Democratic Republic of Congo Refugee Statistics 1960-2023

Refugees are people who are recognized as refugees under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 Organization of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, people recognized as refugees in accordance with the UNHCR statute, people granted refugee-like humanitarian status, and people provided temporary protection. Asylum seekers--people who have applied for asylum or refugee status and who have not yet received a decision or who are registered as asylum seekers--are excluded. Palestinian refugees are people (and their descendants) whose residence was Palestine between June 1946 and May 1948 and who lost their homes and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. Country of asylum is the country where an asylum claim was filed and granted.
  • Democratic Republic of Congo refugee statistics for 2021 was 524,148.00, a 6.92% increase from 2020.
  • Democratic Republic of Congo refugee statistics for 2020 was 490,243.00, a 6.39% decline from 2019.
  • Democratic Republic of Congo refugee statistics for 2019 was 523,733.00, a 1.01% decline from 2018.
  • Democratic Republic of Congo refugee statistics for 2018 was 529,065.00, a 1.49% decline from 2017.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Refugees Granted Asylum
Uganda 1,529,903.00
Ethiopia 821,283.00
Syrian Arab Republic 589,542.00
Chad 555,782.00
Democratic Republic of Congo 524,148.00
South Sudan 333,673.00
Niger 249,945.00
Tanzania 207,101.00
Rwanda 121,896.00
Yemen 89,467.00
Burundi 81,491.00
Afghanistan 66,949.00
Mali 49,975.00
Burkina Faso 25,010.00
Malawi 21,529.00
Nepal 19,574.00
Senegal 14,479.00
Somalia 13,804.00
Tajikistan 10,724.00
Togo 10,683.00
Zimbabwe 9,483.00
Central African Republic 9,305.00
Liberia 8,169.00
Guinea 5,741.00
Mozambique 4,797.00
Gambia 4,418.00
Guinea-Bissau 1,846.00
Benin 1,736.00
Sierra Leone 345.00
Madagascar 165.00
Eritrea 121.00
Comoros 27.00
Democratic Republic of Congo Refugee Statistics - Historical Data
Year Refugees Granted Asylum Annual % Change
2021 524,148.00 6.92%
2020 490,243.00 -6.39%
2019 523,733.00 -1.01%
2018 529,065.00 -1.49%
2017 537,089.00 18.84%
2016 451,957.00 17.98%
2015 383,095.00 219.91%
2014 119,752.00 5.64%
2013 113,357.00 74.11%
2012 65,106.00 -57.38%
2011 152,748.00 -8.17%
2010 166,333.00 -10.48%
2009 185,809.00 19.75%
2008 155,162.00 -12.53%
2007 177,390.00 -14.87%
2006 208,371.00 1.97%
2005 204,341.00 2.52%
2004 199,323.00 -14.83%
2003 234,033.00 -29.72%
2002 332,978.00 -8.02%
2001 362,014.00 8.87%
2000 332,509.00 16.56%
1999 285,270.00 18.76%
1998 240,214.00 -19.27%
1997 297,536.00 -55.98%
1996 675,972.00 -52.85%
1995 1,433,760.00 -16.85%
1994 1,724,365.00 201.43%
1993 572,070.00 46.26%
1992 391,127.00 -19.01%
1991 482,959.00 15.97%
1990 416,435.00 22.23%
1989 340,689.00 0.00%
1988 340,675.00 6.46%
1987 320,000.00 6.23%
1986 301,230.00 6.44%
1985 283,000.00 -16.11%
1984 337,330.00 11.15%
1983 303,500.00 -39.01%
1982 497,600.00 -13.72%
1981 576,740.00 -5.62%
1980 611,110.00 -13.99%
1979 710,480.00 8.80%
1978 653,000.00 23.14%
1977 530,300.00 2.97%
1976 515,000.00 0.98%
1975 510,000.00 1.34%
1974 503,250.00 9.39%
1973 460,050.00 -7.11%
1972 495,250.00 4.43%
1971 474,250.00 -3.02%
1970 489,000.00 -1.47%
1969 496,300.00 4.40%
1968 475,400.00 9.51%
1967 434,100.00 21.56%
1966 357,100.00 34.75%
1965 265,000.00 12.29%
1964 236,000.00 -0.42%
1963 237,000.00 6.28%
1962 223,000.00 9.85%
1961 203,000.00 35.33%
1960 150,000.00 35.33%