Refugees by country of origin in Somalia
Somalia: Refugees by country of origin was 894,049 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of origin in Somalia, 1975–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Somalia recorded 894,049 people for refugees by country of origin in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.2% on the previous year and down 19.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of origin in Somalia peaked at 1.14 million people in 2012 and was at its lowest, 34 people, in 1981.
Somalia ranks 8th of 204 countries on this measure, 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 Somalia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 110 people | — |
| 1976 | 50 people | -54.5% |
| 1977 | 60 people | +20.0% |
| 1978 | 90 people | +50.0% |
| 1979 | 90 people | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 134 people | +48.9% |
| 1981 | 34 people | -74.6% |
| 1982 | 118 people | +247.1% |
| 1983 | 39 people | -66.9% |
| 1984 | 639 people | +1538.5% |
| 1985 | 1,830 people | +186.4% |
| 1986 | 3,142 people | +71.7% |
| 1987 | 60,162 people | +1814.8% |
| 1988 | 351,993 people | +485.1% |
| 1989 | 360,309 people | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 470,174 people | +30.5% |
| 1991 | 732,596 people | +55.8% |
| 1992 | 812,196 people | +10.9% |
| 1993 | 574,612 people | -29.3% |
| 1994 | 631,420 people | +9.9% |
| 1995 | 638,695 people | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 636,984 people | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 608,086 people | -4.5% |
| 1998 | 557,953 people | -8.2% |
| 1999 | 524,604 people | -6.0% |
| 2000 | 475,644 people | -9.3% |
| 2001 | 440,120 people | -7.5% |
| 2002 | 432,304 people | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 402,329 people | -6.9% |
| 2004 | 389,287 people | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 395,544 people | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 464,026 people | +17.3% |
| 2007 | 457,345 people | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 561,145 people | +22.7% |
| 2009 | 678,296 people | +20.9% |
| 2010 | 770,141 people | +13.5% |
| 2011 | 1.08 million people | +39.8% |
| 2012 | 1.14 million people | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 1.12 million people | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 1.11 million people | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 1.12 million people | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 1.01 million people | -9.9% |
| 2017 | 986,386 people | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 949,637 people | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 901,596 people | -5.1% |
| 2020 | 812,356 people | -9.9% |
| 2021 | 776,567 people | -4.4% |
| 2022 | 786,699 people | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 841,953 people | +7.0% |
| 2024 | 894,049 people | +6.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 80 people | 50 people | 110 people | 5 |
| 1980s | 77,840 people | 34 people | 360,309 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 618,732 people | 470,174 people | 812,196 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 469,604 people | 389,287 people | 678,296 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.02 million people | 770,141 people | 1.14 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 822,325 people | 776,567 people | 894,049 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
More population data for Somalia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.96 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.4952 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 36,463 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.89 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3207 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Population density 107.38 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.14 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of origin in Somalia?
- Refugees by country of origin in Somalia was 894,049 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.14 million people in 2012.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of origin recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 34 people in 1981.
- How does Somalia rank for refugees by country of origin?
- Somalia ranks 8th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of origin rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia 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.