Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of was 14.23 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 14.23 % change on previous year for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 28.4% on the previous year and down 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 101.33 % change on previous year in 1961 and was at its lowest, -29.34 % change on previous year, in 1981.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 5th of 44 groups 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 Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 101.33 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 6.62 % change on previous year | -93.5% |
| 1963 | 9.63 % change on previous year | +45.4% |
| 1964 | 38.9 % change on previous year | +304.0% |
| 1965 | 18.18 % change on previous year | -53.2% |
| 1966 | 27.07 % change on previous year | +48.9% |
| 1967 | 13.22 % change on previous year | -51.1% |
| 1968 | 16.93 % change on previous year | +28.0% |
| 1969 | -3.83 % change on previous year | -122.6% |
| 1970 | 3.97 % change on previous year | -203.8% |
| 1971 | 0.1508 % change on previous year | -96.2% |
| 1972 | 9.79 % change on previous year | +6394.3% |
| 1973 | -7.99 % change on previous year | -181.6% |
| 1974 | 9.63 % change on previous year | -220.6% |
| 1975 | 37.47 % change on previous year | +289.0% |
| 1976 | 11.86 % change on previous year | -68.4% |
| 1977 | 21.19 % change on previous year | +78.7% |
| 1978 | 15.5 % change on previous year | -26.9% |
| 1979 | 32.29 % change on previous year | +108.3% |
| 1980 | 35.51 % change on previous year | +9.9% |
| 1981 | -29.34 % change on previous year | -182.6% |
| 1982 | -3.1 % change on previous year | -89.4% |
| 1983 | -2.46 % change on previous year | -20.5% |
| 1984 | 21.13 % change on previous year | -957.7% |
| 1985 | 7.62 % change on previous year | -63.9% |
| 1986 | -5.58 % change on previous year | -173.2% |
| 1987 | 11.17 % change on previous year | -300.3% |
| 1988 | 16.12 % change on previous year | +44.3% |
| 1989 | 5.18 % change on previous year | -67.9% |
| 1990 | 23.4 % change on previous year | +352.2% |
| 1991 | -10.05 % change on previous year | -142.9% |
| 1992 | 4.97 % change on previous year | -149.4% |
| 1993 | 16.59 % change on previous year | +233.9% |
| 1994 | 6.36 % change on previous year | -61.7% |
| 1995 | -16.4 % change on previous year | -358.0% |
| 1996 | -22.58 % change on previous year | +37.7% |
| 1997 | -18.68 % change on previous year | -17.3% |
| 1998 | -3.6 % change on previous year | -80.7% |
| 1999 | 5.98 % change on previous year | -266.2% |
| 2000 | 4.17 % change on previous year | -30.3% |
| 2001 | -8.08 % change on previous year | -293.7% |
| 2002 | 1.75 % change on previous year | -121.7% |
| 2003 | -6.04 % change on previous year | -445.2% |
| 2004 | -2.74 % change on previous year | -54.7% |
| 2005 | -3.9 % change on previous year | +42.4% |
| 2006 | -1.83 % change on previous year | -53.1% |
| 2007 | -9.6 % change on previous year | +425.8% |
| 2008 | -4.37 % change on previous year | -54.5% |
| 2009 | 1.45 % change on previous year | -133.1% |
| 2010 | 5.41 % change on previous year | +273.8% |
| 2011 | 19.98 % change on previous year | +269.2% |
| 2012 | 4.85 % change on previous year | -75.7% |
| 2013 | 4.73 % change on previous year | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 20.98 % change on previous year | +343.2% |
| 2015 | 16.84 % change on previous year | -19.7% |
| 2016 | 14.8 % change on previous year | -12.1% |
| 2017 | 20.08 % change on previous year | +35.7% |
| 2018 | 0.383 % change on previous year | -98.1% |
| 2019 | 0.6798 % change on previous year | +77.5% |
| 2020 | 1.74 % change on previous year | +156.2% |
| 2021 | 5.45 % change on previous year | +213.0% |
| 2022 | 0.6741 % change on previous year | -87.6% |
| 2023 | 10.89 % change on previous year | +1516.1% |
| 2024 | 11.08 % change on previous year | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 14.23 % change on previous year | +28.4% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Sub-Saharan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | +6394.3% | 0.1508 % change on previous year | 9.79 % change on previous year |
| 2023 | +1516.1% | 0.6741 % change on previous year | 10.89 % change on previous year |
| 1984 | +957.7% | -2.46 % change on previous year | 21.13 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 25.34 % change on previous year | -3.83 % change on previous year | 101.33 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 13.39 % change on previous year | -7.99 % change on previous year | 37.47 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.63 % change on previous year | -29.34 % change on previous year | 35.51 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.4 % change on previous year | -22.58 % change on previous year | 23.4 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | -2.92 % change on previous year | -9.6 % change on previous year | 4.17 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.87 % change on previous year | 0.383 % change on previous year | 20.98 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.35 % change on previous year | 0.6741 % change on previous year | 14.23 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 2 Burkina Faso 134.01 % change on previous year compare
- 3 Malaysia 104.88 % change on previous year compare
- 4 Niger 94 % change on previous year compare
- 5 Solomon Islands 65.91 % change on previous year compare
- 6 Sao Tome and Principe 60 % change on previous year compare
- 7 Tonga 54.76 % change on previous year compare
- 8 Botswana 54.22 % change on previous year compare
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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.3284 units per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Sub-Saharan Africa was 14.23 % 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 101.33 % change on previous year in 1961.
- What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -29.34 % change on previous year in 1981.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 5th out of 44 groups with data for 2025.
- Is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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
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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 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.