Refugees by country of origin in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Refugees by country of origin was 164,418 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
164,418 people
Change on year
up 3.8%
World rank
18th
of 204 countries
All-time high
2.57 million people
in 1980
All-time low
28,600 people
in 1967
Years of data
58
1967–2024
Refugees by country of origin in Ethiopia, 1967–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of origin in Ethiopia stood at 164,418 people.
That represents a change of up 3.8% on the previous year and up 89.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of origin in Ethiopia peaked at 2.57 million people in 1980 and was at its lowest, 28,600 people, in 1967.
That places Ethiopia 18th out of 204 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of origin in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 28,600 people | — |
| 1968 | 31,000 people | +8.4% |
| 1969 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 54,350 people | +75.3% |
| 1971 | 55,200 people | +1.6% |
| 1972 | 44,640 people | -19.1% |
| 1973 | 46,300 people | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 49,200 people | +6.3% |
| 1975 | 91,410 people | +85.8% |
| 1976 | 105,700 people | +15.6% |
| 1977 | 655,350 people | +520.0% |
| 1978 | 887,670 people | +35.4% |
| 1979 | 1.62 million people | +82.9% |
| 1980 | 2.57 million people | +58.1% |
| 1981 | 1.36 million people | -46.9% |
| 1982 | 1.33 million people | -2.1% |
| 1983 | 1.35 million people | +1.3% |
| 1984 | 1.55 million people | +14.4% |
| 1985 | 1.75 million people | +13.1% |
| 1986 | 1.53 million people | -12.3% |
| 1987 | 1.49 million people | -3.1% |
| 1988 | 1.51 million people | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 1.47 million people | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 1.35 million people | -8.7% |
| 1991 | 251,243 people | -81.3% |
| 1992 | 313,131 people | +24.6% |
| 1993 | 251,828 people | -19.6% |
| 1994 | 226,429 people | -10.1% |
| 1995 | 100,986 people | -55.4% |
| 1996 | 96,264 people | -4.7% |
| 1997 | 84,386 people | -12.3% |
| 1998 | 70,663 people | -16.3% |
| 1999 | 71,040 people | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 66,396 people | -6.5% |
| 2001 | 58,980 people | -11.2% |
| 2002 | 61,235 people | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 62,674 people | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 63,153 people | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 65,447 people | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 74,007 people | +13.1% |
| 2007 | 59,845 people | -19.1% |
| 2008 | 63,863 people | +6.7% |
| 2009 | 62,877 people | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 68,838 people | +9.5% |
| 2011 | 70,601 people | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 74,964 people | +6.2% |
| 2013 | 77,109 people | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 86,857 people | +12.6% |
| 2015 | 85,839 people | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 83,958 people | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 87,448 people | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 92,232 people | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 93,467 people | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 151,426 people | +62.0% |
| 2021 | 149,130 people | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 149,603 people | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 158,344 people | +5.8% |
| 2024 | 164,418 people | +3.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 30,200 people | 28,600 people | 31,000 people | 3 |
| 1970s | 361,369 people | 44,640 people | 1.62 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.59 million people | 1.33 million people | 2.57 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 281,190 people | 70,663 people | 1.35 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 63,848 people | 58,980 people | 74,007 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 82,131 people | 68,838 people | 93,467 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 154,584 people | 149,130 people | 164,418 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More population data for Ethiopia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4782 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.28 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4782 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2918 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.229 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Population density 325.45 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 23.22 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.5% (2100)
- Total population (thousands), annual growth rate 2.62 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of origin in Ethiopia?
- Refugees by country of origin in Ethiopia was 164,418 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of origin recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.57 million people in 1980.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of origin recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 28,600 people in 1967.
- How does Ethiopia rank for refugees by country of origin?
- Ethiopia ranks 18th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of origin rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 89.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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 origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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, not just those who fled that year.