Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Myanmar
Myanmar: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 1.52 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Myanmar, 1972–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of origin in Myanmar is 1.52 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
The figure is up 15.3% on the previous year and up 237.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Myanmar peaked at 1.52 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1979.
Myanmar ranks 6th 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 Myanmar, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 5,700 | — |
| 1978 | 160,000 | +2707.0% |
| 1979 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1988 | 7 | — |
| 1990 | 24 | +242.9% |
| 1991 | 40,052 | +166783.3% |
| 1992 | 245,127 | +512.0% |
| 1993 | 281,571 | +14.9% |
| 1994 | 204,512 | -27.4% |
| 1995 | 152,301 | -25.5% |
| 1996 | 143,019 | -6.1% |
| 1997 | 135,771 | -5.1% |
| 1998 | 133,408 | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 131,661 | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 137,121 | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 145,849 | +6.4% |
| 2002 | 148,493 | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 151,370 | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 160,997 | +6.4% |
| 2005 | 164,851 | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 202,817 | +23.0% |
| 2007 | 191,308 | -5.7% |
| 2008 | 184,410 | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 406,667 | +120.5% |
| 2010 | 415,662 | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 414,615 | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 415,363 | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 479,594 | +15.5% |
| 2014 | 479,006 | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 451,804 | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 490,285 | +8.5% |
| 2017 | 1.16 million | +135.9% |
| 2018 | 1.15 million | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 1.08 million | -6.0% |
| 2020 | 1.10 million | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 1.18 million | +6.7% |
| 2022 | 1.25 million | +6.3% |
| 2023 | 1.28 million | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 1.32 million | +3.0% |
| 2025 | 1.52 million | +15.3% |
Myanmar compared with similar countries
- Myanmar's 1.52 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9,568, 159.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Myanmar's 1.52 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 73, 20881.9× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Myanmar 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +166783.3% | 24 | 40,052 |
| 1978 | +2707.0% | 5,700 | 160,000 |
| 1992 | +512.0% | 40,052 | 245,127 |
| 1990 | +242.9% | 7 | 24 |
| 2017 | +135.9% | 490,285 | 1.16 million |
| 2009 | +120.5% | 184,410 | 406,667 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 55,233 | 0 | 160,000 | 3 |
| 1980s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1 |
| 1990s | 146,745 | 24 | 281,571 | 10 |
| 2000s | 189,388 | 137,121 | 406,667 | 10 |
| 2010s | 652,505 | 414,615 | 1.16 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.28 million | 1.10 million | 1.52 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Myanmar
- 3 Sudan 2.82 million compare
- 4 Afghanistan 2.67 million compare
- 5 South Sudan 2.39 million compare
- 7 Democratic Republic of Congo 1.18 million compare
- 8 Somalia 892,037 compare
- 9 Central African Republic 674,222 compare
More population data for Myanmar
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5005 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.8844 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5005 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4448 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 59,929 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5289 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.737 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.506 (2100)
- Population density 76.09 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 2.45 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of origin in Myanmar?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Myanmar was 1.52 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Myanmar?
- The highest recorded value was 1.52 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Myanmar?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1979.
- How does Myanmar rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- Myanmar ranks 6th out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Myanmar?
- Over the last ten years it is up 237.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Myanmar 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 — 40 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).