Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Yemen
Yemen: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 49,107 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Yemen, 1977–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Yemen is 49,107, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.9% on the previous year and down 81.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Yemen peaked at 270,913 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 50, in 1977.
That places Yemen 64th out of 183 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Yemen, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 50 | — |
| 1978 | 50 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 360 | +620.0% |
| 1980 | 550 | +52.8% |
| 1981 | 1,030 | +87.3% |
| 1982 | 1,400 | +35.9% |
| 1983 | 3,680 | +162.9% |
| 1984 | 4,280 | +16.3% |
| 1985 | 5,000 | +16.8% |
| 1986 | 5,000 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 3,000 | -40.0% |
| 1988 | 1,157 | -61.4% |
| 1989 | 3,130 | +170.5% |
| 1990 | 2,938 | -6.1% |
| 1991 | 29,927 | +918.6% |
| 1992 | 59,680 | +99.4% |
| 1993 | 54,450 | -8.8% |
| 1994 | 48,305 | -11.3% |
| 1995 | 53,453 | +10.7% |
| 1996 | 53,546 | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 40,965 | -23.5% |
| 1998 | 61,380 | +49.8% |
| 1999 | 60,477 | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 60,543 | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 69,462 | +14.7% |
| 2002 | 82,795 | +19.2% |
| 2003 | 61,876 | -25.3% |
| 2004 | 66,379 | +7.3% |
| 2005 | 81,932 | +23.4% |
| 2006 | 95,791 | +16.9% |
| 2007 | 117,358 | +22.5% |
| 2008 | 140,166 | +19.4% |
| 2009 | 170,850 | +21.9% |
| 2010 | 190,088 | +11.3% |
| 2011 | 214,736 | +13.0% |
| 2012 | 237,176 | +10.5% |
| 2013 | 241,281 | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 257,637 | +6.8% |
| 2015 | 267,163 | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 269,778 | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 270,913 | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 264,359 | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 268,503 | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 166,906 | -37.8% |
| 2021 | 89,467 | -46.4% |
| 2022 | 77,458 | -13.4% |
| 2023 | 55,568 | -28.3% |
| 2024 | 46,827 | -15.7% |
| 2025 | 49,107 | +4.9% |
Yemen compared with similar countries
- Yemen's 49,107 is above the median for low income countries, which is 45,052, 1.1× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Yemen's 49,107 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 15,377, 3.2× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Yemen 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +918.6% | 2,938 | 29,927 |
| 1979 | +620.0% | 50 | 360 |
| 1989 | +170.5% | 1,157 | 3,130 |
| 1983 | +162.9% | 1,400 | 3,680 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 153.33 | 50 | 360 | 3 |
| 1980s | 2,823 | 550 | 5,000 | 10 |
| 1990s | 46,512 | 2,938 | 61,380 | 10 |
| 2000s | 94,715 | 60,543 | 170,850 | 10 |
| 2010s | 248,163 | 190,088 | 270,913 | 10 |
| 2020s | 80,889 | 46,827 | 166,906 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Yemen
More population data for Yemen
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2706 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.67 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2706 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0907 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 55,296 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.01 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5817 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.258 (2100)
- Population density 208.41 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 6.88 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Yemen?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Yemen was 49,107 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Yemen?
- The highest recorded value was 270,913 in 2017.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Yemen?
- The lowest recorded value was 50 in 1977.
- How does Yemen rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Yemen ranks 64th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Yemen?
- Over the last ten years it is down 81.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Yemen 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.
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