Almost 9-million refugees in Africa, 7-million in just 10 countries

At the end of 2023 there were 31.6-million refugees around the world, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). About 8.9-million had fled their homes in African countries, 6 in particular: Sudan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, Central African Republic and Eritrea. Most of them were hosted in neighbouring countries.

Just over 8-million refugees were hosted by African countries. More than half were in just 4 countries: Uganda, Chad, Ethiopia and Sudan. But the conflict in Sudan, which broke out in April 2023, forced 1.2-million to flee, the UNHCR estimates. Most of them went to Chad and the Central African Republic.

Fighting in eastern DRC and insecurity and flash floods in Somalia displaced more than a million people, many fled to Kenya and Ethiopia.

The UNHCR says 75% of refugees are hosted in low- and middle-income countries. But more than half of the people who are forcibly displaced remain in their home countries.

Source: UNHCR