Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Tanzania
Tanzania: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 171,142 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
171,142
Change on year
down 3.2%
World rank
38th
of 183 countries
All-time high
883,250
in 1994
All-time low
12,000
in 1961
Years of data
65
1961–2025
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Tanzania, 1961–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Tanzania recorded 171,142 for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in 2025.
The figure is down 3.2% on the previous year and down 19.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Tanzania peaked at 883,250 in 1994 and was at its lowest, 12,000, in 1961.
Tanzania ranks 38th of 183 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 Tanzania, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 12,000 | — |
| 1962 | 12,000 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 12,000 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 25,000 | +108.3% |
| 1965 | 29,000 | +16.0% |
| 1966 | 33,950 | +17.1% |
| 1967 | 39,800 | +17.2% |
| 1968 | 46,000 | +15.6% |
| 1969 | 54,550 | +18.6% |
| 1970 | 71,500 | +31.1% |
| 1971 | 71,240 | -0.4% |
| 1972 | 165,000 | +131.6% |
| 1973 | 180,860 | +9.6% |
| 1974 | 193,190 | +6.8% |
| 1975 | 171,160 | -11.4% |
| 1976 | 154,000 | -10.0% |
| 1977 | 164,610 | +6.9% |
| 1978 | 160,960 | -2.2% |
| 1979 | 160,820 | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 159,610 | -0.8% |
| 1981 | 164,180 | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 158,960 | -3.2% |
| 1983 | 180,100 | +13.3% |
| 1984 | 179,910 | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 214,480 | +19.2% |
| 1986 | 223,500 | +4.2% |
| 1987 | 266,200 | +19.1% |
| 1988 | 265,154 | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 265,128 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 265,184 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 288,103 | +8.6% |
| 1992 | 292,148 | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 564,520 | +93.2% |
| 1994 | 883,250 | +56.5% |
| 1995 | 829,671 | -6.1% |
| 1996 | 498,732 | -39.9% |
| 1997 | 570,367 | +14.4% |
| 1998 | 543,881 | -4.6% |
| 1999 | 622,203 | +14.4% |
| 2000 | 680,862 | +9.4% |
| 2001 | 646,899 | -5.0% |
| 2002 | 689,373 | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 649,770 | -5.7% |
| 2004 | 602,088 | -7.3% |
| 2005 | 548,824 | -8.8% |
| 2006 | 485,295 | -11.6% |
| 2007 | 435,630 | -10.2% |
| 2008 | 321,908 | -26.1% |
| 2009 | 118,731 | -63.1% |
| 2010 | 109,286 | -8.0% |
| 2011 | 131,243 | +20.1% |
| 2012 | 101,021 | -23.0% |
| 2013 | 102,099 | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 88,492 | -13.3% |
| 2015 | 211,845 | +139.4% |
| 2016 | 281,498 | +32.9% |
| 2017 | 308,528 | +9.6% |
| 2018 | 278,322 | -9.8% |
| 2019 | 242,171 | -13.0% |
| 2020 | 234,640 | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 207,095 | -11.7% |
| 2022 | 206,229 | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 188,953 | -8.4% |
| 2024 | 176,859 | -6.4% |
| 2025 | 171,142 | -3.2% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 171,142 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8,620, 19.9× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 171,142 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 35,241, 4.9× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Tanzania 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +139.4% | 88,492 | 211,845 |
| 1972 | +131.6% | 71,240 | 165,000 |
| 1964 | +108.3% | 12,000 | 25,000 |
| 1993 | +93.2% | 292,148 | 564,520 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 29,367 | 12,000 | 54,550 | 9 |
| 1970s | 149,334 | 71,240 | 193,190 | 10 |
| 1980s | 207,722 | 158,960 | 266,200 | 10 |
| 1990s | 535,806 | 265,184 | 883,250 | 10 |
| 2000s | 517,938 | 118,731 | 689,373 | 10 |
| 2010s | 185,450 | 88,492 | 308,528 | 10 |
| 2020s | 197,486 | 171,142 | 234,640 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More population data for Tanzania
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.8793 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.36 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.8793 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6843 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 129,932 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.69 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.089 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.868 (2100)
- Population density 296.72 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 20.58 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Tanzania?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Tanzania was 171,142 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 883,250 in 1994.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,000 in 1961.
- How does Tanzania rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Tanzania ranks 38th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tanzania 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 — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).