Today the UN’s Refugee Agency UNHCR have published their annual analysis of global forced displacement, revealing shocking numbers of people who have been forced to flee their homes.
Here are top 10 stand out facts.
1. In 2014, global displacement reached historic levels: 59.5 million people were forced to flee their homes: roughly the same number of people in Britain. If these people made up their own country, it would be the 24th largest nation in the world.
2. In 2014 alone, 8.3 million people were forced to flee: the highest annual increase on record.
3. That means that 42,500 people were forced to leave their homes every day because of conflict or persecution.
4. Of these people, 19.5 million are refugees, 1.8 million are asylum seekers and 38.2 million were internally displaced within their own country.
5. 86% of the world’s refugees are hosted by developing countries.
6. Britain is home to just 0.6% of the world’s refugees.
7. More than half (53%) of the world’s refugees are from just three countries: Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia. The largest source of the world’s refugees is Syria. One in five displaced persons is from Syria.
8. The top 5 host countries for refugees are:
- Turkey
- Pakistan
- Lebanon
- Iran
- Ethiopia
9. More than half of the world’s refugees are children (51%): the highest figure in over a decade.
10. In 2014, 34,300 asylum claims were made by unaccompanied children: the highest number since records began. Most of the children were Afghan, Eritrean, Syrian or Somali.
