Countries With the Fastest Growth in Refugee population by origin (5-Year Change)
Change in Refugee population by origin over the five years to each country's latest year, as a percentage of the earlier value. Only countries that rose are listed. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Brunei Darussalam rose the most: by 2,900%, from 4 people to 120 people in the five years to 2020. Samoa is second (+1,020%), followed by Ukraine (+991.3%). 14 countries rose over that period; the median change among them was +216%.
- #1
- Brunei Darussalam · +2,900%
- Median
- +216%
- Coverage
- 14 countries
- Data year
- 2023
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | From | To | 5-year change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brunei Darussalam | 4 | 120 | +2,900% |
| 2 | Samoa | 10 | 112 | +1,020% |
| 3 | Ukraine | 3,823,300 | 41,723,000 | +991.3% |
| 4 | Macao SAR, China | 20 | 105 | +425% |
| 5 | Hong Kong SAR, China | 471 | 2,450 | +420.2% |
| 6 | Denmark | 30 | 144 | +380% |
| 7 | Vanuatu | 10 | 35 | +250% |
| 8 | Venezuela, RB | 862,920 | 2,433,900 | +182.1% |
| 9 | Nicaragua | 68,531 | 178,380 | +160.3% |
| 10 | Azerbaijan | 461,090 | 1,106,700 | +140% |
| 11 | Uruguay | 407 | 651 | +60% |
| 12 | Niger | 111,420 | 173,560 | +55.8% |
| 13 | Luxembourg | 30 | 35 | +16.7% |
| 14 | Palau | 30 | 35 | +16.7% |
About the top 10
#1 Brunei Darussalam
Brunei Darussalam ranks #1 on this list with +2,900%.
- Capital
- Bandar Seri Begawan
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 466,330 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$15.03 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$32,235 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 75.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 75% of population (2025)
Also ranks #2 in immunisation (dpt) rate · #2 in immunisation (measles) rate · #3 in industry value added share of gdp.
#2 Samoa
Samoa ranks #2 on this list with +1,020%.
- Capital
- Apia
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 219,310 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.29 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$5,873 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 71.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 17.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in rural population share · #4 in diabetes prevalence · #16 in age dependency ratio.
#3 Ukraine
Ukraine ranks #3 on this list with +991.3%.
- Capital
- Kyiv
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 38.98 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$214.23 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$5,866 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 74.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 69.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa.
Also ranks #1 in net migration · #3 in refugee population by origin · #4 in arable land share.
#4 Macao SAR, China
Macao SAR, China ranks #4 on this list with +425%.
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 685,900 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$52.06 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$75,902 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 100% of population (2025)
- International tourist arrivals
- 5.9 million arrivals (2020)
Also ranks #1 in population density · #2 in school enrolment (tertiary) · #2 in services value added share of gdp.
#5 Hong Kong SAR, China
Hong Kong SAR, China ranks #5 on this list with +420.2%.
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 7.5 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$427.31 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$56,983 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 85.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 100% of population (2025)
- International tourist arrivals
- 3.57 million arrivals (2020)
Also ranks #1 in female population share · #1 in trade share of gdp · #2 in female life expectancy.
#6 Denmark
Denmark ranks #6 on this list with +380%.
- Capital
- Copenhagen
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 6.01 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$462.53 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$76,970 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 82.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 88.8% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense.
Also ranks #1 in control of corruption score · #2 in arable land share · #2 in rule of law score.
#7 Vanuatu
Vanuatu ranks #7 on this list with +250%.
- Capital
- Port Vila
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 335,170 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.35 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$4,039 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 71.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 22.3% of population (2025)
Also ranks #6 in school enrolment (secondary) · #6 in completion rate (primary) · #9 in rural population share.
#8 Venezuela, RB
Venezuela, RB ranks #8 on this list with +182.1%.
- Capital
- Caracas
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 28.52 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$99.66 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,495 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 89.3% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Caracas, Maracaibo, Valencia.
Also ranks #1 in time to start a business (days) · #3 in protected terrestrial area share · #11 in refugee population by origin.
#9 Nicaragua
Nicaragua ranks #9 on this list with +160.3%.
- Capital
- Managua
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 7.01 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$22.24 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,173 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 75.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 59.4% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in women in parliament share · #3 in women in ministerial positions share · #28 in homicide rate.
#10 Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan ranks #10 on this list with +140%.
- Capital
- Baku
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 10.25 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$75.94 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$7,411 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 74.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 58.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Baku.
Also ranks #9 in literacy rate · #9 in electricity access rate · #9 in access to electricity (rural).
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Change in Refugee population by origin over the five years to each country's latest year, as a percentage of the earlier value. Only countries that rose are listed.
Source: The World Bank, indicator SM.POP.REFG.OR. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Refugee population by country or territory of origin: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Refugee Data Finder at https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/. (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Refugee Data Finder at https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/..
Values are shown as published (changes are computed from the published values). Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.