Refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people was 48.05 people per 100,000 inhabitants in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
48.05 people per 100,000 inhabitants
Change on year
up 5.4%
World rank
75th
of 204 countries
All-time high
2,973 people per 100,000 inhabitants
in 1979
All-time low
0.0493 people per 100,000 inhabitants
in 1990
Years of data
49
1975–2024
Refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people in Zimbabwe, 1975–2024
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
In 2024, refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people in Zimbabwe stood at 48.05 people per 100,000 inhabitants.
The figure is up 5.4% on the previous year and down 69.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people in Zimbabwe peaked at 2,973 people per 100,000 inhabitants in 1979 and was at its lowest, 0.0493 people per 100,000 inhabitants, in 1990.
That places Zimbabwe 75th out of 204 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 origin per 100,000 people in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | people per 100,000 inhabitants | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 241.37 people per 100,000 inhabitants | — |
| 1976 | 496.57 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +105.7% |
| 1977 | 1,186 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +138.9% |
| 1978 | 2,493 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +110.2% |
| 1979 | 2,973 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +19.2% |
| 1980 | 2.27 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -99.9% |
| 1981 | 2.53 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +11.5% |
| 1983 | 39.51 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +1459.5% |
| 1984 | 44.81 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +13.4% |
| 1985 | 48.92 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +9.2% |
| 1986 | 35.96 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -26.5% |
| 1987 | 41.25 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +14.7% |
| 1988 | 6.56 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -84.1% |
| 1989 | 0.0507 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -99.2% |
| 1990 | 0.0493 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 1.23 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +2394.2% |
| 1992 | 0.0747 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -93.9% |
| 1993 | 0.1289 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +72.5% |
| 1994 | 0.3495 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +171.1% |
| 1995 | 0.3371 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -3.5% |
| 1996 | 0.3226 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -4.3% |
| 1997 | 0.3254 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 0.345 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +6.0% |
| 1999 | 0.3395 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 0.9166 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +170.0% |
| 2001 | 2.15 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +134.2% |
| 2002 | 33.29 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +1450.8% |
| 2003 | 58.48 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +75.7% |
| 2004 | 77.29 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +32.1% |
| 2005 | 90.09 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +16.6% |
| 2006 | 101.09 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +12.2% |
| 2007 | 112.2 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +11.0% |
| 2008 | 129.82 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +15.7% |
| 2009 | 170.75 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +31.5% |
| 2010 | 180.29 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 184.13 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 159.81 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -13.2% |
| 2013 | 140.71 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -11.9% |
| 2014 | 158.21 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +12.4% |
| 2015 | 148.15 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -6.4% |
| 2016 | 124.25 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -16.1% |
| 2017 | 117.6 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 103.88 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -11.7% |
| 2019 | 65.78 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -36.7% |
| 2020 | 55.23 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -16.0% |
| 2021 | 51.33 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -7.1% |
| 2022 | 43.61 people per 100,000 inhabitants | -15.0% |
| 2023 | 45.6 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 48.05 people per 100,000 inhabitants | +5.4% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 48.05 people per 100,000 inhabitants is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 38.19 people per 100,000 inhabitants, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 48.05 people per 100,000 inhabitants is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 79.16 people per 100,000 inhabitants, 61% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +2394.2% | 0.0493 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 1.23 people per 100,000 inhabitants |
| 1983 | +1459.5% | 2.53 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 39.51 people per 100,000 inhabitants |
| 2002 | +1450.8% | 2.15 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 33.29 people per 100,000 inhabitants |
| 1994 | +171.1% | 0.1289 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 0.3495 people per 100,000 inhabitants |
| 2000 | +170.0% | 0.3395 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 0.9166 people per 100,000 inhabitants |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1,478 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 241.37 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 2,973 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 5 |
| 1980s | 24.65 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 0.0507 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 48.92 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 9 |
| 1990s | 0.3502 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 0.0493 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 1.23 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 10 |
| 2000s | 77.61 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 0.9166 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 170.75 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 10 |
| 2010s | 138.28 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 65.78 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 184.13 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.76 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 43.61 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 55.23 people per 100,000 inhabitants | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 72 Cambodia 65.05 people per 100,000 inhabitants compare
- 73 Kuwait 61.18 people per 100,000 inhabitants compare
- 74 Saint Kitts and Nevis 57.61 people per 100,000 inhabitants compare
- 76 Kyrgyzstan 47.31 people per 100,000 inhabitants compare
- 77 Ghana 43.8 people per 100,000 inhabitants compare
- 78 Jordan 43.19 people per 100,000 inhabitants compare
More reference data data for Zimbabwe
- 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)
- 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 (2024)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 122.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 5 (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 Zimbabwe?
- Refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people in Zimbabwe was 48.05 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 2,973 people per 100,000 inhabitants in 1979.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0493 people per 100,000 inhabitants in 1990.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people?
- Zimbabwe ranks 75th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of origin per 100,000 people rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 69.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.