At least 123.2 million people around the world are now forcibly displaced, according to a new report from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This staggering number means that one in every 67 people globally has been forced to leave their homes due to conflict, violence, or persecution.
The report highlights a troubling trend: the number of displaced individuals has risen by seven million, or about 6 percent, compared to the end of 2023. This marks the continuation of a 13-year pattern of increasing displacement worldwide. However, the UNHCR noted a slight decrease in displacement in the first four months of 2025, with the total dropping to 122.1 million by the end of April.
Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, emphasized the urgent need for peace and solutions for those forced to flee. He described the current global situation as one of intense volatility, where modern warfare leads to severe human suffering.
Among the 123.2 million displaced, 73.5 million are internally displaced within their own countries, often due to conflict. This figure has increased by 6.3 million since last year, accounting for 60 percent of all displaced individuals. In Gaza, the situation is dire, with about 90 percent of the population displaced due to ongoing violence.
In 2024, the number of refugees stood at 42.7 million, which is a decrease of 613,600 from the previous year. The UNHCR attributes this decline to lower estimates of Afghan and Syrian refugees, along with updated reporting on Ukrainian refugees. However, the number of Sudanese refugees has sharply increased by nearly 600,000, bringing the total to 2.1 million.
The report also highlights a rising number of asylum seekers, with 8.4 million individuals waiting for protection decisions, marking a 22 percent increase from last year.
Historically, the number of forcibly displaced people has seen significant changes. The UN Refugee Convention was established in 1951 to protect refugees, and since then, the numbers have fluctuated widely. By 1980, the number of refugees had surpassed 10 million for the first time, doubling to 20 million by 1990 due to conflicts in Afghanistan and Ethiopia. The situation worsened with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and more recently, the war in Ukraine has led to one of the fastest-growing refugee crises in decades.
In 2024, the majority of displaced individuals came from Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. Notably, 1.6 million refugees returned to their home countries last year, but many returned to unstable situations in places like Afghanistan and Syria, which poses risks for their future.
The UNHCR also reported that 8.2 million internally displaced persons returned to their areas of origin, although many returned to regions still facing conflict. The agency noted that most returns occurred in just a handful of countries, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ukraine.
Despite the challenges, there is a glimmer of hope. Grandi mentioned that nearly two million Syrians have returned home after years of displacement, although the country remains fragile. The need for support to help rebuild lives is more crucial than ever.