Refugees by country of asylum in Malawi
Malawi: Refugees by country of asylum was 35,510 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Malawi, 1986–2024
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 Malawi is 35,510 people, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 504.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Malawi peaked at 1.06 million people in 1992 and was at its lowest, 278 people, in 1997.
That places Malawi 71st out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Malawi, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 100,000 people | — |
| 1987 | 401,640 people | +301.6% |
| 1988 | 628,133 people | +56.4% |
| 1989 | 822,503 people | +30.9% |
| 1990 | 926,725 people | +12.7% |
| 1991 | 981,812 people | +5.9% |
| 1992 | 1.06 million people | +7.8% |
| 1993 | 713,605 people | -32.6% |
| 1994 | 90,242 people | -87.4% |
| 1995 | 1,018 people | -98.9% |
| 1996 | 1,267 people | +24.5% |
| 1997 | 278 people | -78.1% |
| 1998 | 1,241 people | +346.4% |
| 1999 | 1,692 people | +36.3% |
| 2000 | 3,900 people | +130.5% |
| 2001 | 6,200 people | +59.0% |
| 2002 | 2,170 people | -65.0% |
| 2003 | 3,208 people | +47.8% |
| 2004 | 3,682 people | +14.8% |
| 2005 | 4,241 people | +15.2% |
| 2006 | 3,943 people | -7.0% |
| 2007 | 2,927 people | -25.8% |
| 2008 | 4,174 people | +42.6% |
| 2009 | 5,436 people | +30.2% |
| 2010 | 5,738 people | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 6,306 people | +9.9% |
| 2012 | 6,546 people | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 5,794 people | -11.5% |
| 2014 | 5,871 people | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 9,018 people | +53.6% |
| 2016 | 9,386 people | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 8,977 people | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 13,783 people | +53.5% |
| 2019 | 14,087 people | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 14,892 people | +5.7% |
| 2021 | 21,529 people | +44.6% |
| 2022 | 35,162 people | +63.3% |
| 2023 | 35,201 people | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 35,510 people | +0.9% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 35,510 people is below the median for low income countries, which is 42,512 people, 84% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 35,510 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25,275 people, 1.4× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Malawi 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +346.4% | 278 people | 1,241 people |
| 1987 | +301.6% | 100,000 people | 401,640 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 488,069 people | 100,000 people | 822,503 people | 4 |
| 1990s | 377,638 people | 278 people | 1.06 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,988 people | 2,170 people | 6,200 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 8,551 people | 5,738 people | 14,087 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 28,459 people | 14,892 people | 35,510 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More population data for Malawi
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3622 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.1183 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.85 million people (2100)
- Population density 627.29 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2289 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.45 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Malawi?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Malawi was 35,510 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 1.06 million people in 1992.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 278 people in 1997.
- How does Malawi rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Malawi ranks 71st out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 504.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi 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 — 39 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.