Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in South Africa
South Africa: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of was 12.35 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in South Africa, 1967–2025
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 South Africa stood at 12.35 % change on previous year.
The figure is down 55.5% on the previous year and up 108.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in South Africa peaked at 233.1 % change on previous year in 1980 and was at its lowest, -83.34 % change on previous year, in 1994.
That places South Africa 50th out of 191 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 15.38 % change on previous year | — |
| 1968 | 64.44 % change on previous year | +318.9% |
| 1969 | -60.81 % change on previous year | -194.4% |
| 1970 | 58.62 % change on previous year | -196.4% |
| 1971 | 84.78 % change on previous year | +44.6% |
| 1972 | -7.06 % change on previous year | -108.3% |
| 1973 | 18.99 % change on previous year | -369.0% |
| 1974 | 46.81 % change on previous year | +146.5% |
| 1975 | -1.45 % change on previous year | -103.1% |
| 1976 | 60.29 % change on previous year | -4260.3% |
| 1977 | 9.86 % change on previous year | -83.6% |
| 1978 | 60.33 % change on previous year | +511.8% |
| 1979 | 89.58 % change on previous year | +48.5% |
| 1980 | 233.1 % change on previous year | +160.2% |
| 1981 | 2.68 % change on previous year | -98.9% |
| 1982 | 14.18 % change on previous year | +428.9% |
| 1983 | 21.42 % change on previous year | +51.1% |
| 1984 | 11.7 % change on previous year | -45.4% |
| 1985 | -1.17 % change on previous year | -110.0% |
| 1986 | -12.83 % change on previous year | +999.5% |
| 1987 | -21.28 % change on previous year | +65.9% |
| 1988 | -4.76 % change on previous year | -77.6% |
| 1989 | -31.2 % change on previous year | +555.9% |
| 1990 | -13.74 % change on previous year | -56.0% |
| 1991 | -24.19 % change on previous year | +76.1% |
| 1992 | -17.53 % change on previous year | -27.6% |
| 1993 | -1.67 % change on previous year | -90.5% |
| 1994 | -83.34 % change on previous year | +4900.9% |
| 1995 | -67.5 % change on previous year | -19.0% |
| 1996 | -41.87 % change on previous year | -38.0% |
| 1997 | -15.73 % change on previous year | -62.4% |
| 1998 | -23.65 % change on previous year | +50.3% |
| 1999 | 3.26 % change on previous year | -113.8% |
| 2000 | -11.58 % change on previous year | -455.1% |
| 2001 | -22.02 % change on previous year | +90.2% |
| 2002 | 106.87 % change on previous year | -585.2% |
| 2003 | 4.8 % change on previous year | -95.5% |
| 2004 | -8.1 % change on previous year | -268.8% |
| 2005 | -0.7663 % change on previous year | -90.5% |
| 2006 | 93.44 % change on previous year | -12293.4% |
| 2007 | -5.39 % change on previous year | -105.8% |
| 2008 | -5.27 % change on previous year | -2.1% |
| 2009 | -15.37 % change on previous year | +191.4% |
| 2010 | -1.58 % change on previous year | -89.7% |
| 2011 | 12.83 % change on previous year | -912.8% |
| 2012 | -2.13 % change on previous year | -116.6% |
| 2013 | 2.66 % change on previous year | -224.9% |
| 2014 | -0.4717 % change on previous year | -117.7% |
| 2015 | 5.92 % change on previous year | -1355.9% |
| 2016 | 1.12 % change on previous year | -81.1% |
| 2017 | 1.99 % change on previous year | +78.0% |
| 2018 | 4.56 % change on previous year | +128.8% |
| 2019 | -8.51 % change on previous year | -286.7% |
| 2020 | 7.48 % change on previous year | -188.0% |
| 2021 | 35.65 % change on previous year | +376.5% |
| 2022 | 21.93 % change on previous year | -38.5% |
| 2023 | 17.22 % change on previous year | -21.5% |
| 2024 | 27.75 % change on previous year | +61.1% |
| 2025 | 12.35 % change on previous year | -55.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 12.35 % change on previous year is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.45 % change on previous year, 3.6× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 12.35 % change on previous year is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.75 % change on previous year, 2.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in South Africa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +12293.4% | -0.7663 % change on previous year | 93.44 % change on previous year |
| 1994 | -4900.9% | -1.67 % change on previous year | -83.34 % change on previous year |
| 1976 | +4260.3% | -1.45 % change on previous year | 60.29 % change on previous year |
| 2015 | +1355.9% | -0.4717 % change on previous year | 5.92 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.34 % change on previous year | -60.81 % change on previous year | 64.44 % change on previous year | 3 |
| 1970s | 42.08 % change on previous year | -7.06 % change on previous year | 89.58 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 21.18 % change on previous year | -31.2 % change on previous year | 233.1 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | -28.6 % change on previous year | -83.34 % change on previous year | 3.26 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.66 % change on previous year | -22.02 % change on previous year | 106.87 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.64 % change on previous year | -8.51 % change on previous year | 12.83 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.4 % change on previous year | 7.48 % change on previous year | 35.65 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 47 Oman 12.71 % change on previous year compare
- 48 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 12.65 % change on previous year compare
- 49 Panama 12.61 % change on previous year compare
- 51 Qatar 12.31 % change on previous year compare
- 52 Suriname 12 % change on previous year compare
- 53 Bangladesh 11.9 % 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 refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in South Africa?
- Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in South Africa was 12.35 % 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 233.1 % change on previous year in 1980.
- What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -83.34 % change on previous year in 1994.
- How does South Africa rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of?
- South Africa ranks 50th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 108.5%. 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 Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of origin, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 59 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 Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of origin. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 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 Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of origin. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.