Refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square in South Africa
South Africa: Refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square was 0.0008 units per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square in South Africa, 1966–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square in South Africa stood at 0.0008 units per square kilometre.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 17.2% on the previous year and up 116.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square in South Africa peaked at 0.0318 units per square kilometre in 1984 and was at its lowest, 0.0001 units per square kilometre, in 2001.
That places South Africa 153rd out of 196 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square in South Africa, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 0.0003 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1967 | 0.0004 units per square kilometre | +15.4% |
| 1968 | 0.0006 units per square kilometre | +64.4% |
| 1969 | 0.0002 units per square kilometre | -60.8% |
| 1970 | 0.0004 units per square kilometre | +58.6% |
| 1971 | 0.0007 units per square kilometre | +84.8% |
| 1972 | 0.0007 units per square kilometre | -7.1% |
| 1973 | 0.0008 units per square kilometre | +19.0% |
| 1974 | 0.0011 units per square kilometre | +46.8% |
| 1975 | 0.0011 units per square kilometre | -1.4% |
| 1976 | 0.0018 units per square kilometre | +60.3% |
| 1977 | 0.002 units per square kilometre | +9.9% |
| 1978 | 0.0032 units per square kilometre | +60.3% |
| 1979 | 0.006 units per square kilometre | +89.6% |
| 1980 | 0.02 units per square kilometre | +233.1% |
| 1981 | 0.0205 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 0.0234 units per square kilometre | +14.2% |
| 1983 | 0.0285 units per square kilometre | +21.4% |
| 1984 | 0.0318 units per square kilometre | +11.7% |
| 1985 | 0.0314 units per square kilometre | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 0.0274 units per square kilometre | -12.8% |
| 1987 | 0.0216 units per square kilometre | -21.3% |
| 1988 | 0.0205 units per square kilometre | -4.8% |
| 1989 | 0.0141 units per square kilometre | -31.2% |
| 1990 | 0.0122 units per square kilometre | -13.7% |
| 1991 | 0.0092 units per square kilometre | -24.2% |
| 1992 | 0.0076 units per square kilometre | -17.5% |
| 1993 | 0.0075 units per square kilometre | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 0.0012 units per square kilometre | -83.3% |
| 1995 | 0.0004 units per square kilometre | -67.5% |
| 1996 | 0.0002 units per square kilometre | -41.9% |
| 1997 | 0.0002 units per square kilometre | -15.7% |
| 1998 | 0.0002 units per square kilometre | -23.7% |
| 1999 | 0.0002 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 0.0001 units per square kilometre | -11.6% |
| 2001 | 0.0001 units per square kilometre | -22.0% |
| 2002 | 0.0002 units per square kilometre | +106.9% |
| 2003 | 0.0002 units per square kilometre | +4.8% |
| 2004 | 0.0002 units per square kilometre | -8.1% |
| 2005 | 0.0002 units per square kilometre | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 0.0004 units per square kilometre | +93.4% |
| 2007 | 0.0004 units per square kilometre | -5.4% |
| 2008 | 0.0004 units per square kilometre | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 0.0003 units per square kilometre | -15.4% |
| 2010 | 0.0003 units per square kilometre | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 0.0003 units per square kilometre | +12.8% |
| 2012 | 0.0003 units per square kilometre | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 0.0003 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 0.0003 units per square kilometre | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 0.0004 units per square kilometre | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 0.0004 units per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 0.0004 units per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 0.0004 units per square kilometre | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 0.0004 units per square kilometre | -8.5% |
| 2020 | 0.0004 units per square kilometre | +7.5% |
| 2021 | 0.0005 units per square kilometre | +35.7% |
| 2022 | 0.0006 units per square kilometre | +21.9% |
| 2023 | 0.0008 units per square kilometre | +17.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.0008 units per square kilometre is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0184 units per square kilometre, 4% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.0008 units per square kilometre is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.046 units per square kilometre, 2% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square 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% | 0.006 units per square kilometre | 0.02 units per square kilometre |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0004 units per square kilometre | 0.0002 units per square kilometre | 0.0006 units per square kilometre | 4 |
| 1970s | 0.0018 units per square kilometre | 0.0004 units per square kilometre | 0.006 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0239 units per square kilometre | 0.0141 units per square kilometre | 0.0318 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0039 units per square kilometre | 0.0002 units per square kilometre | 0.0122 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0003 units per square kilometre | 0.0001 units per square kilometre | 0.0004 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0004 units per square kilometre | 0.0003 units per square kilometre | 0.0004 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0006 units per square kilometre | 0.0004 units per square kilometre | 0.0008 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 150 Madagascar 0.001 units per square kilometre compare
- 151 United Kingdom 0.0009 units per square kilometre compare
- 152 Greece 0.0008 units per square kilometre compare
- 154 Germany 0.0006 units per square kilometre compare
- 155 Namibia 0.0005 units per square kilometre compare
- 156 Cyprus 0.0005 units per square kilometre 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, per square in South Africa?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square in South Africa was 0.0008 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.0318 units per square kilometre in 1984.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0001 units per square kilometre in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square?
- South Africa ranks 153rd out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 116.7%. 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, per square kilometre. 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
Refugee population by country or territory of origin divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Refugee population by country or territory of origin ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Refugees by country of origin UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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 divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.