It reveals an intensifying global forced displacement crisis fueled by persistent conflicts and emerging challenges like climate change. Notably, it emphasizes the urgent need for stronger international cooperation to tackle root causes, implement lasting solutions for displaced populations, and ensure their protection and successful integration into host communities. Highlights the continued rise in global forced displacement, which has reached historic levels due to ongoing conflicts, persecution, and crises.

Key Statistics

• By the end of 2023, 117.3 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide, an increase of 8.8 million from 2022. This figure includes:
  • 68.3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs).
  • 43.4 million refugees, including those under UNHCR and UNRWA mandates.
  • 6.9 million asylum-seekers.
• Children accounted for 40% of all forcibly displaced people despite making up only 30% of the global population.

Major Drivers of Displacement

1. Conflict in Sudan: Over 7.2 million people were displaced, including 6 million IDPs and 1.2 million refugees fleeing to neighboring countries.
2. Myanmar: Escalating violence displaced more than 1.3 million people internally.
3. State of Palestine: The conflict in Gaza led to the displacement of up to 1.7 million people by late 2023.
4. Other Conflict Zones: Countries like Syria, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Ukraine, and the Democratic Republic of Congo contributed significantly to global displacement figures.

Global Trends

• Nearly 75% of forcibly displaced people lived in countries with high-to-extreme exposure to climate-related hazards or ongoing conflict.
• The top five countries of origin for refugees under UNHCR’s mandate were Afghanistan (6.4M), Syria (6.4M), Venezuela (6.1M), Ukraine (6M), and Sudan (1.5M), accounting for 73% of all refugees.

Solutions and Returns

• In 2023, 1.1 million refugees voluntarily returned to their home countries, primarily Ukrainians and South Sudanese.
• About 5.1 million IDPs returned to their places of origin, with significant numbers returning to the Democratic Republic of Congo (1.8 million) and Ukraine (1.3 million).
• Refugee resettlements increased by 35% compared to 2022, with 158,700 individuals resettled. However, this represents only a fraction of the estimated global need.

Challenges

• Despite progress in resettlement and returns, many returns occurred under conditions that needed to be entirely safe and sustainable.
• Statelessness remained a critical issue, with 4.4 million stateless individuals, including 1.3 million who were also forcibly displaced.

Climate and Displacement

Underscores the growing impact of climate change on displacement patterns, as disasters increasingly force people to flee their homes.

Overview

Chapter 1 Global Forced Displacement

Provides a comprehensive overview of global forced displacement. It presents a stark picture of the ongoing crisis, emphasizing the urgent need for continued attention and action to support affected populations.

1. The magnitude of Displacement: By the end of 2023, approximately 117.3 million people, including refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and asylum-seekers, were forcibly displaced worldwide.
2. Demographics: Children represent a significant portion of the forcibly displaced population, accounting for 40% of all displaced individuals despite making up only 30% of the global population.
3. Regional Displacement: The report highlights specific regions experiencing severe displacement. For instance, in Haiti, gang violence has led to 311,000 people being internally displaced. In comparison, the Syrian conflict has resulted in 13.8 million people being forcibly displaced, including 7.2 million IDPs and 6.5 million refugees.
4. Host Countries: Most refugees (69%) remain in neighboring countries, but many face challenges in accessing protection and rights, prompting some to seek onward movement.
5. Humanitarian Needs: The report emphasizes the urgent need for humanitarian assistance, with nearly half Haiti’s population requiring support.
6. Data Importance: The chapter underscores the significance of data in formulating effective responses and solutions for displaced individuals, advocating for a route-based approach to enhance protection and support.

Chapter 2 – Refugees

Examines refugees in detail, analyzing their numbers, demographics, and challenges. It illustrates the escalating refugee crisis, refugees’ varied circumstances, and the pressing need for comprehensive responses to protect their rights and address their needs.

1. Refugee Population: By the end of 2023, there were approximately 43.4 million refugees globally, a 7% increase from the previous year. This figure includes 5.9 million individuals in refugee-like situations and 6 million Palestine refugees under UNRWA’s mandate.
2. Regional Distribution: Most refugees are hosted in low—and middle-income countries, with significant populations in regions such as the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. For example, Turkey continues to host the most important number of Syrian refugees.
3. Venezuelan Refugees: Notes a substantial increase in Venezuelan refugees, with 6.1 million individuals primarily remaining in Latin American countries, particularly Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador.
4. Impact of Conflicts: Ongoing conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine and the recent outbreak of war in Sudan, have contributed to rising refugee numbers. The Ukrainian refugee population reached 6 million, while Sudanese refugees surged by 79% to 1.5 million.
5. Challenges Faced: Refugees often encounter significant barriers to accessing rights, services, and labor markets in host countries. Many remain in precarious situations, leading some to consider onward migration for better opportunities.
6. Need for Solutions: Emphasizes the importance of finding durable solutions for refugees, including local integration, resettlement, and voluntary repatriation, to ensure their safety and well-being.

Chapter 3 – Internally Displaced People (IDPs)

Examines internally displaced persons (IDPs), analyzing their numbers, displacement causes, and challenges. It reveals the escalating crisis of internal displacement, highlighting the complex difficulties IDPs face and emphasizing the critical need for comprehensive strategies to protect their rights and well-being.

1. IDP Population: At the end of 2023, there were approximately 63.3 million IDPs globally, representing a 10% increase from the previous year. This rise is attributed to ongoing conflicts, violence, and human rights violations.
2. Causes of Displacement: Highlights that conflicts, particularly in regions such as Ukraine, Syria, and Ethiopia, are significant drivers of internal displacement. For instance, the war in Ukraine has led to millions being displaced within their own country.
3. Demographics: Similar to refugees, a substantial portion of IDPs are children who face heightened vulnerabilities and risks, including lack of access to education and healthcare.
4. Protracted Situations: Many IDPs remain in prolonged displacement situations, often for years, without durable solutions. The report emphasizes that the longer individuals remain displaced, the more challenging it becomes to reintegrate them into society.
5. Humanitarian Needs: IDPs often face severe humanitarian needs, including food insecurity, lack of shelter, and limited access to essential services. The chapter stresses the importance of addressing these needs to support their recovery and reintegration.
6. Response and Solutions: Calls for enhanced efforts to provide protection and assistance to IDPs, including the need for coordinated responses from governments, humanitarian organizations, and the international community to facilitate durable solutions.

Chapter 4 – Asylum Trends

Examines asylum trends, analyzing patterns in asylum applications and decisions within the international protection framework. It reveals mounting pressures on asylum systems worldwide. It highlights the surge in protection seekers and emphasizes the need to improve application processing and asylum-seeker support.

1. Increase in Asylum Applications: In 2023, approximately 3.6 million new individual asylum applications were registered, representing a 40% increase compared to the previous year. This surge reflects ongoing global crises and conflicts that compel individuals to seek safety.
2. Pending Asylum Claims: By the end of 2023, about 6.9 million asylum-seekers were waiting for a decision on their claims, a 26% increase. This backlog highlights the challenges faced by asylum systems in efficiently processing claims.
3. Recognition Rates: The total protection rate for asylum-seekers in 2023 was 59%. This figure includes those granted refugee status through individual status determination procedures, which increased by 15%. Approximately 823,800 individuals were recognized as refugees.
4. Group Recognition: There was a notable increase in group recognition, with 891,000 individuals recognized on a group basis, a three-fold rise from previous years. This approach is often used in situations where large groups of people share similar protection needs.
5. Temporary Protection: Notes a significant decline in the number of individuals receiving temporary protection, which decreased by 72% to 1.1 million. This decline raises concerns about the availability of immediate protection for those fleeing crises.
6. Challenges in Asylum Systems: Emphasizes the need for fair and efficient asylum systems to assess claims and provide timely decisions. It highlights the importance of governments taking responsibility for refugee status determination (RSD) and the role of UNHCR in supporting states in this process.

Chapter 5 – Solutions

Focuses on the solutions available for forcibly displaced people, including refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). It outlines the critical need for durable solutions for these individuals, the challenges in achieving them, and the importance of collaborative efforts to support their reintegration and recovery.

1. Durable Solutions: Emphasizes the importance of achieving durable solutions for displaced individuals, including voluntary repatriation, local integration, and resettlement to third countries. These solutions aim to restore the rights and dignity of displaced persons.
2. Return of Refugees: In 2023, over 1 million refugees returned to their countries of origin, although this number decreased by 22% compared to the previous year. The report highlights that a safe and dignified return is a preferred solution for many refugees.
3. IDP Returns: Approximately 5.1 million IDPs returned to their places of origin in 2023, a significant decline of 39% from the previous year. This underscores the challenges of reintegration and recovery for returning IDPs.
4. Resettlement and Naturalization: Notes that 158,700 refugees were resettled in third countries, an increase of 39% from the previous year. However, the number of naturalized refugees decreased by 39%, indicating challenges in achieving long-term stability for refugees.
5. Need for Comprehensive Approaches: Stresses the necessity of comprehensive and coordinated approaches to addressing the needs of displaced populations. This includes facilitating solutions with various stakeholders, including governments, humanitarian organizations, and local communities.
6. Investment in Solutions: There is a call for increased investment in solutions for displaced persons, as many continue to live in protracted situations without adequate support. The chapter highlights the need for innovative strategies to address the complex challenges faced by refugees and IDPs.

Chapter 6 – Stateless people

Examines the issue of stateless people by analyzing their numbers, challenges, and efforts to address statelessness. Likewise, it reveals the critical situation of stateless individuals, the complexities of their status, and the pressing need for comprehensive strategies to protect their rights and improve their lives.

1. Global Stateless Population: By the end of 2023, the global stateless population was estimated at approximately 4.4 million. This figure includes individuals who are either stateless or of undetermined nationality, and the report suggests that the actual number may be significantly higher due to underreporting.
2. Demographics and Vulnerabilities: A substantial portion of the stateless population faces multiple vulnerabilities, including a lack of access to fundamental rights such as education, healthcare, and employment. Many stateless individuals are also displaced, compounding their challenges.
3. Causes of Statelessness: Statelessness often arises from legal and administrative gaps, discrimination, and conflicts. The chapter highlights specific cases, such as the Rohingya population, which includes both stateless refugees and internally displaced persons.
4. Efforts to Address Statelessness: Outlines ongoing initiatives to reduce statelessness, including the #IBelong Campaign launched by UNHCR in 2014, which has led to over 565,900 stateless individuals acquiring citizenship since its inception.
5. Data Collection and Reporting: Emphasizes improving data collection on stateless populations. Many countries need to report data on statelessness, leading to significant gaps in understanding the scale and needs of this population.
6. International and National Responses: Calls for stronger international and national commitments to address statelessness, including legal reforms to prevent and reduce statelessness and to ensure that stateless individuals can access their rights and entitlements.

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