Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Nigeria

Nigeria: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of was 28.49 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
28.49 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 24.7%
World rank
14th
of 170 countries
All-time high
500 % change on previous year
in 1977
All-time low
-94.15 % change on previous year
in 1982
Years of data
47
1977–2025

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Nigeria, 1977–2025

0200400600197720012025

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.

Analysis

In 2025, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Nigeria stood at 28.49 % change on previous year.

That represents a change of down 24.7% on the previous year and up 134.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Nigeria peaked at 500 % change on previous year in 1977 and was at its lowest, -94.15 % change on previous year, in 1982.

Nigeria ranks 14th of 170 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate in Nigeria, 1977 to 2025.
Year % change on previous year Change
1977 500 % change on previous year
1978 23.33 % change on previous year -95.3%
1979 8.11 % change on previous year -65.3%
1981 -10.43 % change on previous year -228.6%
1982 -94.15 % change on previous year +802.7%
1983 -11.83 % change on previous year -87.4%
1984 -1.08 % change on previous year -90.9%
1985 28.67 % change on previous year -2748.7%
1986 -19.05 % change on previous year -166.4%
1987 7.14 % change on previous year -137.5%
1988 1.43 % change on previous year -80.0%
1989 -26.91 % change on previous year -1979.9%
1990 -5.55 % change on previous year -79.4%
1991 0.056 % change on previous year -101.0%
1992 33.84 % change on previous year +60316.2%
1993 0.7737 % change on previous year -97.7%
1994 25.03 % change on previous year +3134.4%
1995 34.74 % change on previous year +38.8%
1996 4.53 % change on previous year -87.0%
1997 6.89 % change on previous year +52.1%
1998 -25.23 % change on previous year -466.0%
1999 2.36 % change on previous year -109.3%
2000 4.74 % change on previous year +100.9%
2001 -0.9627 % change on previous year -120.3%
2002 2.11 % change on previous year -319.3%
2003 24.75 % change on previous year +1072.6%
2004 -8.48 % change on previous year -134.3%
2005 7.41 % change on previous year -187.4%
2006 -2.84 % change on previous year -138.3%
2007 -3.4 % change on previous year +19.8%
2008 19.66 % change on previous year -678.1%
2009 -9.85 % change on previous year -150.1%
2010 -4.22 % change on previous year -57.2%
2011 0.6747 % change on previous year -116.0%
2012 -64.21 % change on previous year -9615.5%
2013 -46.43 % change on previous year -27.7%
2014 -26.72 % change on previous year -42.5%
2015 12.13 % change on previous year -145.4%
2016 -2.16 % change on previous year -117.8%
2017 40.75 % change on previous year -1984.1%
2019 55.95 % change on previous year +37.3%
2020 21.97 % change on previous year -60.7%
2021 16.77 % change on previous year -23.7%
2022 18.34 % change on previous year +9.4%
2023 -23.37 % change on previous year -227.5%
2024 37.81 % change on previous year -261.8%
2025 28.49 % change on previous year -24.7%

Nigeria compared with similar countries

  • Nigeria's 28.49 % change on previous year is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.1859 % change on previous year, 153.2× the median. (38 countries reporting)
  • Nigeria's 28.49 % change on previous year is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.17 % change on previous year, 9.0× the median. (44 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Nigeria 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.

YearChange FromTo
1992 +60316.2% 0.056 % change on previous year 33.84 % change on previous year
2012 -9615.5% 0.6747 % change on previous year -64.21 % change on previous year
1994 +3134.4% 0.7737 % change on previous year 25.03 % change on previous year
1985 +2748.7% -1.08 % change on previous year 28.67 % change on previous year
1989 -1979.9% 1.43 % change on previous year -26.91 % change on previous year
2017 +1984.1% -2.16 % change on previous year 40.75 % change on previous year

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 177.15 % change on previous year 8.11 % change on previous year 500 % change on previous year 3
1980s -14.02 % change on previous year -94.15 % change on previous year 28.67 % change on previous year 9
1990s 7.74 % change on previous year -25.23 % change on previous year 34.74 % change on previous year 10
2000s 3.31 % change on previous year -9.85 % change on previous year 24.75 % change on previous year 10
2010s -3.8 % change on previous year -64.21 % change on previous year 55.95 % change on previous year 9
2020s 16.67 % change on previous year -23.37 % change on previous year 37.81 % change on previous year 6

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 11 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 41.67 % change on previous year compare
  2. 12 Honduras 33.66 % change on previous year compare
  3. 13 Guyana 29.63 % change on previous year compare
  4. 15 Burundi 24.39 % change on previous year compare
  5. 16 Central African Republic 22.61 % change on previous year compare
  6. 17 Guatemala 21.44 % change on previous year compare

See the full ranking of 217 places →

More social development data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Nigeria?
Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Nigeria was 28.49 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 500 % change on previous year in 1977.
What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was -94.15 % change on previous year in 1982.
How does Nigeria rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of?
Nigeria ranks 14th out of 170 countries with data for 2025.
Is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is up 134.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Nigeria data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/refugees-under-the-mandate-of-the-unhcr-by-country-or-territory-of-asylum-annual-growth/nigeria/

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How this figure is calculated

The year-on-year percentage change in Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.

Computed from

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

Indicator
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum, annual growth rate
Unit
% change on previous year
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
217 places, 9,779 data points, 1961–2025
Last refreshed

The year-on-year percentage change in Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.