Refugees by country of asylum in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Refugees by country of asylum was 39,915 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Burkina Faso, 1983–2024
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 Burkina Faso is 39,915 people, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 5.8% on the previous year and up 25.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Burkina Faso peaked at 49,990 people in 1994 and was at its lowest, 70 people, in 1983.
Burkina Faso ranks 70th 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 Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 70 people | — |
| 1984 | 100 people | +42.9% |
| 1985 | 90 people | -10.0% |
| 1986 | 220 people | +144.4% |
| 1987 | 270 people | +22.7% |
| 1988 | 260 people | -3.7% |
| 1989 | 360 people | +38.5% |
| 1990 | 350 people | -2.8% |
| 1991 | 320 people | -8.6% |
| 1992 | 5,670 people | +1671.9% |
| 1993 | 6,597 people | +16.3% |
| 1994 | 49,990 people | +657.8% |
| 1995 | 29,777 people | -40.4% |
| 1996 | 28,381 people | -4.7% |
| 1997 | 1,799 people | -93.7% |
| 1998 | 562 people | -68.8% |
| 1999 | 672 people | +19.6% |
| 2000 | 692 people | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 457 people | -34.0% |
| 2002 | 457 people | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 466 people | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 494 people | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 513 people | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 512 people | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 535 people | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 556 people | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 543 people | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 530 people | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 549 people | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 39,304 people | +7059.2% |
| 2013 | 29,233 people | -25.6% |
| 2014 | 31,894 people | +9.1% |
| 2015 | 34,017 people | +6.7% |
| 2016 | 32,551 people | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 24,152 people | -25.8% |
| 2018 | 25,120 people | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 25,869 people | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 20,252 people | -21.7% |
| 2021 | 25,010 people | +23.5% |
| 2022 | 34,375 people | +37.4% |
| 2023 | 37,735 people | +9.8% |
| 2024 | 39,915 people | +5.8% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 39,915 people is below the median for low income countries, which is 42,512 people, 94% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 39,915 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25,275 people, 1.6× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Burkina Faso 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +7059.2% | 549 people | 39,304 people |
| 1992 | +1671.9% | 320 people | 5,670 people |
| 1994 | +657.8% | 6,597 people | 49,990 people |
| 1986 | +144.4% | 90 people | 220 people |
| 1997 | -93.7% | 28,381 people | 1,799 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 195.71 people | 70 people | 360 people | 7 |
| 1990s | 12,412 people | 320 people | 49,990 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 522.5 people | 457 people | 692 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 24,322 people | 530 people | 39,304 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 31,457 people | 20,252 people | 39,915 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
More reference data data for Burkina Faso
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9232 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 7.39 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 9.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4137 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 9.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.61 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 33.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 45.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.25 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Burkina Faso?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Burkina Faso was 39,915 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 Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 49,990 people in 1994.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 70 people in 1983.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Burkina Faso ranks 70th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Burkina Faso 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 — 42 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.