Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Uganda
Uganda: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 1.94 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Uganda, 1961–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Uganda is 1.94 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 65 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.1% on the previous year and up 305.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Uganda peaked at 1.94 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 52,000, in 1961.
Uganda ranks 3rd 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.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Uganda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 52,000 | — |
| 1962 | 52,000 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 59,000 | +13.5% |
| 1964 | 113,000 | +91.5% |
| 1965 | 137,400 | +21.6% |
| 1966 | 156,000 | +13.5% |
| 1967 | 162,760 | +4.3% |
| 1968 | 175,730 | +8.0% |
| 1969 | 177,260 | +0.9% |
| 1970 | 179,800 | +1.4% |
| 1971 | 180,920 | +0.6% |
| 1972 | 166,560 | -7.9% |
| 1973 | 113,900 | -31.6% |
| 1974 | 118,510 | +4.0% |
| 1975 | 112,630 | -5.0% |
| 1976 | 112,930 | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 113,570 | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 113,680 | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 112,680 | -0.9% |
| 1980 | 113,000 | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 113,000 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 113,000 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 132,970 | +17.7% |
| 1984 | 151,000 | +13.6% |
| 1985 | 151,000 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 144,060 | -4.6% |
| 1987 | 88,670 | -38.4% |
| 1988 | 103,102 | +16.3% |
| 1989 | 129,961 | +26.1% |
| 1990 | 145,718 | +12.1% |
| 1991 | 162,521 | +11.5% |
| 1992 | 196,290 | +20.8% |
| 1993 | 286,500 | +46.0% |
| 1994 | 286,500 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 229,348 | -19.9% |
| 1996 | 264,294 | +15.2% |
| 1997 | 188,512 | -28.7% |
| 1998 | 204,543 | +8.5% |
| 1999 | 218,191 | +6.7% |
| 2000 | 236,622 | +8.4% |
| 2001 | 199,735 | -15.6% |
| 2002 | 217,301 | +8.8% |
| 2003 | 230,904 | +6.3% |
| 2004 | 250,477 | +8.5% |
| 2005 | 257,252 | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 272,003 | +5.7% |
| 2007 | 228,956 | -15.8% |
| 2008 | 162,132 | -29.2% |
| 2009 | 127,340 | -21.5% |
| 2010 | 135,799 | +6.6% |
| 2011 | 139,442 | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 197,872 | +41.9% |
| 2013 | 220,548 | +11.5% |
| 2014 | 385,503 | +74.8% |
| 2015 | 477,187 | +23.8% |
| 2016 | 940,825 | +97.2% |
| 2017 | 1.35 million | +43.5% |
| 2018 | 1.17 million | -13.7% |
| 2019 | 1.36 million | +16.6% |
| 2020 | 1.42 million | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 1.53 million | +7.7% |
| 2022 | 1.46 million | -4.3% |
| 2023 | 1.58 million | +7.8% |
| 2024 | 1.76 million | +11.5% |
| 2025 | 1.94 million | +10.1% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 1.94 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 45,052, 43.0× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 1.94 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 35,241, 55.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Uganda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +97.2% | 477,187 | 940,825 |
| 1964 | +91.5% | 59,000 | 113,000 |
| 2014 | +74.8% | 220,548 | 385,503 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 120,572 | 52,000 | 177,260 | 9 |
| 1970s | 132,518 | 112,630 | 180,920 | 10 |
| 1980s | 123,976 | 88,670 | 151,000 | 10 |
| 1990s | 218,242 | 145,718 | 286,500 | 10 |
| 2000s | 218,272 | 127,340 | 272,003 | 10 |
| 2010s | 637,279 | 135,799 | 1.36 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.61 million | 1.42 million | 1.94 million | 6 |
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)
- Population growth rate 0.017 (2100)
- Population density 602.61 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 6.91 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Uganda?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Uganda was 1.94 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 1.94 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 52,000 in 1961.
- How does Uganda rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Uganda ranks 3rd out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 305.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda 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).