Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Western Sahara
Western Sahara: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 174,607 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Western Sahara, 1975–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of origin in Western Sahara is 174,607, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 49.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Western Sahara peaked at 174,607 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 20,000, in 1975.
Western Sahara ranks 19th of 205 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Western Sahara, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 20,000 | — |
| 1976 | 35,000 | +75.0% |
| 1977 | 50,000 | +42.9% |
| 1978 | 50,000 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 50,000 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 50,000 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 165,000 | +230.0% |
| 1982 | 165,000 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 165,000 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 165,000 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 165,000 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 165,000 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 165,000 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 165,000 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 167,190 | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 165,000 | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 165,000 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 165,000 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 165,000 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 166,493 | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 165,000 | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 166,328 | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 166,099 | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 165,968 | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 165,868 | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 165,808 | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 165,908 | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 165,884 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 165,729 | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 165,728 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 90,650 | -45.3% |
| 2006 | 90,611 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 116,594 | +28.7% |
| 2008 | 116,528 | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 116,469 | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 116,411 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 116,414 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 116,451 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 116,500 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 116,478 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 116,542 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 116,648 | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 116,762 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 116,790 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 116,908 | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 116,925 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 117,041 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 91,026 | -22.2% |
| 2023 | 90,974 | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 174,578 | +91.9% |
| 2025 | 174,607 | +0.0% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Western Sahara 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +230.0% | 50,000 | 165,000 |
| 2024 | +91.9% | 90,974 | 174,578 |
| 1976 | +75.0% | 20,000 | 35,000 |
| 2005 | -45.3% | 165,728 | 90,650 |
| 1977 | +42.9% | 35,000 | 50,000 |
| 2007 | +28.7% | 90,611 | 116,594 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 41,000 | 20,000 | 50,000 | 5 |
| 1980s | 153,719 | 50,000 | 167,190 | 10 |
| 1990s | 165,576 | 165,000 | 166,493 | 10 |
| 2000s | 135,991 | 90,611 | 165,908 | 10 |
| 2010s | 116,590 | 116,411 | 116,908 | 10 |
| 2020s | 127,525 | 90,974 | 174,607 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Western Sahara
More population data for Western Sahara
- Population growth rate -0.109 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 41,447 (2100)
- Population density 3.13 (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 growth rate by level of development -0.109 (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1005 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.351 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3345 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population aged 15-24 years (thousands), annual growth rate 2.31 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of origin in Western Sahara?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Western Sahara was 174,607 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Western Sahara?
- The highest recorded value was 174,607 in 2025.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Western Sahara?
- The lowest recorded value was 20,000 in 1975.
- How does Western Sahara rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- Western Sahara ranks 19th out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Western Sahara?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Western Sahara 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).