Welcome to UNHCR’s Refugee Population Statistics Database
The database contains information about forcibly displaced populations spanning across almost 70 years of statistical activities. It covers displaced populations such as refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced persons, including their demographics. Stateless persons are also included, most of who have never been displaced. The database also reflects the different types of solutions for displaced populations such as repatriation or resettlement.
This website is based on three data sources:
- UNHCR data collected through its annual statistical activities with some data going back as far as 1951, the year UNHCR was created.
- Data provided by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Information is limited to registered Palestine refugees under UNRWA’s mandate.
- Data provided by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC). Information is limited to people displaced within their country due to conflict or violence.
For methodological explanations, data limitations and coverage, visit the Methodology page.
More than two thirds of all refugees under UNHCR’s mandate and Venezuelans displaced abroad come from just five countries.
| Syrian Arab Republic | 6.6 million |
| Venezuela | 3.7 million |
| Afghanistan | 2.7 million |
| South Sudan | 2.2 million |
| Myanmar | 1.1 million |
Turkey hosts the largest number of refugees, with 3.6 million people. Colombia is second with 1.8 million, including Venezuelans displaced abroad.
| Turkey | 3.6 million |
| Colombia | 1.8 million |
| Pakistan | 1.4 million |
| Uganda | 1.4 million |
| Germany | 1.1 million |
An estimated 30 – 34 million (38-43%) of the 79.5 million forcibly displaced persons are children below 18 years of age.
Developing countries host 85 per cent of the world’s refugees and Venezuelans displaced abroad. The Least Developed Countries provide asylum to 27 per cent of the total.
Some 317,200 refugees returned to their countries of origin in 2019 while 107,800 were resettled (with or without UNHCR’s assistance).
Data on some 4.2 million stateless people residing in 76 countries was reported at the end of 2019. The true global figure is estimated to be significantly higher.
Refugee Data Finder
An analysis tool that contains data on forcibly displaced and stateless populations, their demography and the solutions some of them found.
Download the Refugee Data mobile app
The UNHCR Refugee Data app showcases forced displacement and statelessness statistics over the last 20 years by country of asylum and origin.
