Population figures
Total country population
37,804,634
Forcibly displaced population
Refugees (under UNHCR's mandate):
25,320
Asylum-seekers:
30,267
IDPs (of concern to UNHCR):
0
Other people in need of international protection:
0
Other
Statelessness persons
0
Host community
0
Others of concern to UNHCR
199
Country context
Angola is located in Southern Africa, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Namibia, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The country hosts a significant number of forcibly displaced and stateless population, most of whom reside in urban areas. Angola is a signatory to key international instruments related to refugee protection and statelessness, including the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 OAU Convention, as well as the 1954 and the 1961 Conventions on Statelessness.
Angola faces broader socio-economic and environmental challenges, including periodic droughts, particularly in southern provinces. The effects of climate change have further strained resources, impacting both host communities and displaced populations. These overlapping vulnerabilities highlight the need for coordinated and inclusive responses that support both displaced and local populations.
...Angola's refugee population includes individuals from various countries, with a significant number originating from the DRC, particularly following the Kasai crisis in 2017. Additionally, there are refugees and asylum seekers from countries such as Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Somalia and Mauritania. While no large-scale influxes have occurred since 2017, there has been a steady arrival of new asylum applicants.
A revised refugee law, Law 10/15, was enacted in 2015, replacing the 1990 legislation. It provides the legal framework for refugee protection. The creation of the National Commission for Refugees marked an important institutional step; however, challenges remain in the full implementation of the legal framework, particularly regarding freedom of movement and access to economic opportunities.
Refugees and asylum seekers in Angola face ongoing difficulties in accessing essential services and protection due to challenges in registration and documentation. These issues limit access to education, healthcare and formal employment, particularly in urban areas. At the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, Angola reaffirmed its commitment to several key pledges, including supporting voluntary repatriation for refugees willing to return to their home countries, facilitating local integration for those opting to remain in Angola, and ensuring the registration of asylum seekers and refugees through a biometric database.
The government's resumption of refugee registration in 2023 marked a positive step toward addressing documentation gaps, with thousands of refugees and asylum seekers registered and documented. Efforts to reduce statelessness are ongoing, with the Government strengthening birth registration as the foundation of a lifecycle approach to legal identity.
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