Global Refugee Crisis Explained: Facts, Definitions & Common Misconceptions

A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee their home country because of war, violence, or persecution. They have crossed an international border into another country to find safety. Refugees cannot return home because their life would be at risk.

According to the 1951 Refugee Convention, a refugee is someone with a "well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion."

Refugees are specifically defined and protected in international law. These are individuals who have fled their homes to escape persecution, conflict, violence, serious human rights violations or other events seriously disturbing public order, and who seek safety in another country. As a result, they require "international protection" from another country, where their own country of origin is unable or willing to protect them. They are exercising a fundamental, universal human right – the right to seek and enjoy asylum. According to international refugee law, a person is a refugee – and should be treated as such – as soon as they meet this definition, even if they are still waiting for formal recognition by States or UNHCR.

As of June 2025, 117.3 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced due to persecution, conflict, violence, or human rights violations. It means that 1 in every 70 people on Earth has been displaced.

The largest refugee populations and people in need of international protection come from countries experiencing ongoing conflict (mid-2025):

• Venezuela – 6.5 million

• Syrian Arab Republic – 5.5 million

• Ukraine – 5.3 million

• Afghanistan – 4.8 million

• Sudan – 2.5 million

Refugees are people just like you and me. They include:

• 40% are children – while they only account for 29% of the world's population. Many are separated from their families.

• 50% are women and girls – facing particular risks including gender-based violence

• Doctors, teachers, engineers, farmers, artists, and parents who had lives before being forced to flee

Every refugee has a unique story, skills, and dreams for the future.

No. Most refugees flee to the nearest safe country, which is usually a neighbouring country. Very few have the opportunity to choose their destination. Many remain in refugee camps or settlements for years, sometimes decades.

Only a tiny percentage of refugees are resettled to third countries through formal programmes. Competition for these limited spots is intense, and only the most vulnerable cases are selected.

Many do – 66% of refugees are hosted in neighbouring countries. However, some continue onward because:

• The first country may not have signed the Refugee Convention

• Living conditions may be extremely difficult with no access to work or education

• Family members may be in another country

• They face discrimination or lack of integration opportunities

• The first country itself may be unstable or at risk of conflict

Studies consistently show that refugees contribute positively to local economies when allowed to work:

• They spend money on goods and services, supporting local businesses

• They pay taxes

• They fill labour shortages

• Many start businesses that create jobs

• They bring skills and expertise

The challenge is that many countries restrict refugees' right to work, keeping them dependent on aid and preventing them from contributing fully.

No. This is a common myth. Refugees typically receive basic humanitarian assistance to survive – food, shelter, and emergency healthcare. This support is often temporary and far less than what citizens receive.

In most countries, refugees have limited or no access to social benefits available to citizens. They often face barriers to employment, education, and housing that citizens do not face.

Most refugees want to return home, but they can't because:

• The conflict or persecution that forced them to flee continues

• Their homes have been destroyed

• They face arrest, imprisonment, or death if they return

• Basic services like schools and hospitals don't exist

• The situation remains too unstable or dangerous

When conditions improve and it's safe, many refugees do return voluntarily, like it is happening in Syria. However, conflicts are lasting longer – some refugees have been displaced for decades.

The 1951 Refugee Convention is a crucial international agreement that:

• Defines who is a refugee

• Outlines the rights refugees are entitled to

• Establishes the principle of non-refoulement (not sending people back to danger)

• Sets out states' obligations to refugees

149 countries have signed the Convention or its 1967 Protocol. UNHCR serves as the guardian of this Convention, which remains as relevant today as when it was created.

Stateless people have no nationality and are not recognized as citizens by any country. There are 4.4 million stateless people worldwide (mid-2025).

Unfortunately, some countries practice "refoulement" – returning people to places where their lives are at risk. This violates international law.

UNHCR works to prevent refoulement and ensure that refugees can access asylum procedures before any return decisions are made. The principle of non-refoulement is a cornerstone of refugee protection.