UNHCR: number of displaced people worldwide falls for first time in a decade

Global forced displacement falls for first time in a decade, UNHCR reports

The number of people forcibly displaced worldwide stood at 117.8 million at the end of 2025, according to the United Nations refugee agency's Global Trends report. That figure, which includes 68.7 million internally displaced people and 41.6 million refugees in other countries, marks the first decline in forced displacement in a decade, as reported by Africa News, AllAfrica, and Al Jazeera.

The drop was driven by a rise in returns in some of the world's largest displacement crises. According to UNHCR, the number of refugees shrank by 3 percent in 2025 compared with the year before, as reported by Africa News and AllAfrica. However, the agency cautioned that many returns occurred under difficult circumstances to fragile contexts where reintegration conditions remain extremely challenging.

Coverage comparison

Different outlets emphasised various aspects of the UNHCR report. Africa News and AllAfrica focused on the overall global figures, highlighting the 3 percent decrease in refugee numbers and the 14.7 million refugees and internally displaced people who returned home in 2025. Al Jazeera's coverage also cited the 117.8 million total, but provided a more detailed breakdown, including 68.6 million internally displaced people, 28.5 million refugees under UNHCR mandate, 9 million asylum seekers, and 7.2 million people in need of international protection. The Hindu — World added a historical perspective, noting the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 6 million Palestinian refugees under UNRWA's mandate.

Key claims

The UNHCR report, as covered by multiple outlets, presents several key figures. The total of 117.8 million forcibly displaced people at the end of 2025 is widely reported. The breakdown includes 68.7 million internally displaced people and 41.6 million refugees in other countries, according to Africa News and AllAfrica. Al Jazeera's figures for internally displaced people stand at 68.6 million, a slight discrepancy. The number of refugees under UNHCR mandate is 28.5 million, as reported by Al Jazeera, along with 9 million asylum seekers and 7.2 million people in need of international protection.

Returns were a major theme. The Hindu — World reported that 14.7 million refugees and internally displaced people returned home in 2025, a 50% increase on the previous year and the second-highest figure recorded since 1965. Africa News and AllAfrica confirmed the 14.7 million figure. Al Jazeera's coverage of Syria noted that 1.3 million Syrians returned from abroad in 2025, nearly three times the figure recorded the previous year, while two million internally displaced Syrians went back home. This reduced the global Syrian refugee population from 6 million to 4.9 million, as reported by both Al Jazeera and The Hindu — World.

Other notable returns included Afghanistan, where about 2.9 million Afghans returned, including 1.9 million refugees, driven mainly by stricter policies in neighbouring Iran and Pakistan, as reported by The Hindu — World. The global Afghan refugee population fell from 5.8 million in 2024 to 3.7 million in 2025.

Despite the overall decline, the reports note that many returnees face serious challenges. The Hindu — World quoted UNHCR as saying that many returned to difficult conditions marked by limited access to basic services, widespread infrastructure damage, and ongoing insecurity. Al Jazeera's interview with a Syrian returnee named Hiam highlighted the high cost of living in host countries as a push factor, but also the difficulties of reintegration, including a lack of homes and the changed landscape.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih, as quoted by Africa News and Al Jazeera, said ending some of the world's major conflicts would allow millions more refugees to return safely and in dignity. He also called for a paradigm shift, noting that humanitarian aid alone was no longer sufficient, and set a goal to reduce by more than half, over the next decade, the number of refugees in long-term displacement who are reliant on humanitarian assistance.

Perspectives

UNHCR: The agency frames the decline in displacement as a positive but fragile development, emphasising that many returns occur under pressure and to precarious conditions. High Commissioner Barham Salih stresses the need for a paradigm shift beyond humanitarian aid, focusing on long-term solutions and reducing reliance on assistance.

Returnees: Individual stories, such as that of Hiam in Al Jazeera, illustrate the mixed experiences of returnees. While some cite the high cost of living in host countries as a reason to return, they also face significant challenges in rebuilding their lives, including a lack of housing and the emotional toll of returning to a changed homeland.