Refugees by country of asylum in Benin
Benin: Refugees by country of asylum was 16,232 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Benin, 1969–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of asylum in Benin is 16,232 people, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 474.6% on the previous year and up 3,820.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Benin peaked at 156,239 people in 1993 and was at its lowest, 50 people, in 1983.
Benin ranks 87th of 183 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.
Refugees by country of asylum in Benin, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 1,100 people | — |
| 1983 | 50 people | -95.5% |
| 1984 | 800 people | +1500.0% |
| 1985 | 3,700 people | +362.5% |
| 1986 | 3,740 people | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 3,050 people | -18.4% |
| 1988 | 1,176 people | -61.4% |
| 1989 | 858 people | -27.0% |
| 1990 | 456 people | -46.9% |
| 1991 | 456 people | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 293 people | -35.7% |
| 1993 | 156,239 people | +53223.9% |
| 1994 | 70,403 people | -54.9% |
| 1995 | 23,843 people | -66.1% |
| 1996 | 5,961 people | -75.0% |
| 1997 | 2,914 people | -51.1% |
| 1998 | 2,898 people | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 3,652 people | +26.0% |
| 2000 | 4,290 people | +17.5% |
| 2001 | 4,794 people | +11.7% |
| 2002 | 5,014 people | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 5,032 people | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 4,800 people | -4.6% |
| 2005 | 30,288 people | +531.0% |
| 2006 | 10,785 people | -64.4% |
| 2007 | 7,611 people | -29.4% |
| 2008 | 6,927 people | -9.0% |
| 2009 | 7,204 people | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 7,136 people | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 7,213 people | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 4,960 people | -31.2% |
| 2013 | 190 people | -96.2% |
| 2014 | 414 people | +117.9% |
| 2015 | 526 people | +27.1% |
| 2016 | 804 people | +52.9% |
| 2017 | 1,056 people | +31.3% |
| 2018 | 1,167 people | +10.5% |
| 2019 | 1,238 people | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 1,396 people | +12.8% |
| 2021 | 1,736 people | +24.4% |
| 2022 | 1,779 people | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 2,825 people | +58.8% |
| 2024 | 16,232 people | +474.6% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 16,232 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9,240 people, 1.8× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Benin's 16,232 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25,275 people, 64% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Benin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +53223.9% | 293 people | 156,239 people |
| 1984 | +1500.0% | 50 people | 800 people |
| 2005 | +531.0% | 4,800 people | 30,288 people |
| 2024 | +474.6% | 2,825 people | 16,232 people |
| 1985 | +362.5% | 800 people | 3,700 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,100 people | 1,100 people | 1,100 people | 1 |
| 1980s | 1,911 people | 50 people | 3,740 people | 7 |
| 1990s | 26,712 people | 293 people | 156,239 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 8,674 people | 4,290 people | 30,288 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,470 people | 190 people | 7,213 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,794 people | 1,396 people | 16,232 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More reference data data for Benin
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1979 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.67 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1562 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6635 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.5244 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.8505 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Benin?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Benin was 16,232 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 156,239 people in 1993.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 50 people in 1983.
- How does Benin rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Benin ranks 87th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3,820.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 43 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees who live in this country, not just those who arrived that year.