Refugees by country of asylum in South Sudan
South Sudan: Refugees by country of asylum was 514,794 people in 2024. ▲ Rising
Refugees by country of asylum in South Sudan, 2011–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of asylum in South Sudan stood at 514,794 people. That is the highest value across all 14 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 35.0% on the previous year and up 107.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in South Sudan peaked at 514,794 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 105,023 people, in 2011.
That places South Sudan 17th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Refugees by country of asylum in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 105,023 people | — |
| 2012 | 202,581 people | +92.9% |
| 2013 | 229,587 people | +13.3% |
| 2014 | 248,152 people | +8.1% |
| 2015 | 263,012 people | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 262,558 people | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 283,405 people | +7.9% |
| 2018 | 291,838 people | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 298,309 people | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 314,438 people | +5.4% |
| 2021 | 333,673 people | +6.1% |
| 2022 | 308,369 people | -7.6% |
| 2023 | 381,236 people | +23.6% |
| 2024 | 514,794 people | +35.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 242,718 people | 105,023 people | 298,309 people | 9 |
| 2020s | 370,502 people | 308,369 people | 514,794 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
- 14 Kenya 604,257 people compare
- 15 Democratic Republic of Congo 517,404 people compare
- 16 United Kingdom 515,677 people compare
- 18 United States 435,333 people compare
- 19 Spain 429,333 people compare
- 20 Cameroon 427,706 people compare
More population data for South Sudan
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0243 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.4787 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0243 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0933 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 17,461 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.92 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5193 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Population density 37.73 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.57 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in South Sudan?
- Refugees by country of asylum in South Sudan was 514,794 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 South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 514,794 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 105,023 people in 2011.
- How does South Sudan rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- South Sudan ranks 17th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 107.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Sudan 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 — 14 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.