Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 164,215 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
164,215
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
20th
of 205 countries
All-time high
2.57 million
in 1980
All-time low
28,600
in 1967
Years of data
59
1967–2025
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Ethiopia, 1967–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Ethiopia stood at 164,215.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and up 91.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Ethiopia peaked at 2.57 million in 1980 and was at its lowest, 28,600, in 1967.
That places Ethiopia 20th out of 205 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 28,600 | — |
| 1968 | 31,000 | +8.4% |
| 1969 | 31,000 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 54,350 | +75.3% |
| 1971 | 55,200 | +1.6% |
| 1972 | 44,640 | -19.1% |
| 1973 | 46,300 | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 49,200 | +6.3% |
| 1975 | 91,410 | +85.8% |
| 1976 | 105,700 | +15.6% |
| 1977 | 655,350 | +520.0% |
| 1978 | 887,670 | +35.4% |
| 1979 | 1.62 million | +82.9% |
| 1980 | 2.57 million | +58.1% |
| 1981 | 1.36 million | -46.9% |
| 1982 | 1.33 million | -2.1% |
| 1983 | 1.35 million | +1.3% |
| 1984 | 1.55 million | +14.4% |
| 1985 | 1.75 million | +13.1% |
| 1986 | 1.53 million | -12.3% |
| 1987 | 1.49 million | -3.1% |
| 1988 | 1.51 million | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 1.47 million | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 1.35 million | -8.7% |
| 1991 | 251,243 | -81.3% |
| 1992 | 313,131 | +24.6% |
| 1993 | 251,828 | -19.6% |
| 1994 | 226,429 | -10.1% |
| 1995 | 100,986 | -55.4% |
| 1996 | 96,264 | -4.7% |
| 1997 | 84,386 | -12.3% |
| 1998 | 70,663 | -16.3% |
| 1999 | 71,040 | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 66,396 | -6.5% |
| 2001 | 58,980 | -11.2% |
| 2002 | 61,235 | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 62,674 | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 63,153 | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 65,447 | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 74,007 | +13.1% |
| 2007 | 59,845 | -19.1% |
| 2008 | 63,863 | +6.7% |
| 2009 | 62,877 | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 68,838 | +9.5% |
| 2011 | 70,601 | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 74,964 | +6.2% |
| 2013 | 77,109 | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 86,857 | +12.6% |
| 2015 | 85,839 | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 83,958 | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 87,448 | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 92,232 | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 93,467 | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 151,426 | +62.0% |
| 2021 | 149,130 | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 149,603 | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 158,344 | +5.8% |
| 2024 | 164,423 | +3.8% |
| 2025 | 164,215 | -0.1% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 164,215 is above the median for low income countries, which is 164,215, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 164,215 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12,726, 12.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Ethiopia 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 | +520.0% | 105,700 | 655,350 |
| 1975 | +85.8% | 49,200 | 91,410 |
| 1991 | -81.3% | 1.35 million | 251,243 |
| 1979 | +82.9% | 887,670 | 1.62 million |
| 1970 | +75.3% | 31,000 | 54,350 |
| 2020 | +62.0% | 93,467 | 151,426 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 30,200 | 28,600 | 31,000 | 3 |
| 1970s | 361,369 | 44,640 | 1.62 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.59 million | 1.33 million | 2.57 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 281,190 | 70,663 | 1.35 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 63,848 | 58,980 | 74,007 | 10 |
| 2010s | 82,131 | 68,838 | 93,467 | 10 |
| 2020s | 156,190 | 149,130 | 164,423 | 6 |
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)
- Population growth rate 0.484 (2100)
- Population density 325.45 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 23.22 million (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development 0.484 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 2.06 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of origin in Ethiopia?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Ethiopia was 164,215 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.57 million in 1980.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 28,600 in 1967.
- How does Ethiopia rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- Ethiopia ranks 20th out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 91.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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 — 59 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).