Refugees by country of asylum in Djibouti
Djibouti: Refugees by country of asylum was 23,987 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Djibouti, 1977–2024
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 Djibouti is 23,987 people, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.0% on the previous year and up 16.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Djibouti peaked at 96,144 people in 1991 and was at its lowest, 1,272 people, in 1988.
That places Djibouti 78th 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 Djibouti, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 8,000 people | — |
| 1978 | 20,000 people | +150.0% |
| 1979 | 28,800 people | +44.0% |
| 1980 | 45,310 people | +57.3% |
| 1981 | 31,800 people | -29.8% |
| 1982 | 34,200 people | +7.5% |
| 1983 | 29,170 people | -14.7% |
| 1984 | 16,770 people | -42.5% |
| 1985 | 17,280 people | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 16,720 people | -3.2% |
| 1987 | 13,140 people | -21.4% |
| 1988 | 1,272 people | -90.3% |
| 1989 | 31,409 people | +2369.3% |
| 1990 | 77,606 people | +147.1% |
| 1991 | 96,144 people | +23.9% |
| 1992 | 28,000 people | -70.9% |
| 1993 | 34,065 people | +21.7% |
| 1994 | 33,410 people | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 27,310 people | -18.3% |
| 1996 | 25,080 people | -8.2% |
| 1997 | 23,589 people | -5.9% |
| 1998 | 23,577 people | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 23,266 people | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 23,238 people | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 23,172 people | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 21,702 people | -6.3% |
| 2003 | 27,034 people | +24.6% |
| 2004 | 18,033 people | -33.3% |
| 2005 | 10,455 people | -42.0% |
| 2006 | 9,257 people | -11.5% |
| 2007 | 6,653 people | -28.1% |
| 2008 | 9,228 people | +38.7% |
| 2009 | 12,106 people | +31.2% |
| 2010 | 15,102 people | +24.7% |
| 2011 | 20,336 people | +34.7% |
| 2012 | 19,136 people | -5.9% |
| 2013 | 20,010 people | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 20,525 people | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 19,369 people | -5.6% |
| 2016 | 17,683 people | -8.7% |
| 2017 | 17,553 people | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 18,293 people | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 19,639 people | +7.4% |
| 2020 | 21,193 people | +7.9% |
| 2021 | 23,232 people | +9.6% |
| 2022 | 20,383 people | -12.3% |
| 2023 | 23,063 people | +13.1% |
| 2024 | 23,987 people | +4.0% |
Djibouti compared with similar countries
- Djibouti's 23,987 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9,240 people, 2.6× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Djibouti's 23,987 people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16,250 people, 1.5× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Djibouti 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +2369.3% | 1,272 people | 31,409 people |
| 1978 | +150.0% | 8,000 people | 20,000 people |
| 1990 | +147.1% | 31,409 people | 77,606 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 18,933 people | 8,000 people | 28,800 people | 3 |
| 1980s | 23,707 people | 1,272 people | 45,310 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 39,205 people | 23,266 people | 96,144 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 16,088 people | 6,653 people | 27,034 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 18,765 people | 15,102 people | 20,525 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 22,372 people | 20,383 people | 23,987 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Djibouti
More reference data data for Djibouti
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0052 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2231 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.2286 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0003 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.2286 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0175 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0092 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.04 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0016 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Djibouti?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Djibouti was 23,987 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 Djibouti?
- The highest recorded value was 96,144 people in 1991.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Djibouti?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,272 people in 1988.
- How does Djibouti rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Djibouti ranks 78th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Djibouti?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Djibouti 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 — 48 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.