The map shows the number of people in each population groups that UNHCR protects and/or assists. These include people who have been forcibly displaced (refugees, asylum-seekers, other people in need of international protection and internally displaced people); those who have returned home within the previous year; those who are stateless (most of whom are not forcibly displaced); and other groups of concern to whom UNHCR has extended its protection or provided assistance on a humanitarian basis.

The map can be updated to display the number of people by country of origin or asylum and for each population group. The data shown is as of date stamp and is summarized in the GlobalOrMidYear Trends report. The report's annexes contain the data and associated footnotes.