United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports first decline in global refugee numbers in a decade as of 2025

Key facts

• The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported a three percent drop in global refugee figures as of 2025.
• The decrease in numbers is largely attributed to increased voluntary returns to Afghanistan, Syria, and Sudan.
• A total of 117.3 million people were forcibly displaced in 2025 due to global conflicts.
• The UNHCR issued a warning in June 2025 stating that forced displacement has doubled over the past ten years.
• The UNHCR aims to reduce reliance on humanitarian aid by more than half over the next decade by expanding voluntary returns and integrating refugees into labour markets.