Due to conflict and persecution: one in every 70 people on Earth is a displaced person
11 June 15:07
Worldwide, 118 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to persecution, conflict, violence, and human rights violations. This is according to a report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) published on Thursday, June 11. This means that, as of early 2026, one in every 70 people on Earth is a forcibly displaced person. This is reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to DW.
The number of displaced persons is decreasing
At the same time, the number of displaced persons has decreased for the first time in a decade—by 5.4 million people, or 4%. The main reason for this trend is the increase in the number of people who have returned to their homeland despite the crisis situation in their country, the report notes. The UN cites Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Syria as examples.
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Of the total number of forcibly displaced people, 35.6 million are classified as refugees, and 68.7 million as internally displaced persons. As of early 2026, the number of asylum seekers awaiting a decision on their applications had increased by approximately 645,000, reaching nearly 9 million people.
The statistics do not account for migration flows from the first months of 2026, such as those related to the U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran. They also do not include people who left their homes due to natural disasters, the effects of climate change, or financial difficulties.
“Refugee” status is often maintained for life
Nearly seven out of ten displaced people have lived with “refugee” status for five years or more. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Saleh expressed concern about this fact. “We need a paradigm shift that will give people fleeing war and persecution new hope and new prospects,” the publication quotes him as saying.
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