Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Somalia
Somalia: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 20,967 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Somalia, 1977–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Somalia recorded 20,967 for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.5% on the previous year and up 159.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Somalia peaked at 2.00 million in 1980 and was at its lowest, 130, in 1999.
Somalia ranks 80th 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.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Somalia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 500,000 | — |
| 1978 | 600,000 | +20.0% |
| 1979 | 1.18 million | +95.9% |
| 1980 | 2.00 million | +70.2% |
| 1981 | 700,000 | -65.0% |
| 1982 | 700,000 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 700,000 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 701,300 | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 812,000 | +15.8% |
| 1986 | 700,000 | -13.8% |
| 1987 | 840,100 | +20.0% |
| 1988 | 834,000 | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 769,630 | -7.7% |
| 1990 | 460,000 | -40.2% |
| 1992 | 480 | -99.9% |
| 1993 | 399 | -16.9% |
| 1994 | 389 | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 628 | +61.4% |
| 1996 | 700 | +11.5% |
| 1997 | 622 | -11.1% |
| 1998 | 338 | -45.7% |
| 1999 | 130 | -61.5% |
| 2000 | 555 | +326.9% |
| 2001 | 587 | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 193 | -67.1% |
| 2003 | 366 | +89.6% |
| 2004 | 362 | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 498 | +37.6% |
| 2006 | 669 | +34.3% |
| 2007 | 903 | +35.0% |
| 2008 | 1,842 | +104.0% |
| 2009 | 1,819 | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 1,934 | +6.3% |
| 2011 | 2,100 | +8.6% |
| 2012 | 2,307 | +9.9% |
| 2013 | 2,426 | +5.2% |
| 2014 | 2,732 | +12.6% |
| 2015 | 8,081 | +195.8% |
| 2016 | 11,579 | +43.3% |
| 2017 | 14,565 | +25.8% |
| 2018 | 16,738 | +14.9% |
| 2019 | 17,882 | +6.8% |
| 2020 | 11,220 | -37.3% |
| 2021 | 13,804 | +23.0% |
| 2022 | 16,023 | +16.1% |
| 2023 | 17,770 | +10.9% |
| 2024 | 19,503 | +9.8% |
| 2025 | 20,967 | +7.5% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 20,967 is below the median for low income countries, which is 45,052, 47% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 20,967 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 35,241, 59% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Somalia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +326.9% | 130 | 555 |
| 2015 | +195.8% | 2,732 | 8,081 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 758,397 | 500,000 | 1.18 million | 3 |
| 1980s | 875,703 | 700,000 | 2.00 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 51,521 | 130 | 460,000 | 9 |
| 2000s | 779.4 | 193 | 1,842 | 10 |
| 2010s | 8,034 | 1,934 | 17,882 | 10 |
| 2020s | 16,548 | 11,220 | 20,967 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
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)
- Population growth rate 0.424 (2100)
- Population density 107.38 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.14 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Somalia?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Somalia was 20,967 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.00 million in 1980.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 130 in 1999.
- How does Somalia rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Somalia ranks 80th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 159.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 48 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).