refugees

Turkey hosts more refugees than any country — 3.6 million registered Syrian refugees. Germany hosts the most in Europe with 2.2 million refugees. Iran and Pakistan each host over 3 million Afghan refugees. The global refugee population exceeded 35 million in 2024 — the highest ever recorded.

Germany received 351,000 new asylum applications in 2023 — the most of any country. The US received 620,000 but most are processed differently. UNHCR counts 117 million forcibly displaced people globally — the highest ever recorded. Here's who receives the most asylum seekers and what determines where people flee.

Iran hosts nearly 3.5 million refugees — the most of any country. Turkey hosts 2.9 million. Germany leads Europe with 2.6 million. Contrary to popular perception, the majority of the world's refugees are hosted not by wealthy Western nations but by low- and middle-income countries neighbouring conflict zones.