Global Refugee Numbers See First Drop in a Decade
The number of forcibly displaced people worldwide decreased by 3% in 2025, reaching 41.6 million, according to the Global Trends Report released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva. During the year, approximately 5.4 million individuals sought refuge in other countries to escape violence and persecution.
Returns Accelerate, But Concerns Remain
In 2025, 14.7 million displaced individuals returned to their home countries or regions, comprising 4.4 million refugees and 10.3 million internally displaced persons. Significant increases in returns were observed in Afghanistan, Sudan, and Syria. Refugee returns reached the second-highest level since records began 60 years ago. However, UNHCR warned that many of these returns occurred under duress and in unsafe conditions. In a positive development, around 46,000 stateless individuals in 24 countries acquired citizenship last year.
A Paradigm Shift in Humanitarian Aid is Needed
Despite the overall decrease, UNHCR High Commissioner Filippo Grandi emphasized that humanitarian aid alone is insufficient. He highlighted that 70% of refugees are trapped in exile for years, with many living below the poverty line, and called for a fundamental change in approach. “For too many refugees, displacement starts with a lifeline but ends in a life sentence. We need a paradigm shift that creates a new sense of hope and opportunity for people fleeing war and persecution,” Grandi stated. He set a concrete, measurable target to reduce the number of long-term displaced refugees dependent on humanitarian aid by more than half within the next decade, particularly those in low- and middle-income countries. This initiative aims to transition refugees from aid dependency to self-reliance through access to education, healthcare, financial services, and labor markets, while expanding voluntary returns, humanitarian visas, and resettlement opportunities.
Struggling for a Future
The report also revealed a sharp decline in resettlement arrivals, which fell by more than half compared to the previous year, reaching only 81,800 in 2025. This indicates a widening gap between available places and urgent needs. Over 70% of refugees originate from Afghanistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Venezuela. The countries hosting the largest refugee populations are Colombia, Germany, and Turkey. “Asylum and protection are life-saving and non-negotiable. But we cannot accept a future where millions of refugees are trapped for years or decades without realistic hopes of rebuilding their lives,” Grandi said.
