As of 2024, approximately 120 million people, or 1.5 percent of the world’s population, are displaced from their homes. This staggering figure translates to one out of every 69 people globally. Behind these numbers lie countless stories of families torn apart, livelihoods lost, and communities shattered. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 68 million of these individuals are internally displaced within their own countries, while the remaining 52.3 million are refugees and asylum seekers in dire need of protection.
World Refugee Day, designated by the UN and observed on June 20, aims to raise awareness about the plight of refugees worldwide. If the displaced formed a nation, it would be the 13th most populous country, just behind Japan, with about half of these individuals being children. The UN Refugee Convention, established in 1951 to protect refugees’ rights, initially addressed displacement in Europe following World War II and was expanded in 1967 to cover global displacement. Since its inception, the number of refugees has surged from 2.1 million in 1951 to over 30 million by the end of 2021, driven by conflicts in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Syria, as well as the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
The war in Ukraine, which began in 2022, led to one of the fastest-growing refugee crises since World War II, with 5.7 million Ukrainians fleeing in less than a year. By the end of 2023, six million Ukrainians remained forcibly displaced. Additionally, the conflict in Sudan in 2023 increased the number of refugees to 1.5 million, significantly reducing the Syrian refugee population in Sudan from 93,500 in 2022 to 26,600 in 2023 as many sought refuge elsewhere. The recent Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip has also had a devastating impact, displacing up to 1.7 million people within the Gaza Strip. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with all 2.3 million inhabitants facing severe food shortages and the threat of famine.
As of 2024, 72 percent of all refugees come from just five countries: Afghanistan, Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine, and Palestine, each with around six million refugees. Under international law, refugees are individuals forced to flee their home countries to escape persecution or serious threats to their life, physical integrity, or freedom. Nearly 70 percent of refugees and those needing international protection reside in countries adjacent to their countries of origin. The largest refugee populations are hosted by Iran (3.8 million), Turkey (3.3 million), Colombia (2.9 million), Germany (2.6 million), and Pakistan (2 million). Most refugees in Iran and Pakistan are Afghans, while Turkey predominantly hosts Syrians. Over the past decade, refugee numbers have risen in these major host countries, except for Turkey, where numbers have dropped by 14 percent since 2021.
Germany, the only major host country not bordering the main refugee source countries, hosts significant numbers of refugees from Ukraine (1.1 million), Syria (705,800), Afghanistan (255,100), and Iraq (146,500).
The global displacement crisis underscores the urgent need for international cooperation and support to address the challenges faced by millions of displaced individuals. The ongoing conflicts and humanitarian emergencies highlight the importance of providing adequate protection and assistance to those forced to flee their homes. The international community must work together to ensure that refugees and displaced persons receive the care and support they need to rebuild their lives and secure a safer future. Addressing the root causes of displacement, such as conflict, persecution, and environmental disasters, is essential to finding long-term solutions to this growing crisis.
