Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin was 2.40 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2025
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Analysis
In 2025, asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 2.40 million. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.5% on the previous year and up 288.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 2.40 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 137,881, in 2000.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 17th of 45 groups 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 origin in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 137,881 | — |
| 2001 | 168,041 | +21.9% |
| 2002 | 210,006 | +25.0% |
| 2003 | 200,574 | -4.5% |
| 2004 | 218,789 | +9.1% |
| 2005 | 266,145 | +21.6% |
| 2006 | 164,595 | -38.2% |
| 2007 | 229,277 | +39.3% |
| 2008 | 231,371 | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 186,993 | -19.2% |
| 2010 | 216,762 | +15.9% |
| 2011 | 289,993 | +33.8% |
| 2012 | 342,552 | +18.1% |
| 2013 | 415,232 | +21.2% |
| 2014 | 506,553 | +22.0% |
| 2015 | 617,697 | +21.9% |
| 2016 | 674,226 | +9.2% |
| 2017 | 924,963 | +37.2% |
| 2018 | 891,759 | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 913,918 | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 885,171 | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 937,915 | +6.0% |
| 2022 | 915,359 | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 1.46 million | +59.9% |
| 2024 | 2.13 million | +45.7% |
| 2025 | 2.40 million | +12.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 201,367 | 137,881 | 266,145 | 10 |
| 2010s | 579,366 | 216,762 | 924,963 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.46 million | 885,171 | 2.40 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More social development data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 9.48 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 11.08 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0084 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 11.08 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0072 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 11.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 9.48 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 14.23 % change on previous year (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 origin in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Sub-Saharan Africa was 2.40 million in 2025, according to Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
- What is the highest asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2.40 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 137,881 in 2000.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 17th out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 288.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published as part of Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
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.