Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Eritrea

Eritrea: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 551,296 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
551,296
Change on year
down 1.5%
World rank
10th
of 202 countries
All-time high
559,848
in 2023
All-time low
43
in 1989
Years of data
46
1979–2024

Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Eritrea, 1979–2024

0200.0k400.0k600.0k197920012024

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2024, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Eritrea stood at 551,296.

That represents a change of down 1.5% on the previous year and up 51.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Eritrea peaked at 559,848 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 43, in 1989.

Eritrea ranks 10th of 202 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 Eritrea, year by year

Annual values for Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Eritrea, 1979 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1979 400
1980 542 +35.5%
1981 1,542 +184.5%
1982 1,585 +2.8%
1983 1,385 -12.6%
1984 1,385 +0.0%
1985 1,385 +0.0%
1986 177 -87.2%
1987 167 -5.6%
1988 133 -20.4%
1989 43 -67.7%
1990 43 +0.0%
1991 500,633 +1164162.8%
1992 503,200 +0.5%
1993 427,208 -15.1%
1994 422,432 -1.1%
1995 286,711 -32.1%
1996 332,222 +15.9%
1997 319,076 -4.0%
1998 346,779 +8.7%
1999 347,134 +0.1%
2000 376,847 +8.6%
2001 333,222 -11.6%
2002 318,167 -4.5%
2003 124,111 -61.0%
2004 131,108 +5.6%
2005 144,062 +9.9%
2006 193,738 +34.5%
2007 208,747 +7.7%
2008 186,392 -10.7%
2009 209,164 +12.2%
2010 222,457 +6.4%
2011 251,941 +13.3%
2012 285,356 +13.3%
2013 308,210 +8.0%
2014 363,081 +17.8%
2015 407,428 +12.2%
2016 457,247 +12.2%
2017 486,209 +6.3%
2018 507,260 +4.3%
2019 504,300 -0.6%
2020 524,738 +4.1%
2021 511,905 -2.4%
2022 512,668 +0.1%
2023 559,848 +9.2%
2024 551,296 -1.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 400 400 400 1
1980s 834.4 43 1,585 10
1990s 348,544 43 503,200 10
2000s 222,556 124,111 376,847 10
2010s 379,349 222,457 507,260 10
2020s 532,091 511,905 559,848 5

Countries ranked near Eritrea

  1. 7 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 1.06 million compare
  2. 8 Somalia 894,049 compare
  3. 9 Central African Republic 693,488 compare
  4. 11 Nigeria 467,605 compare
  5. 12 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 370,169 compare
  6. 13 Mali 354,075 compare

See the full ranking of 204 places →

More population data for Eritrea

All data for Eritrea →

Frequently asked questions

What is refugee population by country or territory of origin in Eritrea?
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Eritrea was 551,296 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Eritrea?
The highest recorded value was 559,848 in 2023.
What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Eritrea?
The lowest recorded value was 43 in 1989.
How does Eritrea rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
Eritrea ranks 10th out of 202 countries with data for 2024.
Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Eritrea?
Over the last ten years it is up 51.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Eritrea 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.

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Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Eritrea. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/refugee-population-by-country-or-territory-of-origin-2/eritrea/

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About this data

Indicator
Refugee population by country or territory of origin
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
204 places, 7,190 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed