Statizoid

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)

Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC): Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of was 11.16 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
11.16 million
Change on year
down 13.8%
Rank
9th
of 47 groups
All-time high
12.95 million
in 2024
All-time low
152,000
in 1961
Years of data
65
1961–2025

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC), 1961–2025

05.0M10.0M15.0M196119932025

Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Analysis

The most recent figure for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) is 11.16 million, measured in 2025.

That represents a change of down 13.8% on the previous year and up 60.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) peaked at 12.95 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 152,000, in 1961.

Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) ranks 9th of 47 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.

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 Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC), year by year

Year Value Change
1961 152,000 —
1962 152,000 +0.0%
1963 178,000 +17.1%
1964 290,300 +63.1%
1965 359,460 +23.8%
1966 431,650 +20.1%
1967 476,510 +10.4%
1968 539,890 +13.3%
1969 524,970 -2.8%
1970 560,290 +6.7%
1971 557,670 -0.5%
1972 650,290 +16.6%
1973 555,320 -14.6%
1974 580,570 +4.5%
1975 874,150 +50.6%
1976 1.03 million +17.9%
1977 1.27 million +23.4%
1978 1.53 million +20.5%
1979 2.66 million +73.5%
1980 5.34 million +100.9%
1981 6.26 million +17.1%
1982 6.78 million +8.3%
1983 7.12 million +4.9%
1984 7.36 million +3.4%
1985 7.91 million +7.5%
1986 8.13 million +2.8%
1987 8.90 million +9.5%
1988 9.63 million +8.2%
1989 9.97 million +3.5%
1990 11.72 million +17.5%
1991 11.13 million -5.0%
1992 9.71 million -12.7%
1993 9.40 million -3.2%
1994 9.20 million -2.1%
1995 8.08 million -12.2%
1996 6.80 million -15.8%
1997 5.98 million -12.2%
1998 5.79 million -3.2%
1999 5.88 million +1.7%
2000 6.93 million +17.7%
2001 6.80 million -1.7%
2002 5.58 million -18.0%
2003 5.09 million -8.7%
2004 5.38 million +5.6%
2005 5.02 million -6.6%
2006 4.93 million -1.8%
2007 5.61 million +13.7%
2008 5.27 million -6.0%
2009 5.39 million +2.2%
2010 5.71 million +5.9%
2011 5.89 million +3.2%
2012 6.01 million +2.0%
2013 6.12 million +1.8%
2014 6.37 million +4.1%
2015 6.95 million +9.2%
2016 6.85 million -1.5%
2017 7.17 million +4.7%
2018 7.38 million +2.9%
2019 7.52 million +1.9%
2020 7.51 million -0.1%
2021 7.85 million +4.5%
2022 10.93 million +39.2%
2023 12.64 million +15.6%
2024 12.95 million +2.5%
2025 11.16 million -13.8%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) 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
1980 +100.9% 2.66 million 5.34 million
1979 +73.5% 1.53 million 2.66 million
1964 +63.1% 178,000 290,300

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 344,976 152,000 539,890 9
1970s 1.03 million 555,320 2.66 million 10
1980s 7.74 million 5.34 million 9.97 million 10
1990s 8.37 million 5.79 million 11.72 million 10
2000s 5.60 million 4.93 million 6.93 million 10
2010s 6.60 million 5.71 million 7.52 million 10
2020s 10.51 million 7.51 million 12.95 million 6

Countries ranked near Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)

  1. 6 Myanmar 1.52 million compare
  2. 7 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 1.18 million compare
  3. 8 Somalia 892,037 compare
  4. 9 Central African Republic 674,222 compare
  5. 10 Eritrea 554,891 compare
  6. 11 Mali 519,738 compare
  7. 12 Nigeria 478,150 compare

See the full ranking of 246 places →

More social development data for Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)

All data for Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) →

Frequently asked questions

What is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) was 11.16 million in 2025, according to Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
What is the highest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
The highest recorded value was 12.95 million in 2024.
What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of recorded in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
The lowest recorded value was 152,000 in 1961.
How does Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) rank for refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of?
Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) ranks 9th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
Is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of rising or falling in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
Over the last ten years it is up 60.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) data come from?
The figures come from Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published as part of Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of origin. 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 Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC). Statizoid, drawing on Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/refugees-under-the-mandate-of-the-unhcr-by-country-or-territory-of-origin/heavily-indebted-poor-countries-hipc/

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About this data

Indicator
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of origin
Source
Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
246 places, 10,112 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Refugees under the mandate of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) include individuals recognized under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 Organization of African Unity (OAU) Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, the refugee definition contained in the 1984 Cartagena Declaration on Refugees as incorporated into national laws, those recognized in accordance with the UNHCR Statute, individuals granted complementary forms of protection, and those enjoying temporary protection. The refugee population also includes people in a refugee-like situation, which is a category that is descriptive in nature and includes groups of people who are outside their country or territory of origin and who face protection risks similar to those of refugees, but for whom refugee status has, for practical or other reasons, not been ascertained. Refugees under the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Palestine Refugees, are not typically included in the statistics on refugees (and people in a refugee-like situation) under the mandate of the UNHCR.