Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Nigeria

Nigeria: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 467,605 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
467,605
Change on year
up 14.0%
World rank
11th
of 202 countries
All-time high
467,605
in 2024
All-time low
0
in 1970
Years of data
41
1968–2024

Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Nigeria, 1968–2024

0100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k500.0k1968199620241968: 51.1k1969: 2.9k1970: 01987: 51988: 151989: 151990: 151991: 221992: 751993: 951994: 5871995: 1.9k1996: 4.8k1997: 3.0k1998: 4.0k1999: 4.4k2000: 5.7k2001: 6.1k2002: 24.6k2003: 24.4k2004: 23.9k2005: 22.1k2006: 13.2k2007: 13.9k2008: 14.2k2009: 15.6k2010: 15.6k2011: 17.1k2012: 18.0k2013: 31.2k2014: 90.9k2015: 168.0k2016: 229.3k2017: 239.0k2018: 276.8k2019: 295.6k2020: 353.0k2021: 383.7k2022: 391.1k2023: 410.3k2024: 467.6k

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2024, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Nigeria stood at 467,605. That is the highest value across all 41 years on record.

That represents a change of up 14.0% on the previous year and up 414.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Nigeria peaked at 467,605 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1970.

That places Nigeria 11th out of 202 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.

Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Nigeria, 1968 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1968 51,100
1969 2,850 -94.4%
1970 0 -100.0%
1987 5
1988 15 +200.0%
1989 15 +0.0%
1990 15 +0.0%
1991 22 +46.7%
1992 75 +240.9%
1993 95 +26.7%
1994 587 +517.9%
1995 1,942 +230.8%
1996 4,751 +144.6%
1997 3,043 -36.0%
1998 3,998 +31.4%
1999 4,440 +11.1%
2000 5,735 +29.2%
2001 6,077 +6.0%
2002 24,559 +304.1%
2003 24,414 -0.6%
2004 23,882 -2.2%
2005 22,123 -7.4%
2006 13,242 -40.1%
2007 13,898 +5.0%
2008 14,170 +2.0%
2009 15,609 +10.2%
2010 15,645 +0.2%
2011 17,140 +9.6%
2012 18,017 +5.1%
2013 31,173 +73.0%
2014 90,936 +191.7%
2015 167,973 +84.7%
2016 229,290 +36.5%
2017 238,977 +4.2%
2018 276,834 +15.8%
2019 295,578 +6.8%
2020 352,960 +19.4%
2021 383,660 +8.7%
2022 391,120 +1.9%
2023 410,308 +4.9%
2024 467,605 +14.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 26,975 2,850 51,100 2
1970s 0 0 0 1
1980s 11.67 5 15 3
1990s 1,897 15 4,751 10
2000s 16,371 5,735 24,559 10
2010s 138,156 15,645 295,578 10
2020s 401,131 352,960 467,605 5

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 8 Somalia 894,049 compare
  2. 9 Central African Republic 693,488 compare
  3. 10 Eritrea 551,296 compare
  4. 12 Venezuela 370,169 compare
  5. 13 Mali 354,075 compare
  6. 14 Burundi 322,462 compare

See the full ranking of 204 places →

More population data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is refugee population by country or territory of origin in Nigeria?
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Nigeria was 467,605 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 467,605 in 2024.
What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1970.
How does Nigeria rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
Nigeria ranks 11th out of 202 countries with data for 2024.
Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is up 414.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Nigeria 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 Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/refugee-population-by-country-or-territory-of-origin-2/nigeria/

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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