Refugees by country of asylum in Uganda
Uganda: Refugees by country of asylum was 1.76 million people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Uganda, 1961–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of asylum in Uganda is 1.76 million people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.5% on the previous year and up 356.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Uganda peaked at 1.76 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 52,000 people, in 1961.
Uganda ranks 4th of 183 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Uganda, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 52,000 people | — |
| 1962 | 52,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 59,000 people | +13.5% |
| 1964 | 113,000 people | +91.5% |
| 1965 | 137,400 people | +21.6% |
| 1966 | 156,000 people | +13.5% |
| 1967 | 162,760 people | +4.3% |
| 1968 | 175,730 people | +8.0% |
| 1969 | 177,260 people | +0.9% |
| 1970 | 179,800 people | +1.4% |
| 1971 | 180,920 people | +0.6% |
| 1972 | 166,560 people | -7.9% |
| 1973 | 113,900 people | -31.6% |
| 1974 | 118,510 people | +4.0% |
| 1975 | 112,630 people | -5.0% |
| 1976 | 112,930 people | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 113,570 people | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 113,680 people | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 112,680 people | -0.9% |
| 1980 | 113,000 people | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 113,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 113,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 132,970 people | +17.7% |
| 1984 | 151,000 people | +13.6% |
| 1985 | 151,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 144,060 people | -4.6% |
| 1987 | 88,670 people | -38.4% |
| 1988 | 103,102 people | +16.3% |
| 1989 | 129,961 people | +26.1% |
| 1990 | 145,718 people | +12.1% |
| 1991 | 162,521 people | +11.5% |
| 1992 | 196,290 people | +20.8% |
| 1993 | 286,500 people | +46.0% |
| 1994 | 286,500 people | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 229,348 people | -19.9% |
| 1996 | 264,294 people | +15.2% |
| 1997 | 188,512 people | -28.7% |
| 1998 | 204,543 people | +8.5% |
| 1999 | 218,191 people | +6.7% |
| 2000 | 236,622 people | +8.4% |
| 2001 | 199,735 people | -15.6% |
| 2002 | 217,301 people | +8.8% |
| 2003 | 230,904 people | +6.3% |
| 2004 | 250,477 people | +8.5% |
| 2005 | 257,252 people | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 272,003 people | +5.7% |
| 2007 | 228,956 people | -15.8% |
| 2008 | 162,132 people | -29.2% |
| 2009 | 127,340 people | -21.5% |
| 2010 | 135,799 people | +6.6% |
| 2011 | 139,442 people | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 197,872 people | +41.9% |
| 2013 | 220,548 people | +11.5% |
| 2014 | 385,503 people | +74.8% |
| 2015 | 477,187 people | +23.8% |
| 2016 | 940,825 people | +97.2% |
| 2017 | 1.35 million people | +43.5% |
| 2018 | 1.17 million people | -13.7% |
| 2019 | 1.36 million people | +16.6% |
| 2020 | 1.42 million people | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 1.53 million people | +7.7% |
| 2022 | 1.46 million people | -4.3% |
| 2023 | 1.58 million people | +7.8% |
| 2024 | 1.76 million people | +11.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 120,572 people | 52,000 people | 177,260 people | 9 |
| 1970s | 132,518 people | 112,630 people | 180,920 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 123,976 people | 88,670 people | 151,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 218,242 people | 145,718 people | 286,500 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 218,272 people | 127,340 people | 272,003 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 637,279 people | 135,799 people | 1.36 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.55 million people | 1.42 million people | 1.76 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More population data for Uganda
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2177 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 87,622 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.53 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8617 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Population density 602.61 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.91 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Uganda?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Uganda was 1.76 million 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 1.76 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 52,000 people in 1961.
- How does Uganda rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Uganda ranks 4th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 356.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda 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 — 64 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.