Refugees by country of asylum in Ghana
Ghana: Refugees by country of asylum was 7,479 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Ghana, 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 Ghana is 7,479 people, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.0% on the previous year and down 59.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Ghana peaked at 150,095 people in 1993 and was at its lowest, 70 people, in 1971.
Ghana ranks 101st 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 20,000 people | — |
| 1971 | 70 people | -99.7% |
| 1975 | 130 people | +85.7% |
| 1976 | 180 people | +38.5% |
| 1977 | 170 people | -5.6% |
| 1978 | 70 people | -58.8% |
| 1979 | 300 people | +328.6% |
| 1982 | 100 people | -66.7% |
| 1983 | 90 people | -10.0% |
| 1984 | 90 people | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 120 people | +33.3% |
| 1986 | 160 people | +33.3% |
| 1987 | 150 people | -6.2% |
| 1988 | 140 people | -6.7% |
| 1989 | 80 people | -42.9% |
| 1990 | 8,123 people | +10053.8% |
| 1991 | 8,128 people | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 12,114 people | +49.0% |
| 1993 | 150,095 people | +1139.0% |
| 1994 | 113,665 people | -24.3% |
| 1995 | 83,201 people | -26.8% |
| 1996 | 35,613 people | -57.2% |
| 1997 | 22,853 people | -35.8% |
| 1998 | 14,558 people | -36.3% |
| 1999 | 13,256 people | -8.9% |
| 2000 | 12,714 people | -4.1% |
| 2001 | 11,787 people | -7.3% |
| 2002 | 33,506 people | +184.3% |
| 2003 | 43,948 people | +31.2% |
| 2004 | 42,049 people | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 53,534 people | +27.3% |
| 2006 | 44,938 people | -16.1% |
| 2007 | 34,955 people | -22.2% |
| 2008 | 18,201 people | -47.9% |
| 2009 | 13,655 people | -25.0% |
| 2010 | 13,828 people | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 13,588 people | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 16,012 people | +17.8% |
| 2013 | 18,681 people | +16.7% |
| 2014 | 18,448 people | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 17,404 people | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 11,866 people | -31.8% |
| 2017 | 12,153 people | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 11,896 people | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 11,946 people | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 12,406 people | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 11,894 people | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 8,531 people | -28.3% |
| 2023 | 7,057 people | -17.3% |
| 2024 | 7,479 people | +6.0% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 7,479 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9,240 people, 81% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 7,479 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25,275 people, 30% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Ghana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +10053.8% | 80 people | 8,123 people |
| 1993 | +1139.0% | 12,114 people | 150,095 people |
| 1979 | +328.6% | 70 people | 300 people |
| 2002 | +184.3% | 11,787 people | 33,506 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 20,000 people | 20,000 people | 20,000 people | 1 |
| 1970s | 153.33 people | 70 people | 300 people | 6 |
| 1980s | 116.25 people | 80 people | 160 people | 8 |
| 1990s | 46,161 people | 8,123 people | 150,095 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 30,929 people | 11,787 people | 53,534 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 14,582 people | 11,866 people | 18,681 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 9,473 people | 7,057 people | 12,406 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More reference data data for Ghana
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2805 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1989 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9405 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.9478 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 12.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.08 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Ghana?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Ghana was 7,479 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 150,095 people in 1993.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 70 people in 1971.
- How does Ghana rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Ghana ranks 101st out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana 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 — 50 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.