19,369 | -5.6% |
| 2016 | 17,683 | -8.7% |
| 2017 | 17,553 | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 18,293 | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 19,639 | +7.4% |
| 2020 | 21,193 | +7.9% |
| 2021 | 23,232 | +9.6% |
| 2022 | 20,383 | -12.3% |
| 2023 | 23,063 | +13.1% |
| 2024 | 23,987 | +4.0% |
| 2025 | 24,899 | +3.8% |
Djibouti compared with similar countries
- Djibouti's 24,899 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8,620, 2.9× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Djibouti's 24,899 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 15,377, 1.6× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Djibouti 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +2369.3% | 1,272 | 31,409 |
| 1978 | +150.0% | 8,000 | 20,000 |
| 1990 | +147.1% | 31,409 | 77,606 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 18,933 | 8,000 | 28,800 | 3 |
| 1980s | 23,707 | 1,272 | 45,310 | 10 |
| 1990s | 39,205 | 23,266 | 96,144 | 10 |
| 2000s | 16,088 | 6,653 | 27,034 | 10 |
| 2010s | 18,765 | 15,102 | 20,525 | 10 |
| 2020s | 22,793 | 20,383 | 24,899 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Djibouti
More population data for Djibouti
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0674 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.696 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0674 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0447 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 1,503 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.26 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3198 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.038 (2100)
- Population density 79.45 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 107,534 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Djibouti?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Djibouti was 24,899 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Djibouti?
- The highest recorded value was 96,144 in 1991.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Djibouti?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,272 in 1988.
- How does Djibouti rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Djibouti ranks 78th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Djibouti?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Djibouti 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
CSV · JSON — 49 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).