Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin (per) in South Africa
South Africa: Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin (per) was 1.8 per 100,000 people 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. Measured in per 100,000 people.
Analysis
In 2025, number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin in South Africa stood at 1.8 per 100,000 people.
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 per 100,000 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.2742 per 100,000 people, in 2001.
That places South Africa 170th out of 241 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 (per) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.3548 per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 0.2742 per 100,000 people | -22.7% |
| 2002 | 0.5615 per 100,000 people | +104.8% |
| 2003 | 0.5827 per 100,000 people | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 0.53 per 100,000 people | -9.0% |
| 2005 | 0.5207 per 100,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 0.9968 per 100,000 people | +91.4% |
| 2007 | 0.9331 per 100,000 people | -6.4% |
| 2008 | 0.873 per 100,000 people | -6.4% |
| 2009 | 0.7304 per 100,000 people | -16.3% |
| 2010 | 0.7102 per 100,000 people | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 0.7913 per 100,000 people | +11.4% |
| 2012 | 0.7615 per 100,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2013 | 0.7692 per 100,000 people | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 0.7526 per 100,000 people | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 0.779 per 100,000 people | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 0.791 per 100,000 people | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 0.7931 per 100,000 people | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 0.8156 per 100,000 people | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 0.734 per 100,000 people | -10.0% |
| 2020 | 0.7765 per 100,000 people | +5.8% |
| 2021 | 1.04 per 100,000 people | +33.7% |
| 2022 | 1.25 per 100,000 people | +20.3% |
| 2023 | 1.44 per 100,000 people | +15.7% |
| 2024 | 1.82 per 100,000 people | +26.2% |
| 2025 | 1.8 per 100,000 people | -1.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.8 per 100,000 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 35.93 per 100,000 people, 5% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.8 per 100,000 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 84.84 per 100,000 people, 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 (per) 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 per 100,000 people | 0.5615 per 100,000 people |
| 2006 | +91.4% | 0.5207 per 100,000 people | 0.9968 per 100,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.6357 per 100,000 people | 0.2742 per 100,000 people | 0.9968 per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7698 per 100,000 people | 0.7102 per 100,000 people | 0.8156 per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.36 per 100,000 people | 0.7765 per 100,000 people | 1.82 per 100,000 people | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 167 United Republic of Tanzania 1.92 per 100,000 people compare
- 168 Micronesia 1.89 per 100,000 people compare
- 169 Madagascar 1.83 per 100,000 people compare
- 171 Zambia 1.38 per 100,000 people compare
- 172 Malta 1.28 per 100,000 people compare
- 173 Timor-Leste 1.13 per 100,000 people compare
- 173 East Timor 1.13 per 100,000 people compare
More development goals data for South Africa
- Red List Index 0.8693 index (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 651.49 constant US$ (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 per 100,000 people 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 per 100,000 people 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 per 100,000 people in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin?
- South Africa ranks 170th out of 241 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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