Refugee population by country or territory of asylum, per square in South Africa
South Africa: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum, per square was 0.0554 units per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum, per square in South Africa, 1993–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 0.0554 units per square kilometre for refugee population by country or territory of asylum, per square in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum, per square in South Africa peaked at 0.2061 units per square kilometre in 1993 and was at its lowest, 0.0056 units per square kilometre, in 1997.
South Africa ranks 93rd of 181 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, per square in South Africa, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 0.2061 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1994 | 0.0758 units per square kilometre | -63.2% |
| 1995 | 0.0836 units per square kilometre | +10.4% |
| 1996 | 0.0187 units per square kilometre | -77.7% |
| 1997 | 0.0056 units per square kilometre | -69.9% |
| 1998 | 0.0069 units per square kilometre | +23.0% |
| 1999 | 0.012 units per square kilometre | +73.4% |
| 2000 | 0.0124 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 0.0153 units per square kilometre | +23.5% |
| 2002 | 0.0192 units per square kilometre | +25.5% |
| 2003 | 0.0219 units per square kilometre | +13.8% |
| 2004 | 0.0228 units per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 0.0245 units per square kilometre | +7.4% |
| 2006 | 0.0289 units per square kilometre | +18.1% |
| 2007 | 0.0303 units per square kilometre | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 0.0359 units per square kilometre | +18.5% |
| 2009 | 0.0395 units per square kilometre | +10.2% |
| 2010 | 0.0477 units per square kilometre | +20.7% |
| 2011 | 0.0477 units per square kilometre | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.0538 units per square kilometre | +12.7% |
| 2013 | 0.0544 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 0.0925 units per square kilometre | +70.0% |
| 2015 | 0.1003 units per square kilometre | +8.4% |
| 2016 | 0.075 units per square kilometre | -25.2% |
| 2017 | 0.0731 units per square kilometre | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 0.0736 units per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 0.0646 units per square kilometre | -12.2% |
| 2020 | 0.0633 units per square kilometre | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 0.0622 units per square kilometre | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 0.0549 units per square kilometre | -11.8% |
| 2023 | 0.0554 units per square kilometre | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.0584 units per square kilometre | 0.0056 units per square kilometre | 0.2061 units per square kilometre | 7 |
| 2000s | 0.0251 units per square kilometre | 0.0124 units per square kilometre | 0.0395 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0683 units per square kilometre | 0.0477 units per square kilometre | 0.1003 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0589 units per square kilometre | 0.0549 units per square kilometre | 0.0633 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 90 Senegal 0.0616 units per square kilometre compare
- 91 Japan 0.0613 units per square kilometre compare
- 92 Israel 0.0571 units per square kilometre compare
- 94 Mali 0.0545 units per square kilometre compare
- 95 Afghanistan 0.0534 units per square kilometre compare
- 96 Central African Republic 0.0528 units per square kilometre compare
More population data for South Africa
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7997 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 73,530 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 77.75 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum, per square in South Africa?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum, per square in South Africa was 0.0554 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum, per square recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.2061 units per square kilometre in 1993.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum, per square recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0056 units per square kilometre in 1997.
- How does South Africa rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum, per square?
- South Africa ranks 93rd out of 181 countries with data for 2023.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum, per square rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of asylum, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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How this figure is calculated
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Refugees by country of asylum UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.