Forcibly displaced people in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Forcibly displaced people was 11.87 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Forcibly displaced people in Africa Western and Central, 2010–2025
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Analysis
The most recent figure for forcibly displaced people in Africa Western and Central is 11.87 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.9% on the previous year and up 165.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forcibly displaced people in Africa Western and Central peaked at 11.87 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.52 million, in 2011.
Africa Western and Central ranks 31st of 47 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.
Forcibly displaced people in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.79 million | — |
| 2011 | 1.52 million | -15.2% |
| 2012 | 1.56 million | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 5.68 million | +263.3% |
| 2014 | 3.20 million | -43.6% |
| 2015 | 4.48 million | +40.0% |
| 2016 | 4.40 million | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 4.61 million | +4.8% |
| 2018 | 5.72 million | +24.1% |
| 2019 | 7.13 million | +24.6% |
| 2020 | 8.40 million | +17.8% |
| 2021 | 9.51 million | +13.2% |
| 2022 | 10.23 million | +7.6% |
| 2023 | 10.63 million | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 11.10 million | +4.4% |
| 2025 | 11.87 million | +6.9% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Forcibly displaced people in Africa Western and Central 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +263.3% | 1.56 million | 5.68 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 4.01 million | 1.52 million | 7.13 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.29 million | 8.40 million | 11.87 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More social development data for Africa Western and Central
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 3.36 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2.47 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0046 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2.47 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0063 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 24.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 3.36 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 21.98 % 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 forcibly displaced people in Africa Western and Central?
- Forcibly displaced people in Africa Western and Central was 11.87 million in 2025, according to Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
- What is the highest forcibly displaced people recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 11.87 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest forcibly displaced people recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.52 million in 2011.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for forcibly displaced people?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 31st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is forcibly displaced people rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 165.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published as part of Forcibly displaced people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 16 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Forcibly displaced people are represented by the sum of (1) refugees (and people in a refugee-like situation) under the mandate of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), (2) refugees under the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), (3) asylum-seekers, (4) other people in need of international protection, and (5) internally displaced people (IDPs). Situations in which people are reported in more than one of these categories are accounted for, to the extent possible.