Refugees by country of asylum in Nigeria
Nigeria: Refugees by country of asylum was 96,387 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Nigeria, 1976–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 96,387 people for refugees by country of asylum in 2024.
The figure is up 37.8% on the previous year and up 7,692.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Nigeria peaked at 100,000 people in 1980 and was at its lowest, 50 people, in 1976.
That places Nigeria 52nd 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 Nigeria, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 50 people | — |
| 1977 | 300 people | +500.0% |
| 1978 | 370 people | +23.3% |
| 1979 | 400 people | +8.1% |
| 1980 | 100,000 people | +24900.0% |
| 1981 | 89,570 people | -10.4% |
| 1982 | 5,240 people | -94.1% |
| 1983 | 4,620 people | -11.8% |
| 1984 | 4,570 people | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 5,880 people | +28.7% |
| 1986 | 4,760 people | -19.0% |
| 1987 | 5,100 people | +7.1% |
| 1988 | 5,173 people | +1.4% |
| 1989 | 3,781 people | -26.9% |
| 1990 | 3,571 people | -5.6% |
| 1991 | 3,573 people | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 4,782 people | +33.8% |
| 1993 | 4,819 people | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 6,025 people | +25.0% |
| 1995 | 8,118 people | +34.7% |
| 1996 | 8,486 people | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 9,071 people | +6.9% |
| 1998 | 6,782 people | -25.2% |
| 1999 | 6,942 people | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 7,271 people | +4.7% |
| 2001 | 7,201 people | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 7,353 people | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 9,173 people | +24.8% |
| 2004 | 8,395 people | -8.5% |
| 2005 | 9,017 people | +7.4% |
| 2006 | 8,761 people | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 8,463 people | -3.4% |
| 2008 | 10,127 people | +19.7% |
| 2009 | 9,129 people | -9.9% |
| 2010 | 8,744 people | -4.2% |
| 2011 | 8,803 people | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 3,151 people | -64.2% |
| 2013 | 1,688 people | -46.4% |
| 2014 | 1,237 people | -26.7% |
| 2015 | 1,387 people | +12.1% |
| 2016 | 1,357 people | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 1,910 people | +40.8% |
| 2018 | 34,727 people | +1718.2% |
| 2019 | 54,157 people | +56.0% |
| 2020 | 66,056 people | +22.0% |
| 2021 | 77,132 people | +16.8% |
| 2022 | 91,275 people | +18.3% |
| 2023 | 69,940 people | -23.4% |
| 2024 | 96,387 people | +37.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 280 people | 50 people | 400 people | 4 |
| 1980s | 22,869 people | 3,781 people | 100,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 6,217 people | 3,571 people | 9,071 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 8,489 people | 7,201 people | 10,127 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 11,716 people | 1,237 people | 54,157 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 80,158 people | 66,056 people | 96,387 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More population data for Nigeria
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0306 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0306 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1509 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 377,460 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.22 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5063 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Population density 523.46 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 32.05 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Nigeria?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Nigeria was 96,387 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 100,000 people in 1980.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 50 people in 1976.
- How does Nigeria rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Nigeria ranks 52nd out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7,692.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.