Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Guatemala
Guatemala: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 1,586 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Guatemala, 1972–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Guatemala recorded 1,586 for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in 2025.
The figure is up 21.4% on the previous year and up 614.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Guatemala peaked at 223,377 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 127, in 2008.
That places Guatemala 117th 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 Guatemala, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 160 | — |
| 1980 | 4,130 | +2481.2% |
| 1981 | 100,000 | +2321.3% |
| 1982 | 70,000 | -30.0% |
| 1983 | 70,000 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 70,000 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 12,000 | -82.9% |
| 1986 | 12,000 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 12,000 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 223,100 | +1759.2% |
| 1989 | 223,100 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 223,377 | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 223,236 | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 222,929 | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 4,689 | -97.9% |
| 1994 | 4,672 | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 1,497 | -68.0% |
| 1996 | 1,560 | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 1,501 | -3.8% |
| 1998 | 814 | -45.8% |
| 1999 | 731 | -10.2% |
| 2000 | 720 | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 724 | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 732 | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 714 | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 655 | -8.3% |
| 2005 | 388 | -40.8% |
| 2006 | 379 | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 377 | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 127 | -66.3% |
| 2009 | 127 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 137 | +7.9% |
| 2011 | 148 | +8.0% |
| 2012 | 157 | +6.1% |
| 2013 | 154 | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 160 | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 222 | +38.8% |
| 2016 | 295 | +32.9% |
| 2017 | 360 | +22.0% |
| 2018 | 380 | +5.6% |
| 2019 | 408 | +7.4% |
| 2020 | 442 | +8.3% |
| 2021 | 479 | +8.4% |
| 2022 | 701 | +46.3% |
| 2023 | 989 | +41.1% |
| 2024 | 1,306 | +32.1% |
| 2025 | 1,586 | +21.4% |
Guatemala compared with similar countries
- Guatemala's 1,586 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4,499, 35% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Guatemala's 1,586 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 226, 7.0× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Guatemala 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 | +2481.2% | 160 | 4,130 |
| 1981 | +2321.3% | 4,130 | 100,000 |
| 1988 | +1759.2% | 12,000 | 223,100 |
| 1993 | -97.9% | 222,929 | 4,689 |
| 1985 | -82.9% | 70,000 | 12,000 |
| 1995 | -68.0% | 4,672 | 1,497 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 160 | 160 | 160 | 1 |
| 1980s | 79,633 | 4,130 | 223,100 | 10 |
| 1990s | 68,501 | 731 | 223,377 | 10 |
| 2000s | 494.3 | 127 | 732 | 10 |
| 2010s | 242.1 | 137 | 408 | 10 |
| 2020s | 917.17 | 442 | 1,586 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Guatemala
- 114 Guinea 2,154 compare
- 115 New Zealand 2,148 compare
- 116 Trinidad and Tobago 1,877 compare
- 118 Colombia 1,464 compare
- 119 Eswatini 1,414 compare
- 120 United Arab Emirates 1,377 compare
More population data for Guatemala
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.3404 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.3709 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.3404 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3291 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 24,601 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.37 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6834 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.345 (2100)
- Population density 241.81 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 1.24 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Guatemala?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Guatemala was 1,586 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Guatemala?
- The highest recorded value was 223,377 in 1990.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Guatemala?
- The lowest recorded value was 127 in 2008.
- How does Guatemala rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Guatemala ranks 117th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Guatemala?
- Over the last ten years it is up 614.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Guatemala 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
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