Refugees by country of asylum in Colombia
Colombia: Refugees by country of asylum was 1,306 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Colombia, 1970–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of asylum in Colombia stood at 1,306 people.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.5% on the previous year and up 559.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Colombia peaked at 2,000 people in 1979 and was at its lowest, 137 people, in 2006.
That places Colombia 122nd out of 183 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.
Refugees by country of asylum in Colombia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1,500 people | — |
| 1971 | 1,400 people | -6.7% |
| 1972 | 1,350 people | -3.6% |
| 1973 | 1,450 people | +7.4% |
| 1974 | 1,200 people | -17.2% |
| 1977 | 1,800 people | +50.0% |
| 1978 | 1,500 people | -16.7% |
| 1979 | 2,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1980 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 1,800 people | -10.0% |
| 1982 | 150 people | -91.7% |
| 1983 | 210 people | +40.0% |
| 1984 | 330 people | +57.1% |
| 1985 | 400 people | +21.2% |
| 1986 | 240 people | -40.0% |
| 1987 | 680 people | +183.3% |
| 1988 | 720 people | +5.9% |
| 1989 | 700 people | -2.8% |
| 1990 | 460 people | -34.3% |
| 1991 | 450 people | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 478 people | +6.2% |
| 1993 | 296 people | -38.1% |
| 1994 | 312 people | +5.4% |
| 1995 | 220 people | -29.5% |
| 1996 | 222 people | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 223 people | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 226 people | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 232 people | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 244 people | +5.2% |
| 2001 | 213 people | -12.7% |
| 2002 | 208 people | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 189 people | -9.1% |
| 2004 | 146 people | -22.8% |
| 2005 | 152 people | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 137 people | -9.9% |
| 2007 | 164 people | +19.7% |
| 2008 | 165 people | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 184 people | +11.5% |
| 2010 | 198 people | +7.6% |
| 2011 | 208 people | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 204 people | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 207 people | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 198 people | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 212 people | +7.1% |
| 2016 | 241 people | +13.7% |
| 2017 | 260 people | +7.9% |
| 2018 | 294 people | +13.1% |
| 2019 | 634 people | +115.6% |
| 2020 | 957 people | +50.9% |
| 2021 | 1,504 people | +57.2% |
| 2022 | 1,607 people | +6.8% |
| 2023 | 1,382 people | -14.0% |
| 2024 | 1,306 people | -5.5% |
Colombia compared with similar countries
- Colombia's 1,306 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6,251 people, 21% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Colombia's 1,306 people is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 166 people, 7.9× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Colombia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | +183.3% | 240 people | 680 people |
| 2019 | +115.6% | 294 people | 634 people |
| 1982 | -91.7% | 1,800 people | 150 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1,525 people | 1,200 people | 2,000 people | 8 |
| 1980s | 723 people | 150 people | 2,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 311.9 people | 220 people | 478 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 180.2 people | 137 people | 244 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 265.6 people | 198 people | 634 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,351 people | 957 people | 1,607 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
More reference data data for Colombia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 11.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4113 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 19.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 9.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 2.67 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 61.25 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 94.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.24 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Colombia?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Colombia was 1,306 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 Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 2,000 people in 1979.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 137 people in 2006.
- How does Colombia rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Colombia ranks 122nd out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 559.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Colombia 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 — 53 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.