Refugees by country of asylum in Zambia
Zambia: Refugees by country of asylum was 79,275 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Zambia, 1965–2024
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 Zambia is 79,275 people, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 9.5% on the previous year and up 210.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Zambia peaked at 284,173 people in 2001 and was at its lowest, 5,000 people, in 1965.
Zambia ranks 56th of 183 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Zambia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 5,000 people | — |
| 1966 | 6,290 people | +25.8% |
| 1967 | 10,710 people | +70.3% |
| 1968 | 13,190 people | +23.2% |
| 1969 | 12,640 people | -4.2% |
| 1970 | 16,000 people | +26.6% |
| 1971 | 17,000 people | +6.2% |
| 1972 | 25,000 people | +47.1% |
| 1973 | 37,310 people | +49.2% |
| 1974 | 40,430 people | +8.4% |
| 1975 | 36,050 people | -10.8% |
| 1976 | 34,070 people | -5.5% |
| 1977 | 64,900 people | +90.5% |
| 1978 | 79,140 people | +21.9% |
| 1979 | 57,790 people | -27.0% |
| 1980 | 36,410 people | -37.0% |
| 1981 | 40,560 people | +11.4% |
| 1982 | 89,110 people | +119.7% |
| 1983 | 103,000 people | +15.6% |
| 1984 | 96,480 people | -6.3% |
| 1985 | 103,780 people | +7.6% |
| 1986 | 138,270 people | +33.2% |
| 1987 | 144,100 people | +4.2% |
| 1988 | 143,568 people | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 137,180 people | -4.4% |
| 1990 | 138,049 people | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 140,676 people | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 142,104 people | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 141,126 people | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 141,126 people | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 129,965 people | -7.9% |
| 1996 | 131,139 people | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 165,072 people | +25.9% |
| 1998 | 168,564 people | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 206,386 people | +22.4% |
| 2000 | 250,940 people | +21.6% |
| 2001 | 284,173 people | +13.2% |
| 2002 | 246,765 people | -13.2% |
| 2003 | 226,697 people | -8.1% |
| 2004 | 173,907 people | -23.3% |
| 2005 | 155,718 people | -10.5% |
| 2006 | 120,253 people | -22.8% |
| 2007 | 112,931 people | -6.1% |
| 2008 | 83,484 people | -26.1% |
| 2009 | 56,786 people | -32.0% |
| 2010 | 47,853 people | -15.7% |
| 2011 | 45,627 people | -4.7% |
| 2012 | 25,647 people | -43.8% |
| 2013 | 23,584 people | -8.0% |
| 2014 | 25,566 people | +8.4% |
| 2015 | 26,434 people | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 29,338 people | +11.0% |
| 2017 | 41,266 people | +40.7% |
| 2018 | 49,877 people | +20.9% |
| 2019 | 57,518 people | +15.3% |
| 2020 | 66,070 people | +14.9% |
| 2021 | 75,154 people | +13.7% |
| 2022 | 61,159 people | -18.6% |
| 2023 | 72,411 people | +18.4% |
| 2024 | 79,275 people | +9.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9,566 people | 5,000 people | 13,190 people | 5 |
| 1970s | 40,769 people | 16,000 people | 79,140 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 103,246 people | 36,410 people | 144,100 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 150,421 people | 129,965 people | 206,386 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 171,165 people | 56,786 people | 284,173 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 37,271 people | 23,584 people | 57,518 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 70,814 people | 61,159 people | 79,275 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More population data for Zambia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5254 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.2495 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.5254 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5112 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 37,460 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.52 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2967 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Population density 86.73 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 4.60 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Zambia?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Zambia was 79,275 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 284,173 people in 2001.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,000 people in 1965.
- How does Zambia rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Zambia ranks 56th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 210.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia 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 — 60 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.