Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Zambia
Zambia: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 83,225 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Zambia, 1965–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Zambia is 83,225, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 5.0% on the previous year and up 214.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Zambia peaked at 284,173 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 5,000, in 1965.
Zambia ranks 55th 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.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 5,000 | — |
| 1966 | 6,290 | +25.8% |
| 1967 | 10,710 | +70.3% |
| 1968 | 13,190 | +23.2% |
| 1969 | 12,640 | -4.2% |
| 1970 | 16,000 | +26.6% |
| 1971 | 17,000 | +6.2% |
| 1972 | 25,000 | +47.1% |
| 1973 | 37,310 | +49.2% |
| 1974 | 40,430 | +8.4% |
| 1975 | 36,050 | -10.8% |
| 1976 | 34,070 | -5.5% |
| 1977 | 64,900 | +90.5% |
| 1978 | 79,140 | +21.9% |
| 1979 | 57,790 | -27.0% |
| 1980 | 36,410 | -37.0% |
| 1981 | 40,560 | +11.4% |
| 1982 | 89,110 | +119.7% |
| 1983 | 103,000 | +15.6% |
| 1984 | 96,480 | -6.3% |
| 1985 | 103,780 | +7.6% |
| 1986 | 138,270 | +33.2% |
| 1987 | 144,100 | +4.2% |
| 1988 | 143,568 | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 137,180 | -4.4% |
| 1990 | 138,049 | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 140,676 | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 142,104 | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 141,126 | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 141,126 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 129,965 | -7.9% |
| 1996 | 131,139 | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 165,072 | +25.9% |
| 1998 | 168,564 | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 206,386 | +22.4% |
| 2000 | 250,940 | +21.6% |
| 2001 | 284,173 | +13.2% |
| 2002 | 246,765 | -13.2% |
| 2003 | 226,697 | -8.1% |
| 2004 | 173,907 | -23.3% |
| 2005 | 155,718 | -10.5% |
| 2006 | 120,253 | -22.8% |
| 2007 | 112,931 | -6.1% |
| 2008 | 83,484 | -26.1% |
| 2009 | 56,786 | -32.0% |
| 2010 | 47,853 | -15.7% |
| 2011 | 45,627 | -4.7% |
| 2012 | 25,647 | -43.8% |
| 2013 | 23,584 | -8.0% |
| 2014 | 25,566 | +8.4% |
| 2015 | 26,434 | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 29,338 | +11.0% |
| 2017 | 41,266 | +40.7% |
| 2018 | 49,877 | +20.9% |
| 2019 | 57,518 | +15.3% |
| 2020 | 66,070 | +14.9% |
| 2021 | 75,154 | +13.7% |
| 2022 | 61,159 | -18.6% |
| 2023 | 72,411 | +18.4% |
| 2024 | 79,275 | +9.5% |
| 2025 | 83,225 | +5.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 83,225 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8,620, 9.7× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 83,225 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 35,241, 2.4× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Zambia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | +119.7% | 40,560 | 89,110 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9,566 | 5,000 | 13,190 | 5 |
| 1970s | 40,769 | 16,000 | 79,140 | 10 |
| 1980s | 103,246 | 36,410 | 144,100 | 10 |
| 1990s | 150,421 | 129,965 | 206,386 | 10 |
| 2000s | 171,165 | 56,786 | 284,173 | 10 |
| 2010s | 37,271 | 23,584 | 57,518 | 10 |
| 2020s | 72,882 | 61,159 | 83,225 | 6 |
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)
- Population growth rate 0.516 (2100)
- Population density 86.73 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 4.60 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Zambia?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Zambia was 83,225 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 284,173 in 2001.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,000 in 1965.
- How does Zambia rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Zambia ranks 55th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 214.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia 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 — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).