Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 448 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Saudi Arabia, 1974–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 448 for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in 2025.
That represents a change of up 267.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Saudi Arabia peaked at 245,290 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 100, in 1974.
That places Saudi Arabia 130th 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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 100 | — |
| 1979 | 100,000 | +99900.0% |
| 1980 | 100,000 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 65,000 | -35.0% |
| 1982 | 59,000 | -9.2% |
| 1983 | 59,000 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 105,500 | +78.8% |
| 1985 | 130,000 | +23.2% |
| 1986 | 202,100 | +55.5% |
| 1991 | 33,261 | -83.5% |
| 1992 | 28,660 | -13.8% |
| 1993 | 24,025 | -16.2% |
| 1994 | 17,965 | -25.2% |
| 1995 | 13,169 | -26.7% |
| 1996 | 9,852 | -25.2% |
| 1997 | 5,833 | -40.8% |
| 1998 | 5,531 | -5.2% |
| 1999 | 5,560 | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 5,308 | -4.5% |
| 2001 | 245,266 | +4520.7% |
| 2002 | 245,290 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 240,831 | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 240,551 | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 240,701 | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 240,772 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 240,742 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 240,570 | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 573 | -99.8% |
| 2010 | 578 | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 595 | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 575 | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 557 | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 559 | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 122 | -78.2% |
| 2016 | 136 | +11.5% |
| 2017 | 153 | +12.5% |
| 2018 | 263 | +71.9% |
| 2019 | 315 | +19.8% |
| 2020 | 330 | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 333 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 454 | +36.3% |
| 2023 | 477 | +5.1% |
| 2024 | 448 | -6.1% |
| 2025 | 448 | +0.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 448 is below the median for high income countries, which is 11,811, 4% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 448 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 15,377, 3% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Saudi Arabia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +99900.0% | 100 | 100,000 |
| 2001 | +4520.7% | 5,308 | 245,266 |
| 2009 | -99.8% | 240,570 | 573 |
| 1991 | -83.5% | 202,100 | 33,261 |
| 1984 | +78.8% | 59,000 | 105,500 |
| 2015 | -78.2% | 559 | 122 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 50,050 | 100 | 100,000 | 2 |
| 1980s | 102,943 | 59,000 | 202,100 | 7 |
| 1990s | 15,984 | 5,531 | 33,261 | 9 |
| 2000s | 194,060 | 573 | 245,290 | 10 |
| 2010s | 385.3 | 122 | 595 | 10 |
| 2020s | 415 | 330 | 477 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More population data for Saudi Arabia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.6339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.5774 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.6339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1019 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 48,374 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.2 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.5868 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.629 (2100)
- Population density 33.03 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 4.10 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Saudi Arabia?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Saudi Arabia was 448 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 245,290 in 2002.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 100 in 1974.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 130th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 267.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.
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