Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Sudan
Sudan: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 2.82 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.82 million
Change on year
up 34.7%
World rank
3rd
of 205 countries
All-time high
2.82 million
in 2025
All-time low
5,350
in 1981
Years of data
63
1963–2025
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Sudan, 1963–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Sudan stood at 2.82 million. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 34.7% on the previous year and up 349.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Sudan peaked at 2.82 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5,350, in 1981.
Sudan ranks 3rd 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 Sudan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 13,000 | — |
| 1964 | 20,300 | +56.2% |
| 1965 | 81,560 | +301.8% |
| 1966 | 115,000 | +41.0% |
| 1967 | 120,990 | +5.2% |
| 1968 | 175,500 | +45.1% |
| 1969 | 170,400 | -2.9% |
| 1970 | 172,960 | +1.5% |
| 1971 | 171,330 | -0.9% |
| 1972 | 128,450 | -25.0% |
| 1973 | 13,050 | -89.8% |
| 1974 | 11,770 | -9.8% |
| 1975 | 11,000 | -6.5% |
| 1976 | 10,600 | -3.6% |
| 1977 | 10,850 | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 10,850 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 10,850 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 10,850 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 5,350 | -50.7% |
| 1982 | 5,350 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 31,000 | +479.4% |
| 1984 | 180,060 | +480.8% |
| 1985 | 180,855 | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 132,759 | -26.6% |
| 1987 | 253,166 | +90.7% |
| 1988 | 347,309 | +37.2% |
| 1989 | 438,899 | +26.4% |
| 1990 | 523,996 | +19.4% |
| 1991 | 196,242 | -62.5% |
| 1992 | 267,767 | +36.4% |
| 1993 | 393,868 | +47.1% |
| 1994 | 405,129 | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 445,277 | +9.9% |
| 1996 | 475,302 | +6.7% |
| 1997 | 364,571 | -23.3% |
| 1998 | 390,001 | +7.0% |
| 1999 | 485,449 | +24.5% |
| 2000 | 494,351 | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 489,931 | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 508,863 | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 606,230 | +19.1% |
| 2004 | 730,631 | +20.5% |
| 2005 | 693,621 | -5.1% |
| 2006 | 686,296 | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 523,029 | -23.8% |
| 2008 | 419,249 | -19.8% |
| 2009 | 368,178 | -12.2% |
| 2010 | 387,265 | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 500,004 | +29.1% |
| 2012 | 568,934 | +13.8% |
| 2013 | 648,936 | +14.1% |
| 2014 | 665,956 | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 627,080 | -5.8% |
| 2016 | 650,391 | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 694,556 | +6.8% |
| 2018 | 724,787 | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 734,780 | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 787,823 | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 825,290 | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 837,188 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 1.50 million | +78.8% |
| 2024 | 2.09 million | +39.9% |
| 2025 | 2.82 million | +34.7% |
Sudan compared with similar countries
- Sudan's 2.82 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 164,215, 17.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sudan's 2.82 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12,726, 221.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Sudan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | +480.8% | 31,000 | 180,060 |
| 1983 | +479.4% | 5,350 | 31,000 |
| 1965 | +301.8% | 20,300 | 81,560 |
| 1973 | -89.8% | 128,450 | 13,050 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 99,536 | 13,000 | 175,500 | 7 |
| 1970s | 55,171 | 10,600 | 172,960 | 10 |
| 1980s | 158,560 | 5,350 | 438,899 | 10 |
| 1990s | 394,760 | 196,242 | 523,996 | 10 |
| 2000s | 552,038 | 368,178 | 730,631 | 10 |
| 2010s | 620,269 | 387,265 | 734,780 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.48 million | 787,823 | 2.82 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sudan
- 1 Ukraine 5.22 million compare
- 2 Syria 4.87 million compare
- 4 Afghanistan 2.67 million compare
- 5 South Sudan 2.39 million compare
- 6 Myanmar 1.52 million compare
More population data for Sudan
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4226 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.64 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4226 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5289 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 84,494 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.31 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3723 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.42 (2100)
- Population density 73.28 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 9.54 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of origin in Sudan?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Sudan was 2.82 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 2.82 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,350 in 1981.
- How does Sudan rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- Sudan ranks 3rd out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 349.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sudan 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 — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).