Is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of asy rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?

Over the last ten years it is up 195.2%. 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 Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy in Africa Western and Central

Name: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy in Africa Western and Central
Creator: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
License: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)

Africa Western and Central: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy was 3.36 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

3.36 million

Change on year

up 24.3%

All-time high

3.36 million

in 2025

All-time low

5,000

in 1961

Years of data

1961–2025

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy in Africa Western and Central, 1961–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of asy in Africa Western and Central stood at 3.36 million. That is the highest value across all 65 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 24.3% on the previous year and up 195.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of asy in Africa Western and Central peaked at 3.36 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5,000, in 1961.

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

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	65,060	5,000	131,200	9
1970s	186,733	56,950	628,570	10
1980s	115,903	24,410	270,790	10
1990s	1.22 million	932,052	1.62 million	10
2000s	745,707	614,139	968,325	10
2010s	1.09 million	810,884	1.32 million	10
2020s	2.19 million	1.47 million	3.36 million	6

More social development data for Africa Western and Central

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)
Forcibly displaced people 11.87 million (2025)
Internally displaced people (IDP) by country or territory of asylum / 8.36 million (2025)

All data for Africa Western and Central →

Frequently asked questions

What is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of asy in Africa Western and Central?: Refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of asy in Africa Western and Central was 3.36 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 asy recorded in Africa Western and Central?: The highest recorded value was 3.36 million in 2025.
What is the lowest refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of asy recorded in Africa Western and Central?: The lowest recorded value was 5,000 in 1961.
Is refugees under the mandate of the unhcr by country or territory of asy rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?: Over the last ten years it is up 195.2%. 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 Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).

About this data

Indicator: Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 226 places, 10,431 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed: 06 August 2026

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.