For the first time, after 10 years of continuous growth, the number of people forced to leave their homes worldwide is decreasing. However, this development is far from signaling the end of a crisis that is still at historically high levels.
This was shown, among other things, by the new annual Global Trends report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), according to which the total number of people living in a situation of forced displacement decreased in 2025 to 117.8 million, from 123.2 million at the end of 2024.
However, despite the reduction, the picture is far from reassuring: today, one in 70 people worldwide is in a situation of forced displacement, while the overall size of the crisis remains almost double compared to ten years ago.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih presented the figures in Geneva, insisting that the moment is neither for complacency nor celebration, but for strengthening efforts towards lasting solutions.
Returns to all-time highs – but not always safely
The de-escalation of the total number of displaced people is mainly due to a significant increase in returns to some of the largest displacement centers in the world.
In 2025 a total of 14.7 million people returned to their regions or countries of origin — the second highest performance since records began some 60 years ago. Of these, approximately 4.4 million were refugees and 10.3 million internally displaced.
The largest return movements were recorded in Afghanistan, Sudan and Syria.
UNHCR, however, cautions that reading these numbers requires caution: many of the returns took place under duress or to areas still characterized by insecurity, damaged infrastructure, limited access to basic services and minimal livelihood opportunities. Under these circumstances, the sustainability of returns remains uncertain.
Who are the displaced people of the world?
At the same time, almost 5.4 million people were forced to cross borders in search of safety by 2025. Of the new refugee movements, a third came from just two countries: Sudan and Ukraine.
At the end of 2025, people in a state of forced displacement included 41.6 million refugees and persons in need of international protection, approximately 68.6 million internally displaced persons and nearly 9 million asylum seekers awaiting a decision on their case.
Internally displaced people now represent 58% of the total, confirming that the majority of those forced to flee their homes do not cross international borders but remain within their own country.
However, as the report states, in one of the few positive developments of the year, nearly 46,000 stateless persons acquired citizenship in 24 countries.
Countries bearing the brunt
The geographic distribution of refugee populations remains largely unchanged. According to the report, 68% of refugees and those in need of international protection are hosted in low- and middle-income countries, while 26% are in the least developed countries of the world.
In addition, almost two-thirds of refugees remain in countries neighboring their countries of origin.
Lifelong displacement
The most resounding message of this year’s report is not just about the number of displaced, but the duration of displacement.
Today, seven out of ten refugees live in conditions of long-term displacement, with many living below the poverty line and almost exclusively dependent on humanitarian aid.
“For too many refugees, displacement begins as a lifeline but lasts a lifetime,” said Barham Salih.
With this in mind, the UNHCR, with the “50 by 35” plan, aims to reduce by more than half the number of refugees who remain in long-term displacement and depend on humanitarian support by 2035.
Voluntary returns should be the primary solution, according to Salih. Resolving some of the world’s biggest conflicts would allow millions of refugees to return home in safety and dignity.
Beyond that, the plan is based on empowering refugees by integrating them into national education, healthcare, financial services and labor market systems so they can generate income and contribute to local and national economies.
Children in focus
The demographic picture of displacement is also of particular concern.
Although children account for 29% of the world’s population, they make up 38% of people who have been forced to leave their homes.
This element, as UNHCR emphasizes, makes it crucial to invest in education, child protection, birth registration and maintaining family unity as prerequisites for any long-term solution.
The numbers
• 70% of refugees and other people in need of international protection come from Afghanistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Venezuela.
• The largest host countries for refugees and other people in need of international protection in 2025 were: Colombia (2.8 million), Germany (2.7 million), Turkey (2.4 million), Uganda (1.9 million), Islamic Republic of Iran (1.7 million), Chad (1.5 million) and Pakistan (1.3 million).
• According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, 68.6 million people were estimated to be internally displaced by conflict or violence at the end of 2025, a 7% decrease from the end of 2024. Sudan remained the world’s largest crisis, with 9.1 million internally displaced within the country.
• The war in the Middle East, which began in February 2026, resulted in approximately 1 million internally displaced people in Lebanon by mid-May 2026 and 3.2 million temporarily displaced in the Islamic Republic of Iran by the end of March 2026
