Refugees by country of asylum in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Refugees by country of asylum was 311 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Nicaragua, 1972–2023
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Nicaragua recorded 311 people for refugees by country of asylum in 2023.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 69.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Nicaragua peaked at 23,800 people in 1982 and was at its lowest, 50 people, in 1972.
Nicaragua ranks 135th 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 Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 50 people | — |
| 1980 | 4,100 people | +8100.0% |
| 1981 | 21,320 people | +420.0% |
| 1982 | 23,800 people | +11.6% |
| 1983 | 18,500 people | -22.3% |
| 1984 | 18,500 people | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 17,270 people | -6.6% |
| 1986 | 8,280 people | -52.1% |
| 1987 | 9,000 people | +8.7% |
| 1988 | 16,000 people | +77.8% |
| 1989 | 15,210 people | -4.9% |
| 1990 | 16,000 people | +5.2% |
| 1991 | 14,933 people | -6.7% |
| 1992 | 14,450 people | -3.2% |
| 1993 | 5,642 people | -61.0% |
| 1994 | 314 people | -94.4% |
| 1995 | 577 people | +83.8% |
| 1996 | 557 people | -3.5% |
| 1997 | 462 people | -17.1% |
| 1998 | 471 people | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 471 people | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 330 people | -29.9% |
| 2001 | 322 people | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 324 people | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 300 people | -7.4% |
| 2004 | 288 people | -4.0% |
| 2005 | 222 people | -22.9% |
| 2006 | 195 people | -12.2% |
| 2007 | 182 people | -6.7% |
| 2008 | 142 people | -22.0% |
| 2009 | 115 people | -19.0% |
| 2010 | 59 people | -48.7% |
| 2011 | 80 people | +35.6% |
| 2012 | 124 people | +55.0% |
| 2013 | 184 people | +48.4% |
| 2014 | 273 people | +48.4% |
| 2015 | 325 people | +19.0% |
| 2016 | 325 people | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 322 people | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 321 people | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 322 people | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 311 people | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 313 people | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 312 people | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 311 people | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 50 people | 50 people | 50 people | 1 |
| 1980s | 15,198 people | 4,100 people | 23,800 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 5,388 people | 314 people | 16,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 242 people | 115 people | 330 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 233.5 people | 59 people | 325 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 311.75 people | 311 people | 313 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
More population data for Nicaragua
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3894 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4231 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.18 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4231 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 394,954 people (2100)
- Population density 71.56 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7708 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.15 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Nicaragua?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Nicaragua was 311 people in 2023, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 23,800 people in 1982.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 50 people in 1972.
- How does Nicaragua rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Nicaragua ranks 135th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is up 69.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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.
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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.