How many refugees are there in the world?

Data last updated: 10/31/2026, 5:06:14 PM UTC

Global: refugees from Global abroad: year-by-year observations

Source observations by reference year for Global: refugees from Global abroad
Year	Figure	Source and reference date	Dataset
2025	28,461,306 people	as of 2025-12-31 · UNHCR	UNHCR Refugee Population Statistics Database, end-2025 figures Refugees under UNHCR's mandate worldwide, as reported by UNHCR. Excludes asylum-seekers, other people in need of international protection and Palestine refugees under UNRWA's mandate, which are separate figures.

Years follow each source’s reference date, not the retrieval date. Each observation is shown separately, including conflicting sources and multiple reporting periods in the same year. Missing years are not estimated. Compare figures only when geographic coverage, population definitions and reporting methods match.

Source data downloads

Humanity Centered Data

Making humanitarian data accessible for all

What is Humanity Centered Data?

Humanity Centered Data is a free, open-source humanitarian intelligence platform that tracks No current figure forcibly displaced people across 11 crisis regions. We aggregate data from UNHCR, OCHA, IOM, ACLED, and other verified UN sources to make displacement data accessible for researchers, journalists, humanitarian workers, and the public.

Our humanity-centered approach puts human dignity, ethics, and impact at the core of data practices. We believe humanitarian data should be free, accessible, and actionable to help displaced populations.

Key Statistics (2026)

No current figure forcibly displaced people tracked worldwide
No current figure refugees under UNHCR mandate
No current figure internally displaced persons (IDPs)
11 crisis countries with detailed dashboards
7+ verified UN data sources integrated

Crisis Regions Covered

Syria - No current figure IDPs, No current figure refugees (Civil War since 2011)
Ukraine - No current figure IDPs, No current figure refugees (Conflict since 2022)
Sudan - No current figure IDPs, No current figure refugees (Civil conflict since April 2023)
Yemen - No current figure IDPs (Humanitarian crisis since 2014)
DR Congo - No current figure IDPs, No current figure refugees (Regional conflicts)
Afghanistan - No current figure IDPs, No current figure refugees (Ongoing instability)
Ethiopia - No current figure IDPs (Regional conflicts and drought)
Somalia - No current figure IDPs, No current figure refugees (Conflict and climate)
Colombia - No current figure IDPs, No current figure refugees (Decades-long conflict)
Nigeria - No current figure IDPs, No current figure refugees (Northeast insurgency)
Georgia - No current figure IDPs (Protracted displacement since 2008)

Our Services

Humanitarian Data Analytics - Real-time dashboards and visualizations
Displacement Research Tools - Academic resources and datasets
Real-Time Crisis Monitoring - ACLED conflict tracking and daily briefings
Data API & Embeds - Widgets and data exports for integration

Data Sources

We aggregate data from authoritative humanitarian sources: UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency), OCHA (UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), IOM (International Organization for Migration), ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data), HDX (Humanitarian Data Exchange), ReliefWeb, IDMC (Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre), WFP (World Food Programme), and UNICEF.