IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons): Meaning, Numbers & 2026 Data
In one sentence
IDPs (internally displaced persons) are people forced from their homes by conflict, violence, human rights violations or natural disasters who have not crossed an international border. In 2026 there are roughly No current figure IDPs worldwide, the highest figure on record, with Sudan, Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ukraine hosting the largest populations.
See the full 2026 displacement facts for a cited, machine-readable fact sheet of every global total and per-country IDP figure on this page.
IDP meaning: what does IDP stand for?
IDP stands for internally displaced person. The 1998 UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement define IDPs as people who have been forced to leave their home or place of habitual residence to avoid the effects of armed conflict, generalised violence, human rights violations, or natural or human-made disasters, and who have not crossed an internationally recognised state border.
IDPs vs refugees: what is the difference?
The single biggest distinction is the border. A refugee crosses one and is protected by the 1951 Refugee Convention and UNHCR. An IDP stays inside their own country and remains a citizen, even when their own government is responsible for the displacement. That difference makes IDP protection weaker in practice: humanitarian access depends on the consent of national authorities, and there is no equivalent of refugee status determination.
How many IDPs are there in the world in 2026?
IDMC and UNHCR estimate roughly No current figure IDPs globally in 2026. About No current figureare displaced by conflict and violence and No current figure by disasters such as floods, cyclones and earthquakes. The figure has more than doubled since 2014 and now exceeds the total number of refugees worldwide.
Countries with the most IDPs in 2026 (top 10)
| Country | IDPs |
|---|---|
| Sudan | No current figure |
| Syria | No current figure |
| DR Congo | No current figure |
| Ukraine | No current figure |
| Afghanistan | No current figure |
| Colombia | No current figure |
| Yemen | No current figure |
| Ethiopia | No current figure |
| Somalia | No current figure |
| Nigeria | No current figure |
Source: IDMC Global Report on Internal Displacement 2026, UNHCR Refugee Data Finder, OCHA humanitarian response plans, IOM DTM. Figures rounded.
Legal protection for IDPs
IDPs are protected by national law plus the non-binding 1998 UN Guiding Principles. Africa is the only region with a binding treaty: the 2009 Kampala Convention, ratified by more than 30 states, requires governments to prevent displacement, protect IDPs during displacement and support durable solutions including return, local integration or relocation.
Who tracks IDP data?
The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) is the global reference and publishes the annual Global Report on Internal Displacement. UNHCR includes IDP figures in its Global Trends report; OCHA includes them in country humanitarian needs overviews; and IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix produces near-real-time site-level data in 90+ countries.
Further reading
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