Refugees by country of asylum in Tanzania
Tanzania: Refugees by country of asylum was 176,859 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Tanzania, 1961–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of asylum in Tanzania stood at 176,859 people.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.4% on the previous year and up 99.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Tanzania peaked at 883,250 people in 1994 and was at its lowest, 12,000 people, in 1961.
That places Tanzania 37th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 12,000 people | — |
| 1962 | 12,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 12,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 25,000 people | +108.3% |
| 1965 | 29,000 people | +16.0% |
| 1966 | 33,950 people | +17.1% |
| 1967 | 39,800 people | +17.2% |
| 1968 | 46,000 people | +15.6% |
| 1969 | 54,550 people | +18.6% |
| 1970 | 71,500 people | +31.1% |
| 1971 | 71,240 people | -0.4% |
| 1972 | 165,000 people | +131.6% |
| 1973 | 180,860 people | +9.6% |
| 1974 | 193,190 people | +6.8% |
| 1975 | 171,160 people | -11.4% |
| 1976 | 154,000 people | -10.0% |
| 1977 | 164,610 people | +6.9% |
| 1978 | 160,960 people | -2.2% |
| 1979 | 160,820 people | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 159,610 people | -0.8% |
| 1981 | 164,180 people | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 158,960 people | -3.2% |
| 1983 | 180,100 people | +13.3% |
| 1984 | 179,910 people | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 214,480 people | +19.2% |
| 1986 | 223,500 people | +4.2% |
| 1987 | 266,200 people | +19.1% |
| 1988 | 265,154 people | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 265,128 people | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 265,184 people | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 288,103 people | +8.6% |
| 1992 | 292,148 people | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 564,520 people | +93.2% |
| 1994 | 883,250 people | +56.5% |
| 1995 | 829,671 people | -6.1% |
| 1996 | 498,732 people | -39.9% |
| 1997 | 570,367 people | +14.4% |
| 1998 | 543,881 people | -4.6% |
| 1999 | 622,203 people | +14.4% |
| 2000 | 680,862 people | +9.4% |
| 2001 | 646,899 people | -5.0% |
| 2002 | 689,373 people | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 649,770 people | -5.7% |
| 2004 | 602,088 people | -7.3% |
| 2005 | 548,824 people | -8.8% |
| 2006 | 485,295 people | -11.6% |
| 2007 | 435,630 people | -10.2% |
| 2008 | 321,908 people | -26.1% |
| 2009 | 118,731 people | -63.1% |
| 2010 | 109,286 people | -8.0% |
| 2011 | 131,243 people | +20.1% |
| 2012 | 101,021 people | -23.0% |
| 2013 | 102,099 people | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 88,492 people | -13.3% |
| 2015 | 211,845 people | +139.4% |
| 2016 | 281,498 people | +32.9% |
| 2017 | 308,528 people | +9.6% |
| 2018 | 278,322 people | -9.8% |
| 2019 | 242,171 people | -13.0% |
| 2020 | 234,640 people | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 207,095 people | -11.7% |
| 2022 | 206,229 people | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 188,953 people | -8.4% |
| 2024 | 176,859 people | -6.4% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 176,859 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9,240 people, 19.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 176,859 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25,275 people, 7.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Tanzania 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +139.4% | 88,492 people | 211,845 people |
| 1972 | +131.6% | 71,240 people | 165,000 people |
| 1964 | +108.3% | 12,000 people | 25,000 people |
| 1993 | +93.2% | 292,148 people | 564,520 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 29,367 people | 12,000 people | 54,550 people | 9 |
| 1970s | 149,334 people | 71,240 people | 193,190 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 207,722 people | 158,960 people | 266,200 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 535,806 people | 265,184 people | 883,250 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 517,938 people | 118,731 people | 689,373 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 185,450 people | 88,492 people | 308,528 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 202,755 people | 176,859 people | 234,640 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More reference data data for Tanzania
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6405 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 11.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 14.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 14.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 59.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 72.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Tanzania?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Tanzania was 176,859 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 Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 883,250 people in 1994.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,000 people in 1961.
- How does Tanzania rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Tanzania ranks 37th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 99.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tanzania 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
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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.