Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 1.18 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1964–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of origin in Democratic Republic of Congo is 1.18 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 62 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.0% on the previous year and up 117.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 1.18 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 39,410, in 1975.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 7th of 205 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 origin in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 58,700 | — |
| 1965 | 47,000 | -19.9% |
| 1966 | 74,800 | +59.1% |
| 1967 | 78,190 | +4.5% |
| 1968 | 67,330 | -13.9% |
| 1969 | 54,530 | -19.0% |
| 1970 | 51,650 | -5.3% |
| 1971 | 43,470 | -15.8% |
| 1972 | 43,920 | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 43,380 | -1.2% |
| 1974 | 39,820 | -8.2% |
| 1975 | 39,410 | -1.0% |
| 1976 | 44,070 | +11.8% |
| 1977 | 264,940 | +501.2% |
| 1978 | 151,560 | -42.8% |
| 1979 | 70,450 | -53.5% |
| 1980 | 116,750 | +65.7% |
| 1981 | 118,970 | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 92,455 | -22.3% |
| 1983 | 101,571 | +9.9% |
| 1984 | 94,512 | -6.9% |
| 1985 | 86,418 | -8.6% |
| 1986 | 96,619 | +11.8% |
| 1987 | 69,428 | -28.1% |
| 1988 | 103,537 | +49.1% |
| 1989 | 100,786 | -2.7% |
| 1990 | 67,423 | -33.1% |
| 1991 | 65,816 | -2.4% |
| 1992 | 81,269 | +23.5% |
| 1993 | 74,817 | -7.9% |
| 1994 | 73,279 | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 89,742 | +22.5% |
| 1996 | 158,794 | +76.9% |
| 1997 | 173,994 | +9.6% |
| 1998 | 158,828 | -8.7% |
| 1999 | 255,942 | +61.1% |
| 2000 | 371,705 | +45.2% |
| 2001 | 392,142 | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 421,355 | +7.4% |
| 2003 | 453,465 | +7.6% |
| 2004 | 462,186 | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 430,919 | -6.8% |
| 2006 | 401,908 | -6.7% |
| 2007 | 370,372 | -7.8% |
| 2008 | 367,991 | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 455,852 | +23.9% |
| 2010 | 476,691 | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 491,470 | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 509,275 | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 499,551 | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 516,765 | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 541,487 | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 537,474 | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 620,805 | +15.5% |
| 2018 | 720,302 | +16.0% |
| 2019 | 802,974 | +11.5% |
| 2020 | 840,392 | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 908,401 | +8.1% |
| 2022 | 932,680 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 978,209 | +4.9% |
| 2024 | 1.06 million | +8.4% |
| 2025 | 1.18 million | +11.0% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 1.18 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 164,215, 7.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 1.18 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12,726, 92.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Democratic Republic of Congo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | +501.2% | 44,070 | 264,940 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 63,425 | 47,000 | 78,190 | 6 |
| 1970s | 79,267 | 39,410 | 264,940 | 10 |
| 1980s | 98,105 | 69,428 | 118,970 | 10 |
| 1990s | 119,990 | 65,816 | 255,942 | 10 |
| 2000s | 412,790 | 367,991 | 462,186 | 10 |
| 2010s | 571,679 | 476,691 | 802,974 | 10 |
| 2020s | 982,710 | 840,392 | 1.18 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 4 Afghanistan 2.67 million compare
- 5 South Sudan 2.39 million compare
- 6 Myanmar 1.52 million compare
- 8 Somalia 892,037 compare
- 9 Central African Republic 674,222 compare
- 10 Eritrea 554,891 compare
More population data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.6699 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.57 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.6699 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6537 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1964 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.658 (2100)
- Population density 189.99 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 33.44 million (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development 0.658 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 0.8224 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of origin in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Democratic Republic of Congo was 1.18 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 1.18 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 39,410 in 1975.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 7th out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 117.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 62 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).