Burkina Faso: Internally displaced persons (IDPs) by country or territory of asylum / origin

Key figures

Over five years it is up 91.91% from 1.08 million in 2020 (13.92% a year on average, compounded). Since 2016 it is up 294,614% from 700 in 2016 (142.93% a year on average, compounded).

What the numbers say

In 2025, Burkina Faso's internally displaced persons (IDPs) by country or territory of asylum / origin did not change 0% on 2024 (from 2.06 million to 2.06 million).

Across the 8 yearly changes before that (2017 to 2024), the average change was +339.8% and a typical year strayed about 443.5% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.8 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 1,091.5% in 2019. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 the straight-line trend is upward, about 287,990 a year. A straight line explains 92% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2025, Burkina Faso had the 12th highest value of the 44 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Burkina Faso in the 2025 ranking

• Nigeria — 9th of 44: 3.5 million
• Somalia, Fed. Rep. — 10th of 44: 3.35 million
• Ethiopia — 11th of 44: 2.38 million
• West Bank and Gaza — 13th of 44: 2.04 million
• Iraq — 14th of 44: 997,000
• Cameroon — 15th of 44: 954,000

What this measures

Internally displaced people (IDPs) are persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of, or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, and violations of human rights, and who have not crossed an internationally recognized State border.

Limitations: Collecting accurate data on internally displaced people (IDPs) is challenging in conflict zones and areas with limited access, leading to potential underreporting or incomplete coverage. Repeated displacements and the complex dynamics of internal conflicts can result in double counting or misclassification of IDPs. Additionally, differing definitions of IDPs across countries and regions can hinder the comparability and reliability of the data, complicating international efforts to address internal displacement.

All 10 values

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) by country or territory of asylum / origin in nearby economies

• Burundi — 6,800 (2025)
• Cameroon — 954,000 (2025)
• Central African Republic — 427,000 (2025)
• Chad — 593,000 (2025)
• Congo, Dem. Rep. — 4.28 million (2025)
• Congo, Rep. — 27,000 (2022)
• Côte d'Ivoire — 302,000 (2022)
• Ethiopia — 2.38 million (2025)

More social protection & labor data for Burkina Faso

• Net migration — -27,130 (2025)
• Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum — 40,996 (2025)
• Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of origin — 351,209 (2025)
• Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 45.27% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 58.12% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 51.77% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate) — 65.5% (2025)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
• Data analysis examples: 6 worked from one dataset — 3 min read
• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Burkina Faso's internally displaced persons (IDPs) by country or territory of asylum / origin?

2.06 million in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2016?

It is up 294,614% from 700 in 2016 (142.93% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 2.06 million in 2023 and the lowest 700 in 2016.

How does Burkina Faso rank?

12th highest of 44 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in internally displaced persons (IDPs) by country or territory of asylum / origin unusual for Burkina Faso?

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SM.POP.IDPC, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), uri: https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/download; Global Internal Displacement Database, Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), uri: https://www.internal-displacement.org/database/displacement-data/ Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

Want to ask your own questions of data like this? Try AnalyzeIt: upload a file or ask about public data in plain words, and every figure comes with its working.