In 1989, the Ethiopian refugee population was the largest in the region with 1.5 million. The refugees obtained asylum in Somalia (780,000), Sudan (700,000), United States (10,000) and other countries (10,000).

After the war, the Ethiopian refugee population decreased sharply to 260,000 in 1993.

Between 1994 and 2013, the Ethiopian refugee population remained low at approximately 65,000.

Ethiopia is an important host- and transit country in the region. At the peak in 1990, the country granted asylum to 750,000 foreign refugees; thereof around 400,000 from Sudan, 330,000 from Somalia and 20,000 from other countries.

This number declined steadily until 2006 and increased to 430,000 in 2013. In 2013, 240,0000 originated in Somalia, 80,000 in Eritrea , 70,000 in South Sudan and 40,000 in other countries.

Many migrants originating from Somalia and Eritrea also transit Ethiopia in order to advance north in direction of Sudan and Libya.