Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in South Africa
South Africa: Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled was 1,174 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in South Africa, 1966–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
South Africa recorded 1,174 for refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 27.7% on the previous year and up 178.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in South Africa peaked at 38,560 in 1984 and was at its lowest, 131, in 2001.
That places South Africa 101st out of 204 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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, gaps filled in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 390 | — |
| 1967 | 450 | +15.4% |
| 1968 | 740 | +64.4% |
| 1969 | 290 | -60.8% |
| 1970 | 460 | +58.6% |
| 1971 | 850 | +84.8% |
| 1972 | 790 | -7.1% |
| 1973 | 940 | +19.0% |
| 1974 | 1,380 | +46.8% |
| 1975 | 1,360 | -1.4% |
| 1976 | 2,180 | +60.3% |
| 1977 | 2,395 | +9.9% |
| 1978 | 3,840 | +60.3% |
| 1979 | 7,280 | +89.6% |
| 1980 | 24,250 | +233.1% |
| 1981 | 24,900 | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 28,430 | +14.2% |
| 1983 | 34,520 | +21.4% |
| 1984 | 38,560 | +11.7% |
| 1985 | 38,110 | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 33,220 | -12.8% |
| 1987 | 26,150 | -21.3% |
| 1988 | 24,906 | -4.8% |
| 1989 | 17,135 | -31.2% |
| 1990 | 14,781 | -13.7% |
| 1991 | 11,205 | -24.2% |
| 1992 | 9,241 | -17.5% |
| 1993 | 9,087 | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 1,514 | -83.3% |
| 1995 | 492 | -67.5% |
| 1996 | 286 | -41.9% |
| 1997 | 241 | -15.7% |
| 1998 | 184 | -23.7% |
| 1999 | 190 | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 168 | -11.6% |
| 2001 | 131 | -22.0% |
| 2002 | 271 | +106.9% |
| 2003 | 284 | +4.8% |
| 2004 | 261 | -8.1% |
| 2005 | 259 | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 501 | +93.4% |
| 2007 | 474 | -5.4% |
| 2008 | 449 | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 380 | -15.4% |
| 2010 | 374 | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 422 | +12.8% |
| 2012 | 413 | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 424 | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 422 | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 447 | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 452 | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 461 | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 482 | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 441 | -8.5% |
| 2020 | 474 | +7.5% |
| 2021 | 643 | +35.7% |
| 2022 | 784 | +21.9% |
| 2023 | 919 | +17.2% |
| 2024 | 1,174 | +27.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1,174 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2,552, 46% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1,174 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11,036, 11% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +233.1% | 7,280 | 24,250 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 467.5 | 290 | 740 | 4 |
| 1970s | 2,148 | 460 | 7,280 | 10 |
| 1980s | 29,018 | 17,135 | 38,560 | 10 |
| 1990s | 4,722 | 184 | 14,781 | 10 |
| 2000s | 317.8 | 131 | 501 | 10 |
| 2010s | 433.8 | 374 | 482 | 10 |
| 2020s | 798.8 | 474 | 1,174 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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, gaps filled in South Africa?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in South Africa was 1,174 in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 38,560 in 1984.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 131 in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled?
- South Africa ranks 101st out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 178.2%. 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, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 59 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
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
- 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
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.