Refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people in Zambia
Zambia: Refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people was 1.58 people per 100,000 inhabitants in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.58 people per 100,000 inhabitants
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
161st
of 204 countries
All-time high
368.95 people per 100,000 inhabitants
in 1968
All-time low
0.1749 people per 100,000 inhabitants
in 1994
Years of data
47
1968–2024
Refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people in Zambia, 1968–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people per 100,000 inhabitants.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people in Zambia is 1.58 people per 100,000 inhabitants, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and down 18.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people in Zambia peaked at 368.95 people per 100,000 inhabitants in 1968 and was at its lowest, 0.1749 people per 100,000 inhabitants, in 1994.
Zambia ranks 161st of 204 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people in Zambia, year by year
| Year | people per 100,000 inhabitants | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 368.95 people per 100,000 inhabitants | — |
| 1969 | 309.74 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -16.0% |
| 1970 | 208.25 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -32.8% |
| 1971 | 16.88 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -91.9% |
| 1972 | 16.41 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -2.8% |
| 1973 | 15.95 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -2.8% |
| 1974 | 82.6 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +417.9% |
| 1975 | 15.03 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -81.8% |
| 1976 | 14.58 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -3.0% |
| 1979 | 17.76 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +21.8% |
| 1980 | 20.85 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +17.4% |
| 1981 | 20.06 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -3.8% |
| 1982 | 19.42 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -3.2% |
| 1983 | 18.81 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -3.2% |
| 1992 | 24.34 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +29.4% |
| 1993 | 18.78 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -22.8% |
| 1994 | 0.1749 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -99.1% |
| 1995 | 0.2504 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +43.2% |
| 1996 | 0.4331 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +73.0% |
| 1997 | 0.6712 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +55.0% |
| 1998 | 0.7909 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +17.8% |
| 1999 | 0.883 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +11.6% |
| 2000 | 0.9084 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 0.5327 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -41.4% |
| 2002 | 0.7889 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +48.1% |
| 2003 | 0.8649 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +9.6% |
| 2004 | 1.05 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +21.3% |
| 2005 | 1.25 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +18.7% |
| 2006 | 1.64 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +31.7% |
| 2007 | 1.53 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -6.9% |
| 2008 | 1.47 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 1.49 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 1.58 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +6.2% |
| 2011 | 1.62 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 1.61 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 1.49 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -7.2% |
| 2014 | 1.94 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +30.2% |
| 2015 | 2.04 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 1.51 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -25.7% |
| 2017 | 1.49 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 1.48 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 1.4 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 1.32 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -5.5% |
| 2021 | 1.3 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 1.47 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +12.9% |
| 2023 | 1.56 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +6.4% |
| 2024 | 1.58 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +1.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 1.58 people per 100,000 inhabitants is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 38.19 people per 100,000 inhabitants, 4% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 1.58 people per 100,000 inhabitants is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 79.16 people per 100,000 inhabitants, 2% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people in Zambia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | +417.9% | 15.95 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 82.6 people per 100,000 inhabitants |
| 1994 | -99.1% | 18.78 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 0.1749 people per 100,000 inhabitants |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 339.34 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 309.74 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 368.95 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 2 |
| 1970s | 48.43 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 14.58 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 208.25 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 8 |
| 1980s | 19.78 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 18.81 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 20.85 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 4 |
| 1990s | 5.79 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 0.1749 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 24.34 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 8 |
| 2000s | 1.15 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 0.5327 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 1.64 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.62 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 1.4 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 2.04 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.45 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 1.3 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 1.58 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 158 Malta 1.85 people per 100,000 inhabitants compare
- 159 Tanzania 1.84 people per 100,000 inhabitants compare
- 160 South Africa 1.83 people per 100,000 inhabitants compare
- 162 Vanuatu 1.53 people per 100,000 inhabitants compare
- 163 Ireland 1.29 people per 100,000 inhabitants compare
- 164 United States 1.16 people per 100,000 inhabitants compare
More reference data data for Zambia
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Political opposition, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament and government, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2025)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 40.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people in Zambia?
- Refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people in Zambia was 1.58 people per 100,000 inhabitants in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 368.95 people per 100,000 inhabitants in 1968.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1749 people per 100,000 inhabitants in 1994.
- How does Zambia rank for refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people?
- Zambia ranks 161st out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. This data is given per 100,000 people in their country of origin.