Refugees by country of asylum in Yemen
Yemen: Refugees by country of asylum was 46,827 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Yemen, 1977–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of asylum in Yemen stood at 46,827 people.
That represents a change of down 15.7% on the previous year and down 81.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Yemen peaked at 270,913 people in 2017 and was at its lowest, 50 people, in 1977.
That places Yemen 65th 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 Yemen, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 50 people | — |
| 1978 | 50 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 360 people | +620.0% |
| 1980 | 550 people | +52.8% |
| 1981 | 1,030 people | +87.3% |
| 1982 | 1,400 people | +35.9% |
| 1983 | 3,680 people | +162.9% |
| 1984 | 4,280 people | +16.3% |
| 1985 | 5,000 people | +16.8% |
| 1986 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 3,000 people | -40.0% |
| 1988 | 1,157 people | -61.4% |
| 1989 | 3,130 people | +170.5% |
| 1990 | 2,938 people | -6.1% |
| 1991 | 29,927 people | +918.6% |
| 1992 | 59,680 people | +99.4% |
| 1993 | 54,450 people | -8.8% |
| 1994 | 48,305 people | -11.3% |
| 1995 | 53,453 people | +10.7% |
| 1996 | 53,546 people | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 40,965 people | -23.5% |
| 1998 | 61,380 people | +49.8% |
| 1999 | 60,477 people | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 60,543 people | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 69,462 people | +14.7% |
| 2002 | 82,795 people | +19.2% |
| 2003 | 61,876 people | -25.3% |
| 2004 | 66,379 people | +7.3% |
| 2005 | 81,932 people | +23.4% |
| 2006 | 95,791 people | +16.9% |
| 2007 | 117,358 people | +22.5% |
| 2008 | 140,166 people | +19.4% |
| 2009 | 170,850 people | +21.9% |
| 2010 | 190,088 people | +11.3% |
| 2011 | 214,736 people | +13.0% |
| 2012 | 237,176 people | +10.5% |
| 2013 | 241,281 people | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 257,637 people | +6.8% |
| 2015 | 267,163 people | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 269,778 people | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 270,913 people | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 264,359 people | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 268,503 people | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 166,906 people | -37.8% |
| 2021 | 89,467 people | -46.4% |
| 2022 | 77,458 people | -13.4% |
| 2023 | 55,568 people | -28.3% |
| 2024 | 46,827 people | -15.7% |
Yemen compared with similar countries
- Yemen's 46,827 people is above the median for low income countries, which is 42,512 people, 1.1× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Yemen's 46,827 people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16,250 people, 2.9× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Yemen 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +918.6% | 2,938 people | 29,927 people |
| 1979 | +620.0% | 50 people | 360 people |
| 1989 | +170.5% | 1,157 people | 3,130 people |
| 1983 | +162.9% | 1,400 people | 3,680 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 153.33 people | 50 people | 360 people | 3 |
| 1980s | 2,823 people | 550 people | 5,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 46,512 people | 2,938 people | 61,380 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 94,715 people | 60,543 people | 170,850 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 248,163 people | 190,088 people | 270,913 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 87,245 people | 46,827 people | 166,906 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Yemen
More reference data data for Yemen
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1676 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.35 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0827 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.35 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5619 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.2189 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 17.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4503 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Yemen?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Yemen was 46,827 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 Yemen?
- The highest recorded value was 270,913 people in 2017.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Yemen?
- The lowest recorded value was 50 people in 1977.
- How does Yemen rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Yemen ranks 65th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Yemen?
- Over the last ten years it is down 81.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Yemen 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.