Refugees by country of asylum in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Refugees by country of asylum was 448 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Saudi Arabia, 1974–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of asylum in Saudi Arabia stood at 448 people.
That represents a change of down 6.1% on the previous year and down 19.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Saudi Arabia peaked at 245,290 people in 2002 and was at its lowest, 100 people, in 1974.
Saudi Arabia ranks 133rd 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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 100 people | — |
| 1979 | 100,000 people | +99900.0% |
| 1980 | 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 65,000 people | -35.0% |
| 1982 | 59,000 people | -9.2% |
| 1983 | 59,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 105,500 people | +78.8% |
| 1985 | 130,000 people | +23.2% |
| 1986 | 202,100 people | +55.5% |
| 1991 | 33,261 people | -83.5% |
| 1992 | 28,660 people | -13.8% |
| 1993 | 24,025 people | -16.2% |
| 1994 | 17,965 people | -25.2% |
| 1995 | 13,169 people | -26.7% |
| 1996 | 9,852 people | -25.2% |
| 1997 | 5,833 people | -40.8% |
| 1998 | 5,531 people | -5.2% |
| 1999 | 5,560 people | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 5,308 people | -4.5% |
| 2001 | 245,266 people | +4520.7% |
| 2002 | 245,290 people | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 240,831 people | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 240,551 people | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 240,701 people | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 240,772 people | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 240,742 people | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 240,570 people | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 573 people | -99.8% |
| 2010 | 578 people | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 595 people | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 575 people | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 557 people | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 559 people | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 122 people | -78.2% |
| 2016 | 136 people | +11.5% |
| 2017 | 153 people | +12.5% |
| 2018 | 263 people | +71.9% |
| 2019 | 315 people | +19.8% |
| 2020 | 330 people | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 333 people | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 454 people | +36.3% |
| 2023 | 477 people | +5.1% |
| 2024 | 448 people | -6.1% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 448 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 10,077 people, 4% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 448 people is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16,250 people, 3% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Saudi Arabia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +99900.0% | 100 people | 100,000 people |
| 2001 | +4520.7% | 5,308 people | 245,266 people |
| 2009 | -99.8% | 240,570 people | 573 people |
| 1991 | -83.5% | 202,100 people | 33,261 people |
| 1984 | +78.8% | 59,000 people | 105,500 people |
| 2015 | -78.2% | 559 people | 122 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 50,050 people | 100 people | 100,000 people | 2 |
| 1980s | 102,943 people | 59,000 people | 202,100 people | 7 |
| 1990s | 15,984 people | 5,531 people | 33,261 people | 9 |
| 2000s | 194,060 people | 573 people | 245,290 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 385.3 people | 122 people | 595 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 408.4 people | 330 people | 477 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More reference data data for Saudi Arabia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1771 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6194 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.2207 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9641 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Saudi Arabia?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Saudi Arabia was 448 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 245,290 people in 2002.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 100 people in 1974.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 133rd out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.