Refugees by country of asylum in Rwanda
Rwanda: Refugees by country of asylum was 114,368 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Rwanda, 1965–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of asylum in Rwanda stood at 114,368 people.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and up 54.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Rwanda peaked at 277,000 people in 1993 and was at its lowest, 250 people, in 1966.
Rwanda ranks 49th 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 Rwanda, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 3,000 people | — |
| 1966 | 250 people | -91.7% |
| 1972 | 4,000 people | +1500.0% |
| 1973 | 6,500 people | +62.5% |
| 1974 | 6,000 people | -7.7% |
| 1975 | 7,400 people | +23.3% |
| 1976 | 7,500 people | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 7,500 people | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 7,600 people | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 7,900 people | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 10,450 people | +32.3% |
| 1981 | 18,150 people | +73.7% |
| 1982 | 62,000 people | +241.6% |
| 1983 | 49,500 people | -20.2% |
| 1984 | 48,940 people | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 20,110 people | -58.9% |
| 1986 | 19,400 people | -3.5% |
| 1987 | 19,470 people | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 22,202 people | +14.0% |
| 1989 | 23,290 people | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 23,601 people | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 34,004 people | +44.1% |
| 1992 | 25,162 people | -26.0% |
| 1993 | 277,000 people | +1000.9% |
| 1994 | 6,000 people | -97.8% |
| 1995 | 7,792 people | +29.9% |
| 1996 | 25,257 people | +224.1% |
| 1997 | 34,227 people | +35.5% |
| 1998 | 33,398 people | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 34,363 people | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 28,398 people | -17.4% |
| 2001 | 34,793 people | +22.5% |
| 2002 | 30,861 people | -11.3% |
| 2003 | 36,608 people | +18.6% |
| 2004 | 50,221 people | +37.2% |
| 2005 | 45,202 people | -10.0% |
| 2006 | 49,191 people | +8.8% |
| 2007 | 53,574 people | +8.9% |
| 2008 | 55,067 people | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 54,016 people | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 55,398 people | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 55,325 people | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 58,217 people | +5.2% |
| 2013 | 73,352 people | +26.0% |
| 2014 | 73,822 people | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 144,739 people | +96.1% |
| 2016 | 156,065 people | +7.8% |
| 2017 | 170,991 people | +9.6% |
| 2018 | 145,359 people | -15.0% |
| 2019 | 145,054 people | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 139,491 people | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 121,896 people | -12.6% |
| 2022 | 120,753 people | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 115,643 people | -4.2% |
| 2024 | 114,368 people | -1.1% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 114,368 people is above the median for low income countries, which is 42,512 people, 2.7× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 114,368 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25,275 people, 4.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Rwanda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | +1500.0% | 250 people | 4,000 people |
| 1993 | +1000.9% | 25,162 people | 277,000 people |
| 1982 | +241.6% | 18,150 people | 62,000 people |
| 1996 | +224.1% | 7,792 people | 25,257 people |
| 1994 | -97.8% | 277,000 people | 6,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,625 people | 250 people | 3,000 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 6,800 people | 4,000 people | 7,900 people | 8 |
| 1980s | 29,351 people | 10,450 people | 62,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 50,080 people | 6,000 people | 277,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 43,793 people | 28,398 people | 55,067 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 107,832 people | 55,325 people | 170,991 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 122,430 people | 114,368 people | 139,491 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More population data for Rwanda
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2755 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2673 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.5502 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2673 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.01 million people (2100)
- Population density 1,329 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4596 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.06 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Rwanda?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Rwanda was 114,368 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 277,000 people in 1993.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 250 people in 1966.
- How does Rwanda rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Rwanda ranks 49th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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 — 55 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.