Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Ghana
Ghana: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 21,050 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Ghana, 1969–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Ghana stood at 21,050.
The figure is up 181.5% on the previous year and up 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Ghana peaked at 150,095 in 1993 and was at its lowest, 70, in 1971.
That places Ghana 79th 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 20,000 | — |
| 1971 | 70 | -99.7% |
| 1975 | 130 | +85.7% |
| 1976 | 180 | +38.5% |
| 1977 | 170 | -5.6% |
| 1978 | 70 | -58.8% |
| 1979 | 300 | +328.6% |
| 1982 | 100 | -66.7% |
| 1983 | 90 | -10.0% |
| 1984 | 90 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 120 | +33.3% |
| 1986 | 160 | +33.3% |
| 1987 | 150 | -6.2% |
| 1988 | 140 | -6.7% |
| 1989 | 80 | -42.9% |
| 1990 | 8,123 | +10053.8% |
| 1991 | 8,128 | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 12,114 | +49.0% |
| 1993 | 150,095 | +1139.0% |
| 1994 | 113,665 | -24.3% |
| 1995 | 83,201 | -26.8% |
| 1996 | 35,613 | -57.2% |
| 1997 | 22,853 | -35.8% |
| 1998 | 14,558 | -36.3% |
| 1999 | 13,256 | -8.9% |
| 2000 | 12,714 | -4.1% |
| 2001 | 11,787 | -7.3% |
| 2002 | 33,506 | +184.3% |
| 2003 | 43,948 | +31.2% |
| 2004 | 42,049 | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 53,534 | +27.3% |
| 2006 | 44,938 | -16.1% |
| 2007 | 34,955 | -22.2% |
| 2008 | 18,201 | -47.9% |
| 2009 | 13,655 | -25.0% |
| 2010 | 13,828 | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 13,588 | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 16,012 | +17.8% |
| 2013 | 18,681 | +16.7% |
| 2014 | 18,448 | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 17,404 | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 11,866 | -31.8% |
| 2017 | 12,153 | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 11,896 | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 11,946 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 12,406 | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 11,894 | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 8,531 | -28.3% |
| 2023 | 7,057 | -17.3% |
| 2024 | 7,479 | +6.0% |
| 2025 | 21,050 | +181.5% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 21,050 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8,620, 2.4× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 21,050 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 35,241, 60% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Ghana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +10053.8% | 80 | 8,123 |
| 1993 | +1139.0% | 12,114 | 150,095 |
| 1979 | +328.6% | 70 | 300 |
| 2002 | +184.3% | 11,787 | 33,506 |
| 2025 | +181.5% | 7,479 | 21,050 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 1 |
| 1970s | 153.33 | 70 | 300 | 6 |
| 1980s | 116.25 | 80 | 160 | 8 |
| 1990s | 46,161 | 8,123 | 150,095 | 10 |
| 2000s | 30,929 | 11,787 | 53,534 | 10 |
| 2010s | 14,582 | 11,866 | 18,681 | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,403 | 7,057 | 21,050 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More population data for Ghana
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1514 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1514 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2469 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 52,232 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.76 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5066 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.141 (2100)
- Population density 296.87 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 4.28 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Ghana?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Ghana was 21,050 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 150,095 in 1993.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 70 in 1971.
- How does Ghana rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Ghana ranks 79th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana 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.
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