Refugees by country of asylum in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Refugees by country of asylum was 9,240 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Zimbabwe, 1980–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of asylum in Zimbabwe stood at 9,240 people.
The figure is down 8.6% on the previous year and up 52.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Zimbabwe peaked at 237,713 people in 1992 and was at its lowest, 50 people, in 1980.
That places Zimbabwe 95th 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 Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 50 people | — |
| 1981 | 5,100 people | +10100.0% |
| 1982 | 20,200 people | +296.1% |
| 1983 | 50,390 people | +149.5% |
| 1984 | 50,500 people | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 62,800 people | +24.4% |
| 1986 | 65,180 people | +3.8% |
| 1987 | 123,610 people | +89.6% |
| 1988 | 174,483 people | +41.2% |
| 1989 | 175,350 people | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 190,950 people | +8.9% |
| 1991 | 197,627 people | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 237,713 people | +20.3% |
| 1993 | 100,476 people | -57.7% |
| 1994 | 2,194 people | -97.8% |
| 1995 | 515 people | -76.5% |
| 1996 | 594 people | +15.3% |
| 1997 | 800 people | +34.7% |
| 1998 | 1,656 people | +107.0% |
| 1999 | 2,071 people | +25.1% |
| 2000 | 4,127 people | +99.3% |
| 2001 | 8,708 people | +111.0% |
| 2002 | 9,433 people | +8.3% |
| 2003 | 12,721 people | +34.9% |
| 2004 | 6,875 people | -46.0% |
| 2005 | 13,850 people | +101.5% |
| 2006 | 3,519 people | -74.6% |
| 2007 | 3,984 people | +13.2% |
| 2008 | 3,465 people | -13.0% |
| 2009 | 3,991 people | +15.2% |
| 2010 | 4,432 people | +11.0% |
| 2011 | 4,559 people | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 4,354 people | -4.5% |
| 2013 | 6,387 people | +46.7% |
| 2014 | 6,076 people | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 6,943 people | +14.3% |
| 2016 | 7,423 people | +6.9% |
| 2017 | 7,566 people | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 7,795 people | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 8,956 people | +14.9% |
| 2020 | 9,261 people | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 9,483 people | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 10,475 people | +10.5% |
| 2023 | 10,114 people | -3.4% |
| 2024 | 9,240 people | -8.6% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 9,240 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9,240 people, 1.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 9,240 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25,275 people, 37% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Zimbabwe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +10100.0% | 50 people | 5,100 people |
| 1982 | +296.1% | 5,100 people | 20,200 people |
| 1983 | +149.5% | 20,200 people | 50,390 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 72,766 people | 50 people | 175,350 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 73,460 people | 515 people | 237,713 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 7,067 people | 3,465 people | 13,850 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,449 people | 4,354 people | 8,956 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 9,715 people | 9,240 people | 10,475 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More reference data data for Zimbabwe
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.1903 °C (2026)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.2726 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.8086 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.5886 °C (2026)
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Urban area long term, annual growth rate 1.8 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban area long term, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban area long term, per capita 0.0002 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Zimbabwe?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Zimbabwe was 9,240 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 237,713 people in 1992.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 50 people in 1980.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Zimbabwe ranks 95th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.