Record High of Refugees Returning Home, With Syria Leading the Charge
Syrian Citizens in High Numbers Returning to Their Native Land
Get ready for a mix of hope and concern as the UNHCR reports a surge in refugees returning to their homeland, particularly Syrians. The global refugee situation may still be dire, but there's a silver lining in sight.
In 2024, an unprecedented number of refugees have made their way back to their countries of origin. More than 1.6 million people, who had fled abroad, returned - the highest figure in over two decades, according to the UNHCR. And that's not all; internally displaced Syrians also saw a significant return.
The positive trend continued throughout the first few months of this year, with a large number of Syrians embarking on their journey back home following the fall of the Assad regime in Damascus in December 2024. As of now, nearly two million Syrians have made their way back to their war-torn homeland.
Despite this encouraging news, the total number of refugees globally has barely changed compared to the previous year, with 122 million people, virtually the same as the previous year (120 million). This number encompasses both internally displaced persons and those who have fled to other countries. Approximately 60% are internally displaced, while around two-thirds live in neighboring countries of their home country. The number of displaced persons increased by 7 million to 123.2 million for the full year 2024.
It's worth noting that people from Sudan were no longer the largest group of displaced persons, but people from Ukraine took that spot. Syrians held the second position, with 13.5 million, followed by Afghans (10.3 million) and Ukrainians (8.8 million). Filippo Grandi, the UNHCR chief, emphasized that efforts must focus on finding sustainable solutions for long-term peace.
Syria's Perspective
- Türkiye: Over 273,000 Syrian refugees have voluntarily returned home since December 8, 2024, reports Turkish authorities, attributed to the end of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
- Global Context: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimated 1.4 million Syrians returned to their country, but there appear to be questions around the accuracy and consistency of reporting.
- Security Challenges: Despite returns, challenges persist, with about 2.7 million Syrian refugees still registered in Türkiye as of May 2025.
The Bigger Picture
- Global Displacement: The number of displaced people worldwide reached 123.2 million in 2024, with a slowdown in the growth rate due to a rise in voluntary returns and deportations.
- Returns: A record 10 million displaced people were able to return home in 2024 - the highest figure in recent years, according to the UNHCR.
- Trends: The slowing growth rate is partly due to more refugees choosing or being able to voluntarily return to their home countries, especially in regions like Syria where security and political circumstances have improved.
In summary, the global refugee crisis persists, but optimism is arising with a rise in returns, particularly among Syrian refugees. Türkiye is the largest host of Syrian refugees globally, and the number of returns from Türkiye is encouraging, albeit against a backdrop of ongoing humanitarian challenges. The international community needs to focus efforts on finding sustainable solutions for long-term peace.
- The rise in refugees returning to their homeland, particularly Syrians, indicates a need for the international community to address the community policy and employment policies concerning migrants, ensuring a smooth transition back into their societies.
- As conflicts decrease, such as in Syria, it's crucial for the politics and employment policies concerning migration to evolve, enabling the reintegration of returned refugees into their war-torn countries while avoiding further war-and-conflicts that may displace them again.
