Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD): Internally displaced persons (IDPs) by country or territory of asylum / origin

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD)'s internally displaced persons (IDPs) by country or territory of asylum / origin fell 12.7% on 2024 (from 33.1 million to 28.91 million).

Across the 15 yearly changes before that (2010 to 2024), the average change was +9.4% and a typical year strayed about 16% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.4 standard deviations below that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 41.5% in 2013 and the biggest yearly fall was 28.6% in 2011. 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 2.39 million 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

See how every economy compares in the full ranking.

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 17 values

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

• Afghanistan — 4.36 million (2025)
• Iraq — 997,000 (2025)
• Lebanon — 64,000 (2025)
• Libya — 85,000 (2025)
• Pakistan — 269,000 (2025)
• Syrian Arab Republic — 5.96 million (2025)
• West Bank and Gaza — 2.04 million (2025)
• Yemen, Rep. — 4.8 million (2025)

More social protection & labor data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD)

• Net migration — -223,909 (2025)
• Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum — 9.48 million (2025)
• Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of origin — 11.08 million (2025)
• Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 49.31% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 53.38% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 51.36% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD)'s internally displaced persons (IDPs) by country or territory of asylum / origin?

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

How has it changed since 2009?

It is up 183.64% from 10.19 million in 2009 (6.73% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 33.1 million in 2024 and the lowest 6.99 million in 2011.

Is the latest change in internally displaced persons (IDPs) by country or territory of asylum / origin unusual for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD)?

In 2025, Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD)'s internally displaced persons (IDPs) by country or territory of asylum / origin fell 12.7% on 2024 (from 33.1 million to 28.91 million). Across the 15 yearly changes before that (2010 to 2024), the average change was +9.4% and a typical year strayed about 16% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.4 standard deviations below that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

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.

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