Ethiopia: immigration

How many refugees are in Ethiopia?

Ethiopia hosted 1,010,466 refugees and 112,987 asylum seekers at the end of 2025, according to UNHCR population statistics. At the end of 2024 there were 1,008,826 refugees and 63,055 asylum seekers.

Asylum seekers are people whose claims have not yet been decided, and their number almost doubled during 2025. Refugees are counted by country of asylum, so the figures cover people of all nationalities living in Ethiopia. UNHCR compiles them with the government and publishes them, with breakdowns by country of origin, on the UNHCR Refugee Data Finder. Totals are revised as registration is updated.

Official sources: UNHCR: population data for Ethiopia as asylum country (API) · UNHCR: Refugee Data Finder

How many people are internally displaced in Ethiopia?

2,378,000 people were internally displaced within Ethiopia at the end of 2025, according to UNHCR population statistics, up from 2,272,533 at the end of 2024. During 2024, 2,438,438 displaced people returned home.

Internally displaced people have fled their homes but stayed inside Ethiopia, so they are not refugees. UNHCR's figures draw on data collected with the government and other UN agencies, and they change quickly as people move and return; UNHCR reports no displaced returns for 2025. The figures are published on the UNHCR Refugee Data Finder.

Official sources: UNHCR: population data for Ethiopia (API) · UNHCR: Refugee Data Finder

How many Ethiopians emigrate?

An estimated 847,664 Ethiopians emigrated in the recent period covered by the 2024/25 National Integrated Household Survey, up from 508,638 in the 2021 Labour Force and Migration Survey, according to the Ethiopian Statistical Service migration key findings. Women made up 547,353 of them and men 300,311.

ESS finds that searching for work is the overwhelming reason for emigrating, that most emigrants are young and from rural areas, and it identifies Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries as the main places returnees come back from. The survey counts household members who left, as reported by those who remained, so it does not capture whole households that moved abroad.

Official sources: ESS: NIHS 2024/25 migration key findings (PDF)

How many Ethiopian migrants plan to leave again after returning?

38.1% of recent returnees to Ethiopia intended to migrate again in 2024/25, up from 25.1% in 2021, according to the Ethiopian Statistical Service migration key findings. Women made up 54.1% of recent returnees.

ESS reports that deportation or expulsion has become a more common reason for return, and that more returnees had been unemployed before they left. UNHCR records 164,215 refugees and 148,616 asylum seekers from Ethiopia abroad at the end of 2025, according to its population statistics; most Ethiopian migrants leave for work rather than as refugees.

Official sources: ESS: NIHS 2024/25 migration key findings (PDF) · UNHCR: population data for Ethiopia as origin country (API)

How many passports does Ethiopia issue?

Ethiopia's Immigration and Citizenship Service issued passports to more than 1.1 million citizens in the first nine months of fiscal year 2025/26 (EFY 2018), according to its Director General message. It served over 847,000 foreign nationals with visas, Ethiopian Origin ID cards and related services and handled more than 5.4 million travellers at air and land border points.

The service says it collected over Birr 30.9 billion in fees and expanded passport offices from 12 to 22 branches, with services also offered at 10 Mesob one-stop centres. Foreign visitors can apply for visas through the official eVisa portal, evisa.gov.et.

Official sources: Immigration and Citizenship Service · Ethiopia eVisa

How many immigrants live in Ethiopia?

0.9%: that is the share of people born abroad in Ethiopia for 2024, according to the UN Population Division. It was 0.8% in 2015. It is 37th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 2.2%. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 155th highest.

What is net migration in Ethiopia?

The UN Population Division puts net migration in Ethiopia at 24,054 in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2012, at 119,517; its low point was 2005, at -44,421. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was -5,646, and Ethiopia placed 3rd highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 30th of 193.

How many refugees are in Ethiopia?

1.01 million: that is the number of refugees in the country in Ethiopia for 2025, according to UNHCR. That is the highest since at least 2005. It is 3rd highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 35,241. Worldwide: 7th of 169.

How many refugees have fled Ethiopia?

The latest figure from UNHCR, for 2025, is 164,215. The peak was 164,423 in 2024 and the low 59,845 in 2007. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 12,726; Ethiopia is 12th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 19th of 189.

How much money do migrants send home to Ethiopia?

The World Bank puts personal remittances received in Ethiopia at 4.8% of GDP in 2024. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 2.5% of GDP; Ethiopia is 9th highest of 36. Worldwide: 47th of 156.