Refugees by country of asylum in Somalia
Somalia: Refugees by country of asylum was 19,503 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Somalia, 1977–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Somalia recorded 19,503 people for refugees by country of asylum in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.8% on the previous year and up 613.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Somalia peaked at 2.00 million people in 1980 and was at its lowest, 130 people, in 1999.
Somalia ranks 84th 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 Somalia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 500,000 people | — |
| 1978 | 600,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1979 | 1.18 million people | +95.9% |
| 1980 | 2.00 million people | +70.2% |
| 1981 | 700,000 people | -65.0% |
| 1982 | 700,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 700,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 701,300 people | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 812,000 people | +15.8% |
| 1986 | 700,000 people | -13.8% |
| 1987 | 840,100 people | +20.0% |
| 1988 | 834,000 people | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 769,630 people | -7.7% |
| 1990 | 460,000 people | -40.2% |
| 1992 | 480 people | -99.9% |
| 1993 | 399 people | -16.9% |
| 1994 | 389 people | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 628 people | +61.4% |
| 1996 | 700 people | +11.5% |
| 1997 | 622 people | -11.1% |
| 1998 | 338 people | -45.7% |
| 1999 | 130 people | -61.5% |
| 2000 | 555 people | +326.9% |
| 2001 | 587 people | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 193 people | -67.1% |
| 2003 | 366 people | +89.6% |
| 2004 | 362 people | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 498 people | +37.6% |
| 2006 | 669 people | +34.3% |
| 2007 | 903 people | +35.0% |
| 2008 | 1,842 people | +104.0% |
| 2009 | 1,819 people | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 1,934 people | +6.3% |
| 2011 | 2,100 people | +8.6% |
| 2012 | 2,307 people | +9.9% |
| 2013 | 2,426 people | +5.2% |
| 2014 | 2,732 people | +12.6% |
| 2015 | 8,081 people | +195.8% |
| 2016 | 11,579 people | +43.3% |
| 2017 | 14,565 people | +25.8% |
| 2018 | 16,738 people | +14.9% |
| 2019 | 17,882 people | +6.8% |
| 2020 | 11,220 people | -37.3% |
| 2021 | 13,804 people | +23.0% |
| 2022 | 16,023 people | +16.1% |
| 2023 | 17,770 people | +10.9% |
| 2024 | 19,503 people | +9.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 758,397 people | 500,000 people | 1.18 million people | 3 |
| 1980s | 875,703 people | 700,000 people | 2.00 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 51,521 people | 130 people | 460,000 people | 9 |
| 2000s | 779.4 people | 193 people | 1,842 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 8,034 people | 1,934 people | 17,882 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 15,664 people | 11,220 people | 19,503 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
- 81 North Macedonia 20,911 people compare
- 82 Afghanistan 20,866 people compare
- 83 Nepal 19,598 people compare
- 85 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 19,333 people compare
- 86 Montenegro 18,670 people compare
- 87 Benin 16,232 people compare
More population data for Somalia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.96 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.4952 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 36,463 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.89 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3207 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Population density 107.38 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.14 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Somalia?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Somalia was 19,503 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.00 million people in 1980.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 130 people in 1999.
- How does Somalia rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Somalia ranks 84th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 613.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia 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.