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122.6 MILLION
Forcibly displaced people worldwide

at mid-2024 as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations or events seriously disturbing public order.

68.3 MILLION

are internally displaced people (Source: IDMC, as of end-2023)

37.9 MILLION

are refugees

8 MILLION

are asylum-seekers

5.8 MILLION

are other people in need of international protection

Welcome to UNHCR’s Refugee Population Statistics Database

The database contains information about forcibly displaced populations spanning more than 70 years of statistical activities. It covers displaced populations such as refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced people, including their demographics. Stateless people are also included, most of who have never been displaced. The database also reflects the different types of solutions for displaced populations such as repatriation or resettlement.

This website is based on three data sources:

  • UNHCR data collected through its annual statistical activities with some data going back as far as 1951, the year UNHCR was created.
  • Data provided by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Information is limited to registered Palestine refugees under UNRWA’s mandate.
  • Data provided by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC). Information is limited to people displaced within their country due to conflict or violence.

For methodological explanations, data limitations and coverage, visit the Methodology page.

65%

originate from just five countries

Nearly two-thirds of all refugees under UNHCR’s mandate and other people in need of international protection come from just four countries.

Syrian Arab Republic6.3 million
Venezuela6.2 million
Ukraine6.1 million
Afghanistan6.1 million

32%

hosted in five countries

Colombia, Germany, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Türkiye and Uganda hosted almost one-third of the world’s refugees and other people in need of international protection.

Islamic Republic of Iran3.8 million
Türkiye3.1 million
Colombia2.8 million
Germany2.7 million
Uganda1.7 million

47

MILLION
are children

At the end of 2023, of the 117.3 million forcibly displaced people, an estimated 47 million (40 per cent) are children below 18 years of age.

2

MILLION
children were born as refugees

Between 2018 and 2023, an average of 339,000 children were born as refugees per year.

518,600

refugees returned or were resettled

Some 433,600 refugees returned to their countries of origin during the first half of 2024 while 85,000 were resettled (with or without UNHCR’s assistance).

71%

hosted in low- and middle-income countries

Low- and middle-income countries host 71 per cent of the world’s refugees and other people in need of international protection. The Least Developed Countries provide asylum to 22 per cent of the total.

4.4

MILLION
stateless people

Data on some 4.4 million stateless people residing in 97 countries was reported at mid-2023. The true global figure is estimated to be significantly higher.

69%

hosted in neighbouring countries

69 per cent of refugees and other people in need of international protection lived in countries neighbouring their countries of origin.