Refugee population by country or territory of origin, annual growth in South Africa
South Africa: Refugee population by country or territory of origin, annual growth was 27.75 % change on previous year in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of origin, annual growth in South Africa, 1967–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 27.75 % change on previous year for refugee population by country or territory of origin, annual growth in 2024.
That represents a change of up 61.1% on the previous year and up 5,982.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin, annual growth in South Africa peaked at 233.1 % change on previous year in 1980 and was at its lowest, -83.34 % change on previous year, in 1994.
South Africa ranks 62nd of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of origin, annual growth in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 15.38 % change on previous year | — |
| 1968 | 64.44 % change on previous year | +318.9% |
| 1969 | -60.81 % change on previous year | -194.4% |
| 1970 | 58.62 % change on previous year | -196.4% |
| 1971 | 84.78 % change on previous year | +44.6% |
| 1972 | -7.06 % change on previous year | -108.3% |
| 1973 | 18.99 % change on previous year | -369.0% |
| 1974 | 46.81 % change on previous year | +146.5% |
| 1975 | -1.45 % change on previous year | -103.1% |
| 1976 | 60.29 % change on previous year | -4260.3% |
| 1977 | 9.86 % change on previous year | -83.6% |
| 1978 | 60.33 % change on previous year | +511.8% |
| 1979 | 89.58 % change on previous year | +48.5% |
| 1980 | 233.1 % change on previous year | +160.2% |
| 1981 | 2.68 % change on previous year | -98.9% |
| 1982 | 14.18 % change on previous year | +428.9% |
| 1983 | 21.42 % change on previous year | +51.1% |
| 1984 | 11.7 % change on previous year | -45.4% |
| 1985 | -1.17 % change on previous year | -110.0% |
| 1986 | -12.83 % change on previous year | +999.5% |
| 1987 | -21.28 % change on previous year | +65.9% |
| 1988 | -4.76 % change on previous year | -77.6% |
| 1989 | -31.2 % change on previous year | +555.9% |
| 1990 | -13.74 % change on previous year | -56.0% |
| 1991 | -24.19 % change on previous year | +76.1% |
| 1992 | -17.53 % change on previous year | -27.6% |
| 1993 | -1.67 % change on previous year | -90.5% |
| 1994 | -83.34 % change on previous year | +4900.9% |
| 1995 | -67.5 % change on previous year | -19.0% |
| 1996 | -41.87 % change on previous year | -38.0% |
| 1997 | -15.73 % change on previous year | -62.4% |
| 1998 | -23.65 % change on previous year | +50.3% |
| 1999 | 3.26 % change on previous year | -113.8% |
| 2000 | -11.58 % change on previous year | -455.1% |
| 2001 | -22.02 % change on previous year | +90.2% |
| 2002 | 106.87 % change on previous year | -585.2% |
| 2003 | 4.8 % change on previous year | -95.5% |
| 2004 | -8.1 % change on previous year | -268.8% |
| 2005 | -0.7663 % change on previous year | -90.5% |
| 2006 | 93.44 % change on previous year | -12293.4% |
| 2007 | -5.39 % change on previous year | -105.8% |
| 2008 | -5.27 % change on previous year | -2.1% |
| 2009 | -15.37 % change on previous year | +191.4% |
| 2010 | -1.58 % change on previous year | -89.7% |
| 2011 | 12.83 % change on previous year | -912.8% |
| 2012 | -2.13 % change on previous year | -116.6% |
| 2013 | 2.66 % change on previous year | -224.9% |
| 2014 | -0.4717 % change on previous year | -117.7% |
| 2015 | 5.92 % change on previous year | -1355.9% |
| 2016 | 1.12 % change on previous year | -81.1% |
| 2017 | 1.99 % change on previous year | +78.0% |
| 2018 | 4.56 % change on previous year | +128.8% |
| 2019 | -8.51 % change on previous year | -286.7% |
| 2020 | 7.48 % change on previous year | -188.0% |
| 2021 | 35.65 % change on previous year | +376.5% |
| 2022 | 21.93 % change on previous year | -38.5% |
| 2023 | 17.22 % change on previous year | -21.5% |
| 2024 | 27.75 % change on previous year | +61.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 27.75 % change on previous year is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 12.65 % change on previous year, 2.2× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 27.75 % change on previous year is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.31 % change on previous year, 3.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin, annual growth in South Africa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +12293.4% | -0.7663 % change on previous year | 93.44 % change on previous year |
| 1994 | -4900.9% | -1.67 % change on previous year | -83.34 % change on previous year |
| 1976 | +4260.3% | -1.45 % change on previous year | 60.29 % change on previous year |
| 2015 | +1355.9% | -0.4717 % change on previous year | 5.92 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.34 % change on previous year | -60.81 % change on previous year | 64.44 % change on previous year | 3 |
| 1970s | 42.08 % change on previous year | -7.06 % change on previous year | 89.58 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 21.18 % change on previous year | -31.2 % change on previous year | 233.1 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | -28.6 % change on previous year | -83.34 % change on previous year | 3.26 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.66 % change on previous year | -22.02 % change on previous year | 106.87 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.64 % change on previous year | -8.51 % change on previous year | 12.83 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.01 % change on previous year | 7.48 % change on previous year | 35.65 % change on previous year | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 59 Cuba 28.58 % change on previous year compare
- 60 Saint Kitts and Nevis 28.57 % change on previous year compare
- 61 Tunisia 28.32 % change on previous year compare
- 63 Bulgaria 26.72 % change on previous year compare
- 64 Guyana 26.21 % change on previous year compare
- 65 Jordan 25.44 % change on previous year compare
More population data for South Africa
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7997 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 73,530 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 77.75 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of origin, annual growth in South Africa?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin, annual growth in South Africa was 27.75 % change on previous year in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin, annual growth recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 233.1 % change on previous year in 1980.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin, annual growth recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -83.34 % change on previous year in 1994.
- How does South Africa rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin, annual growth?
- South Africa ranks 62nd out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin, annual growth rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5,982.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of origin, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 58 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Refugee population by country or territory of origin. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Refugees by country of origin UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Refugee population by country or territory of origin. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.