Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Somalia
Somalia: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 892,037 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
892,037
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
8th
of 205 countries
All-time high
1.14 million
in 2012
All-time low
34
in 1981
Years of data
51
1975–2025
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Somalia, 1975–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Somalia recorded 892,037 for refugee population by country or territory of origin in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 20.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Somalia peaked at 1.14 million in 2012 and was at its lowest, 34, in 1981.
Somalia ranks 8th 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 Somalia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 110 | — |
| 1976 | 50 | -54.5% |
| 1977 | 60 | +20.0% |
| 1978 | 90 | +50.0% |
| 1979 | 90 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 134 | +48.9% |
| 1981 | 34 | -74.6% |
| 1982 | 118 | +247.1% |
| 1983 | 39 | -66.9% |
| 1984 | 639 | +1538.5% |
| 1985 | 1,830 | +186.4% |
| 1986 | 3,142 | +71.7% |
| 1987 | 60,162 | +1814.8% |
| 1988 | 351,993 | +485.1% |
| 1989 | 360,309 | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 470,174 | +30.5% |
| 1991 | 732,596 | +55.8% |
| 1992 | 812,196 | +10.9% |
| 1993 | 574,612 | -29.3% |
| 1994 | 631,420 | +9.9% |
| 1995 | 638,695 | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 636,984 | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 608,086 | -4.5% |
| 1998 | 557,953 | -8.2% |
| 1999 | 524,604 | -6.0% |
| 2000 | 475,644 | -9.3% |
| 2001 | 440,120 | -7.5% |
| 2002 | 432,304 | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 402,329 | -6.9% |
| 2004 | 389,287 | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 395,544 | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 464,026 | +17.3% |
| 2007 | 457,345 | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 561,145 | +22.7% |
| 2009 | 678,296 | +20.9% |
| 2010 | 770,141 | +13.5% |
| 2011 | 1.08 million | +39.8% |
| 2012 | 1.14 million | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 1.12 million | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 1.11 million | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 1.12 million | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 1.01 million | -9.9% |
| 2017 | 986,386 | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 949,637 | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 901,596 | -5.1% |
| 2020 | 812,356 | -9.9% |
| 2021 | 776,678 | -4.4% |
| 2022 | 786,794 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 842,044 | +7.0% |
| 2024 | 894,120 | +6.2% |
| 2025 | 892,037 | -0.2% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 892,037 is above the median for low income countries, which is 164,215, 5.4× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 892,037 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12,726, 70.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Somalia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | +1814.8% | 3,142 | 60,162 |
| 1984 | +1538.5% | 39 | 639 |
| 1988 | +485.1% | 60,162 | 351,993 |
| 1982 | +247.1% | 34 | 118 |
| 1985 | +186.4% | 639 | 1,830 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 80 | 50 | 110 | 5 |
| 1980s | 77,840 | 34 | 360,309 | 10 |
| 1990s | 618,732 | 470,174 | 812,196 | 10 |
| 2000s | 469,604 | 389,287 | 678,296 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.02 million | 770,141 | 1.14 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 834,005 | 776,678 | 894,120 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
- 5 South Sudan 2.39 million compare
- 6 Myanmar 1.52 million compare
- 7 Democratic Republic of Congo 1.18 million compare
- 9 Central African Republic 674,222 compare
- 10 Eritrea 554,891 compare
- 11 Mali 519,738 compare
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)
- Population growth rate 0.424 (2100)
- Population density 107.38 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.14 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of origin in Somalia?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Somalia was 892,037 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.14 million in 2012.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 34 in 1981.
- How does Somalia rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- Somalia ranks 8th out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia 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 — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).