Number of refugees per 100000 in South Africa

South Africa: Number of refugees per 100000 was 1.83 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
1.83
Change on year
up 26.2%
World rank
159th
of 202 countries
All-time high
113.77
in 1984
All-time low
0.2754
in 2001
Years of data
59
1966–2024

Number of refugees per 100000 in South Africa, 1966–2024

0255075100125196619952024

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for number of refugees per 100000 in South Africa is 1.83, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 26.2% on the previous year and up 141.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of refugees per 100000 in South Africa peaked at 113.77 in 1984 and was at its lowest, 0.2754, in 2001.

South Africa ranks 159th of 202 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Number of refugees per 100000 in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Number of refugees per 100000 in South Africa, 1966 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1966 1.98
1967 2.22 +11.8%
1968 3.53 +59.4%
1969 1.34 -62.0%
1970 2.06 +53.9%
1971 3.7 +79.4%
1972 3.35 -9.7%
1973 3.87 +15.6%
1974 5.52 +42.7%
1975 5.29 -4.1%
1976 8.26 +56.0%
1977 8.83 +6.9%
1978 13.78 +56.0%
1979 25.42 +84.5%
1980 82.15 +223.1%
1981 81.53 -0.8%
1982 89.92 +10.3%
1983 105.44 +17.3%
1984 113.77 +7.9%
1985 108.75 -4.4%
1986 91.82 -15.6%
1987 70.06 -23.7%
1988 64.72 -7.6%
1989 43.24 -33.2%
1990 36.28 -16.1%
1991 26.88 -25.9%
1992 21.77 -19.0%
1993 20.99 -3.6%
1994 3.44 -83.6%
1995 1.1 -67.9%
1996 0.6338 -42.6%
1997 0.5277 -16.7%
1998 0.3981 -24.6%
1999 0.4066 +2.1%
2000 0.3562 -12.4%
2001 0.2754 -22.7%
2002 0.5644 +104.9%
2003 0.5856 +3.8%
2004 0.5327 -9.0%
2005 0.5233 -1.8%
2006 1 +91.5%
2007 0.9381 -6.4%
2008 0.8784 -6.4%
2009 0.7346 -16.4%
2010 0.7145 -2.7%
2011 0.7963 +11.4%
2012 0.7679 -3.6%
2013 0.7754 +1.0%
2014 0.7591 -2.1%
2015 0.788 +3.8%
2016 0.7894 +0.2%
2017 0.7999 +1.3%
2018 0.8223 +2.8%
2019 0.7401 -10.0%
2020 0.7827 +5.8%
2021 1.05 +33.6%
2022 1.26 +20.2%
2023 1.45 +15.7%
2024 1.83 +26.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 2.27 1.34 3.53 4
1970s 8.01 2.06 25.42 10
1980s 85.14 43.24 113.77 10
1990s 11.24 0.3981 36.28 10
2000s 0.6391 0.2754 1 10
2010s 0.7753 0.7145 0.8223 10
2020s 1.27 0.7827 1.83 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 156 Madagascar 1.89 compare
  2. 157 Malta 1.85 compare
  3. 158 Tanzania, United Republic of 1.84 compare
  4. 160 Zambia 1.58 compare
  5. 161 Vanuatu 1.53 compare
  6. 162 Ireland 1.29 compare

See the full ranking of 204 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of refugees per 100000 in South Africa?
Number of refugees per 100000 in South Africa was 1.83 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest number of refugees per 100000 recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 113.77 in 1984.
What is the lowest number of refugees per 100000 recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.2754 in 2001.
How does South Africa rank for number of refugees per 100000?
South Africa ranks 159th out of 202 countries with data for 2024.
Is number of refugees per 100000 rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 141.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Number of refugees per 100000. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Number of refugees per 100000 in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-refugees-per-100000/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Number of refugees per 100000
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
204 places, 7,190 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed