South Africa vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Asylum seekers vs. Refugees per 100,000 people by country of asylum

South Africa
156.72 people per 100,000 inhabitants
in 2024
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
180.48 people per 100,000 inhabitants
in 2024
South Africa rank
38th
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
35th

Asylum seekers vs. Refugees per 100,000 people by country of asylum over time

  • South Africa
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
05001.0k1.5k2.0k200020122024

How they compare

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland currently reports 180.48 people per 100,000 inhabitants against 156.72 people per 100,000 inhabitants in South Africa, a difference of 23.76 people per 100,000 inhabitants.

That makes United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's figure about 1.2 times South Africa's.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 25 shared years of data; in 2000 it was United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.

South Africa ranks 38th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 35th of 181 countries.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Difference Ahead
2000s 250.06 people per 100,000 inhabitants 44.12 people per 100,000 inhabitants 205.94 people per 100,000 inhabitants South Africa
2010s 571.42 people per 100,000 inhabitants 53.17 people per 100,000 inhabitants 518.24 people per 100,000 inhabitants South Africa
2020s 197.6 people per 100,000 inhabitants 179.34 people per 100,000 inhabitants 18.26 people per 100,000 inhabitants South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher asylum seekers vs. refugees per 100,000 people by country of asylum, South Africa or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, at 180.48 people per 100,000 inhabitants against 156.72 people per 100,000 inhabitants in South Africa as of 2024.
What is the difference in asylum seekers vs. refugees per 100,000 people by country of asylum between South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
23.76 people per 100,000 inhabitants, with United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
25 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2024.
How do South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for asylum seekers vs. refugees per 100,000 people by country of asylum?
South Africa ranks 38th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 35th of 181 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNHCR (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Asylum seekers vs. Refugees per 100,000 people by country of asylum. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Asylum seekers vs. Refugees per 100,000 people by country of asylum. Statizoid, drawing on UNHCR (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/asylum-seekers-refugees-country-of-asylum/south-africa/united-kingdom/

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<a href="https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/asylum-seekers-refugees-country-of-asylum/south-africa/united-kingdom/">South Africa vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Asylum seekers vs. Refugees per 100,000 people by country of asylum</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Asylum seekers vs. Refugees per 100,000 people by country of asylum
Unit
people per 100,000 inhabitants
Source
UNHCR (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
181 places, 4,083 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection, but have not yet been granted asylum in the country. This data is given per 100,000 people living in the country of asylum.