Belgium vs South Africa: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum

Belgium
58,725
in 2025
South Africa
82,358
in 2025
Belgium rank
22nd
South Africa rank
20th

Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum over time

  • Belgium
  • South Africa
0250.0k500.0k750.0k1.0M200020122025

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 82,358 against 58,725 in Belgium, a difference of 23,633.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.4 times Belgium's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 26 shared years of data; in 2000 it was Belgium ahead.

Belgium ranks 22nd and South Africa ranks 20th of 179 countries.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Belgium South Africa Difference Ahead
2000s 19,472 125,730 106,258 South Africa
2010s 18,300 320,066 301,765 South Africa
2020s 42,756 115,795 73,040 South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum, Belgium or South Africa?
South Africa, at 82,358 against 58,725 in Belgium as of 2025.
What is the difference in asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum between Belgium and South Africa?
23,633, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Belgium and South Africa?
26 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2025.
How do Belgium and South Africa rank globally for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum?
Belgium ranks 22nd and South Africa ranks 20th of 179 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published as Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Belgium vs South Africa: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid, drawing on Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/asylum-seekers-by-country-or-territory-of-asylum/belgium/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum
Source
Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
226 places, 5,379 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed

Asylum-seekers are individuals who have sought international protection and whose claims for refugee status have not yet been determined. This includes those who are in various stages of the asylum process, such as initial application, appeal, or awaiting final decision. In specific contexts, asylum-seekers may also include those who are seeking protection under complementary forms of protection, and those enjoying temporary protection, but whose claims are still under consideration.