Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin in South Africa
South Africa: Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin was 1.8 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin in South Africa, 2000–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2025, number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin in South Africa stood at 1.8.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.2% on the previous year and up 131.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin in South Africa peaked at 1.82 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.2742, in 2001.
That places South Africa 168th out of 239 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.3548 | — |
| 2001 | 0.2742 | -22.7% |
| 2002 | 0.5615 | +104.8% |
| 2003 | 0.5827 | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 0.53 | -9.0% |
| 2005 | 0.5207 | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 0.9968 | +91.4% |
| 2007 | 0.9331 | -6.4% |
| 2008 | 0.873 | -6.4% |
| 2009 | 0.7304 | -16.3% |
| 2010 | 0.7102 | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 0.7913 | +11.4% |
| 2012 | 0.7615 | -3.8% |
| 2013 | 0.7692 | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 0.7526 | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 0.779 | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 0.791 | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 0.7931 | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 0.8156 | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 0.734 | -10.0% |
| 2020 | 0.7765 | +5.8% |
| 2021 | 1.04 | +33.7% |
| 2022 | 1.25 | +20.3% |
| 2023 | 1.44 | +15.7% |
| 2024 | 1.82 | +26.2% |
| 2025 | 1.8 | -1.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.8 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 35.93, 5% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.8 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 84.84, 2% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin in South Africa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +104.8% | 0.2742 | 0.5615 |
| 2006 | +91.4% | 0.5207 | 0.9968 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.6357 | 0.2742 | 0.9968 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7698 | 0.7102 | 0.8156 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.36 | 0.7765 | 1.82 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 165 United Republic of Tanzania 1.92 compare
- 166 Micronesia 1.89 compare
- 167 Madagascar 1.83 compare
- 169 Zambia 1.38 compare
- 170 Malta 1.28 compare
- 171 Timor-Leste 1.13 compare
- 171 Timor-Leste 1.13 compare
More development goals data for South Africa
- Red List Index 0.8693 (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 651.49 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds 105 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds (not extinct) 101 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds with unknown risk status 33 (2025)
- Number of local breeds with unknown risk status 40 (2025)
- Number of local breeds (not extinct) 56 (2025)
- Number of local breeds kept in the country 61 (2025)
- Infant deaths 28,570 (2024)
- Neonatal deaths 14,715 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin in South Africa?
- Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin in South Africa was 1.8 in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.82 in 2024.
- What is the lowest number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2742 in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin?
- South Africa ranks 168th out of 239 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 131.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin (per 100,000 population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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