Refugees by country of origin in Western Sahara
Western Sahara: Refugees by country of origin was 174,578 people in 2024. ▲ Rising
Refugees by country of origin in Western Sahara, 1975–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of origin in Western Sahara is 174,578 people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 91.9% on the previous year and up 49.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of origin in Western Sahara peaked at 174,578 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 20,000 people, in 1975.
Western Sahara ranks 17th of 204 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 50 years of available data.
Refugees by country of origin in Western Sahara, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 20,000 people | — |
| 1976 | 35,000 people | +75.0% |
| 1977 | 50,000 people | +42.9% |
| 1978 | 50,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 50,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 50,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 165,000 people | +230.0% |
| 1982 | 165,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 165,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 165,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 165,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 165,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 165,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 165,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 167,190 people | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 165,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 165,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 165,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 165,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 166,493 people | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 165,000 people | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 166,328 people | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 166,099 people | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 165,968 people | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 165,868 people | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 165,808 people | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 165,908 people | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 165,884 people | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 165,729 people | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 165,728 people | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 90,650 people | -45.3% |
| 2006 | 90,611 people | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 116,594 people | +28.7% |
| 2008 | 116,528 people | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 116,469 people | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 116,411 people | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 116,414 people | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 116,451 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 116,500 people | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 116,478 people | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 116,542 people | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 116,648 people | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 116,762 people | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 116,790 people | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 116,908 people | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 116,925 people | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 117,041 people | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 91,026 people | -22.2% |
| 2023 | 90,974 people | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 174,578 people | +91.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 41,000 people | 20,000 people | 50,000 people | 5 |
| 1980s | 153,719 people | 50,000 people | 167,190 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 165,576 people | 165,000 people | 166,493 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 135,991 people | 90,611 people | 165,908 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 116,590 people | 116,411 people | 116,908 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 118,109 people | 90,974 people | 174,578 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Western Sahara
More population data for Western Sahara
- World population growth -0.1% (2100)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1005 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.4967 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1005 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3345 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.1% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.351 % change on previous year (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 41,447 people (2100)
- Population density 3.13 people per km² (2100)
- Population aged 25-64 years (thousands), annual growth rate 1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of origin in Western Sahara?
- Refugees by country of origin in Western Sahara was 174,578 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 Western Sahara?
- The highest recorded value was 174,578 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of origin recorded in Western Sahara?
- The lowest recorded value was 20,000 people in 1975.
- How does Western Sahara rank for refugees by country of origin?
- Western Sahara ranks 17th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of origin rising or falling in Western Sahara?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Western Sahara 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.
Download this data
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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.