Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Rwanda
Rwanda: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 244,415 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
244,415
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
17th
of 205 countries
All-time high
2.26 million
in 1994
All-time low
63,792
in 2004
Years of data
65
1961–2025
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Rwanda, 1961–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of origin in Rwanda is 244,415, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 14.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Rwanda peaked at 2.26 million in 1994 and was at its lowest, 63,792, in 2004.
Rwanda ranks 17th 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 Rwanda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 147,000 | — |
| 1962 | 147,000 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 154,000 | +4.8% |
| 1964 | 166,300 | +8.0% |
| 1965 | 155,900 | -6.3% |
| 1966 | 159,600 | +2.4% |
| 1967 | 160,230 | +0.4% |
| 1968 | 160,100 | -0.1% |
| 1969 | 144,930 | -9.5% |
| 1970 | 142,050 | -2.0% |
| 1971 | 141,630 | -0.3% |
| 1972 | 153,650 | +8.5% |
| 1973 | 163,595 | +6.5% |
| 1974 | 178,260 | +9.0% |
| 1975 | 175,720 | -1.4% |
| 1976 | 176,410 | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 169,780 | -3.8% |
| 1978 | 175,110 | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 176,540 | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 286,650 | +62.4% |
| 1981 | 277,010 | -3.4% |
| 1982 | 327,950 | +18.4% |
| 1983 | 321,760 | -1.9% |
| 1984 | 357,110 | +11.0% |
| 1985 | 376,520 | +5.4% |
| 1986 | 371,910 | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 353,440 | -5.0% |
| 1988 | 327,540 | -7.3% |
| 1989 | 319,500 | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 361,317 | +13.1% |
| 1991 | 431,239 | +19.4% |
| 1992 | 434,731 | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 450,459 | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 2.26 million | +401.2% |
| 1995 | 1.82 million | -19.4% |
| 1996 | 469,132 | -74.2% |
| 1997 | 67,996 | -85.5% |
| 1998 | 77,738 | +14.3% |
| 1999 | 88,934 | +14.4% |
| 2000 | 119,051 | +33.9% |
| 2001 | 84,508 | -29.0% |
| 2002 | 75,251 | -11.0% |
| 2003 | 75,258 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 63,792 | -15.2% |
| 2005 | 100,252 | +57.2% |
| 2006 | 92,956 | -7.3% |
| 2007 | 80,955 | -12.9% |
| 2008 | 72,529 | -10.4% |
| 2009 | 129,108 | +78.0% |
| 2010 | 115,519 | -10.5% |
| 2011 | 106,832 | -7.5% |
| 2012 | 97,357 | -8.9% |
| 2013 | 83,943 | -13.8% |
| 2014 | 79,396 | -5.4% |
| 2015 | 286,357 | +260.7% |
| 2016 | 286,063 | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 258,986 | -9.5% |
| 2018 | 247,469 | -4.4% |
| 2019 | 246,407 | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 245,781 | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 248,219 | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 249,753 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 249,955 | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 249,096 | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 244,415 | -1.9% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 244,415 is above the median for low income countries, which is 164,215, 1.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 244,415 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12,726, 19.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Rwanda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +401.2% | 450,459 | 2.26 million |
| 2015 | +260.7% | 79,396 | 286,357 |
| 1997 | -85.5% | 469,132 | 67,996 |
| 2009 | +78.0% | 72,529 | 129,108 |
| 1996 | -74.2% | 1.82 million | 469,132 |
| 1980 | +62.4% | 176,540 | 286,650 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 155,007 | 144,930 | 166,300 | 9 |
| 1970s | 165,274 | 141,630 | 178,260 | 10 |
| 1980s | 331,939 | 277,010 | 376,520 | 10 |
| 1990s | 645,849 | 67,996 | 2.26 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 89,366 | 63,792 | 129,108 | 10 |
| 2010s | 180,833 | 79,396 | 286,357 | 10 |
| 2020s | 247,870 | 244,415 | 249,955 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More population data for Rwanda
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2673 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.5502 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2673 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2755 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 23,030 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.06 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4596 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.217 (2100)
- Population density 1,329 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 2.01 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of origin in Rwanda?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Rwanda was 244,415 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 2.26 million in 1994.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 63,792 in 2004.
- How does Rwanda rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- Rwanda ranks 17th out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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
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