Forced Displacement Dips to 117.8 Million Globally: UN Report

At year’s end, 117.8 million people were forcibly displaced globally, marking a decline of 5.4 million from the previous year, according to UNHCR.

The agency noted this drop was due to an increase in refugees and internally displaced persons returning home, with 14.7 million individuals returning in 2025.

However, UN refugee chief Barham Salih warned that many returns occurred under pressure, not safety or stability, potentially leading to new displacement cycles.

Of those displaced at year’s end, 41.6 million were recognized as refugees, including nearly 5.4 million who crossed borders during the year.

The UNHCR report highlighted ongoing crises in Iran and Lebanon driving mass displacement, with Israeli attacks since March displacing over one million people in Lebanon alone.

Concerns also grew over a shrinking space for refugee resettlement, with only 81,800 spots available globally in 2025 compared to 188,800 the previous year.

Salih emphasized that forced displacement was becoming increasingly prolonged, often lasting years or decades, and called for countries to support initiatives aimed at reducing long-term displacement.