Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Ethiopia

Ethiopia: Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled was 164,418 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
164,418
Change on year
up 3.8%
World rank
18th
of 204 countries
All-time high
2.57 million
in 1980
All-time low
28,600
in 1967
Years of data
58
1967–2024

Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Ethiopia, 1967–2024

01.0M2.0M3.0M196719952024

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Ethiopia is 164,418, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.8% on the previous year and up 89.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Ethiopia peaked at 2.57 million in 1980 and was at its lowest, 28,600, in 1967.

Ethiopia ranks 18th of 204 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, gaps filled in Ethiopia, year by year

Annual values for Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Ethiopia, 1967 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1967 28,600
1968 31,000 +8.4%
1969 31,000 +0.0%
1970 54,350 +75.3%
1971 55,200 +1.6%
1972 44,640 -19.1%
1973 46,300 +3.7%
1974 49,200 +6.3%
1975 91,410 +85.8%
1976 105,700 +15.6%
1977 655,350 +520.0%
1978 887,670 +35.4%
1979 1.62 million +82.9%
1980 2.57 million +58.1%
1981 1.36 million -46.9%
1982 1.33 million -2.1%
1983 1.35 million +1.3%
1984 1.55 million +14.4%
1985 1.75 million +13.1%
1986 1.53 million -12.3%
1987 1.49 million -3.1%
1988 1.51 million +1.7%
1989 1.47 million -2.5%
1990 1.35 million -8.7%
1991 251,243 -81.3%
1992 313,131 +24.6%
1993 251,828 -19.6%
1994 226,429 -10.1%
1995 100,986 -55.4%
1996 96,264 -4.7%
1997 84,386 -12.3%
1998 70,663 -16.3%
1999 71,040 +0.5%
2000 66,396 -6.5%
2001 58,980 -11.2%
2002 61,235 +3.8%
2003 62,674 +2.3%
2004 63,153 +0.8%
2005 65,447 +3.6%
2006 74,007 +13.1%
2007 59,845 -19.1%
2008 63,863 +6.7%
2009 62,877 -1.5%
2010 68,838 +9.5%
2011 70,601 +2.6%
2012 74,964 +6.2%
2013 77,109 +2.9%
2014 86,857 +12.6%
2015 85,839 -1.2%
2016 83,958 -2.2%
2017 87,448 +4.2%
2018 92,232 +5.5%
2019 93,467 +1.3%
2020 151,426 +62.0%
2021 149,130 -1.5%
2022 149,603 +0.3%
2023 158,344 +5.8%
2024 164,418 +3.8%

Ethiopia compared with similar countries

  • Ethiopia's 164,418 is above the median for low income countries, which is 150,081, 1.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
  • Ethiopia's 164,418 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11,036, 14.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Ethiopia 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.

YearChange FromTo
1977 +520.0% 105,700 655,350
1975 +85.8% 49,200 91,410
1991 -81.3% 1.35 million 251,243
1979 +82.9% 887,670 1.62 million
1970 +75.3% 31,000 54,350
2020 +62.0% 93,467 151,426

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 30,200 28,600 31,000 3
1970s 361,369 44,640 1.62 million 10
1980s 1.59 million 1.33 million 2.57 million 10
1990s 281,190 70,663 1.35 million 10
2000s 63,848 58,980 74,007 10
2010s 82,131 68,838 93,467 10
2020s 154,584 149,130 164,418 5

Countries ranked near Ethiopia

  1. 15 Iraq 305,493 compare
  2. 16 Rwanda 249,087 compare
  3. 17 Western Sahara 174,578 compare
  4. 19 Iran 158,166 compare
  5. 20 China 153,564 compare
  6. 21 Azerbaijan 153,154 compare

See the full ranking of 204 places →

More population data for Ethiopia

All data for Ethiopia →

Frequently asked questions

What is refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Ethiopia?
Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Ethiopia was 164,418 in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled recorded in Ethiopia?
The highest recorded value was 2.57 million in 1980.
What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled recorded in Ethiopia?
The lowest recorded value was 28,600 in 1967.
How does Ethiopia rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled?
Ethiopia ranks 18th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
Is refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled rising or falling in Ethiopia?
Over the last ten years it is up 89.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Ethiopia. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/refugee-population-by-country-or-territory-of-origin-gaps-filled/ethiopia/

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How this figure is calculated

Refugee population by country or territory of origin with 133 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.

Computed from

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

Indicator
Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
204 places, 7,323 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed

Refugee population by country or territory of origin with 133 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.