Refugees by country of asylum in South Africa
South Africa: Refugees by country of asylum was 71,171 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in South Africa, 1993–2024
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 South Africa is 71,171 people, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 6.0% on the previous year and down 36.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in South Africa peaked at 250,000 people in 1993 and was at its lowest, 6,816 people, in 1997.
That places South Africa 58th 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 South Africa, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 250,000 people | — |
| 1994 | 91,894 people | -63.2% |
| 1995 | 101,408 people | +10.4% |
| 1996 | 22,645 people | -77.7% |
| 1997 | 6,816 people | -69.9% |
| 1998 | 8,387 people | +23.0% |
| 1999 | 14,539 people | +73.4% |
| 2000 | 15,058 people | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 18,594 people | +23.5% |
| 2002 | 23,336 people | +25.5% |
| 2003 | 26,552 people | +13.8% |
| 2004 | 27,675 people | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 29,716 people | +7.4% |
| 2006 | 35,086 people | +18.1% |
| 2007 | 36,732 people | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 43,542 people | +18.5% |
| 2009 | 47,972 people | +10.2% |
| 2010 | 57,899 people | +20.7% |
| 2011 | 57,899 people | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 65,225 people | +12.7% |
| 2013 | 65,976 people | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 112,182 people | +70.0% |
| 2015 | 121,635 people | +8.4% |
| 2016 | 91,018 people | -25.2% |
| 2017 | 88,694 people | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 89,285 people | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 78,395 people | -12.2% |
| 2020 | 76,729 people | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 75,512 people | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 66,596 people | -11.8% |
| 2023 | 67,145 people | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 71,171 people | +6.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 71,171 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6,251 people, 11.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 71,171 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25,275 people, 2.8× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in South Africa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | -77.7% | 101,408 people | 22,645 people |
| 1997 | -69.9% | 22,645 people | 6,816 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 70,813 people | 6,816 people | 250,000 people | 7 |
| 2000s | 30,426 people | 15,058 people | 47,972 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 82,821 people | 57,899 people | 121,635 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 71,431 people | 66,596 people | 76,729 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in South Africa?
- Refugees by country of asylum in South Africa was 71,171 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 250,000 people in 1993.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,816 people in 1997.
- How does South Africa rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- South Africa ranks 58th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa 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 — 32 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.