Over 122 million individuals globally are driven from their homes, which the United Nations deems an unbearably high number
🌐 Refugee Population Drops Slightly, but Still Fluctuating
A roundabout 122.1 million individuals worldwide found themselves displaced from their homes as of April 2025, as per UNHCR's latest figures. This marks a slight decrease from the 123.2 million documented at the end of 2024, but authorities warn that the state of ongoing conflicts globally could push the number back up.
The descent of the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 kickstarted a wave of Syrian refugees returning home after years of strife. More than 1.5 million Syrians have managed to return to Syria from both abroad and within the war-torn country.
Although the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide has decreased by a meager 1%, the global community's response to displacement remains under scrutiny. The refugee crisis remains "increasingly challenging," said Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Sudan Leads the Way in Displacement
Sudan has surpassed Syria as the world's largest forced displacement situation, with a staggering 14.3 million refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) as of mid-2025. Ongoing instability and conflict are the prime drivers of displacement in Sudan, according to UNHCR's annual report.
In contrast, Syria now hosts approximately 13.5 million forcibly displaced individuals, with return movements to the war-torn country projected to reach up to 1.5 million from abroad and 2 million IDPs by the year's end. However, these numbers hinge upon improvements in security and living conditions.
Afghanistan and Ukraine Round Out Top Four
Afghanistan and Ukraine round out the top four countries contributing to global forced displacement, with 10.3 million and 8.8 million displaced persons, respectively. The situation in both these nations remains precarious. The outlook for reducing displacement depends heavily on peace processes, cessation of fighting, and appropriate humanitarian funding to support returns.
Multiple Factors Affect Displacement
There are several factors driving displacement worldwide. About one-third of all forcibly displaced people globally stem from just four countries: Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. Additionally, the number of climate-related displacements has increased significantly, with nearly 46 million climate displacements noted in recent data.
Ultimately, the outlook for reducing global forced displacement is closely tied to peace processes, cessation of fighting in critical regions, and adequate humanitarian funding. However, as funding for humanitarian efforts is shrinking, addressing the refugee crisis remains a challenge for the global community.
- The UN High Commissioner for Refuges, Filippo Grandi, commented on the challenging nature of the ongoing refugee crisis.
- Sudan has become the world's largest forced displacement situation, with 14.3 million refugees and IDPs.
- Turkey, despite being a key host to displaced people, has expressed concerns about the increasing number of refugees from Ukraine and Syria.
- In the case of Ukraine, the ongoing conflict has led to 8.8 million people being forcibly displaced, making it one of the top contributors to global forced displacement.
- The United States and other global powers have called for increased political dialogues and human rights protections in war-torn countries like Ukraine and Sudan, which are significant contributors to international migration.
