Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate was -17.9 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate in South Africa, 2001–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate in South Africa is -17.9 % change on previous year, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 216.1% on the previous year and down 113.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 359.54 % change on previous year in 2002 and was at its lowest, -80.08 % change on previous year, in 2016.
South Africa ranks 117th of 166 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | -24.61 % change on previous year | — |
| 2002 | 359.54 % change on previous year | -1560.8% |
| 2003 | 60.33 % change on previous year | -83.2% |
| 2004 | 37.03 % change on previous year | -38.6% |
| 2005 | 21.58 % change on previous year | -41.7% |
| 2006 | -6.42 % change on previous year | -129.7% |
| 2007 | 30.32 % change on previous year | -572.7% |
| 2008 | 32.93 % change on previous year | +8.6% |
| 2009 | 36.4 % change on previous year | +10.5% |
| 2010 | -44.58 % change on previous year | -222.5% |
| 2011 | 27.75 % change on previous year | -162.2% |
| 2012 | 5.05 % change on previous year | -81.8% |
| 2013 | 2.96 % change on previous year | -41.5% |
| 2014 | 95.55 % change on previous year | +3132.6% |
| 2015 | 136.26 % change on previous year | +42.6% |
| 2016 | -80.08 % change on previous year | -158.8% |
| 2017 | -12.34 % change on previous year | -84.6% |
| 2018 | -3.73 % change on previous year | -69.8% |
| 2019 | 2.19 % change on previous year | -158.8% |
| 2020 | -7.85 % change on previous year | -457.7% |
| 2021 | -3.49 % change on previous year | -55.6% |
| 2022 | -49.64 % change on previous year | +1323.1% |
| 2023 | 3.08 % change on previous year | -106.2% |
| 2024 | 15.42 % change on previous year | +401.0% |
| 2025 | -17.9 % change on previous year | -216.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 60.79 % change on previous year | -24.61 % change on previous year | 359.54 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 2010s | 12.9 % change on previous year | -80.08 % change on previous year | 136.26 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | -10.06 % change on previous year | -49.64 % change on previous year | 15.42 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 114 Sweden -15.1 % change on previous year compare
- 115 Cyprus -15.94 % change on previous year compare
- 116 Argentina -17.31 % change on previous year compare
- 118 Costa Rica -18.21 % change on previous year compare
- 119 Kuwait -21.97 % change on previous year compare
- 120 Algeria -23.73 % change on previous year compare
More social development data for South Africa
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 55,177 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,319 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,319 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0009 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate in South Africa was -17.9 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 359.54 % change on previous year in 2002.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -80.08 % change on previous year in 2016.
- How does South Africa rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 117th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 113.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.