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.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
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 |
More social development data for Africa Western and Central
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 3.36 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 2.47 million (2025)
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin 518,872 (2025)
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum 150,281 (2025)
- Internally displaced people (IDP) by country or territory of asylum / 8.36 million (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.
- 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.