UNHCR: Global Refugee Resettlement Needs Projected to Spike by 20% in 2025

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has reported that global refugee resettlement needs are expected to rise sharply in 2025, reaching nearly 3 million people, reliefweb reported yesterday.

According to UNHCR’s Projected Global Resettlement Needs 2025 report, over 2.9 million refugees worldwide will require resettlement support next year – a 20% increase compared to 2024.

This substantial rise, equivalent to half a million more refugees, is driven by the continuation of major displacement crises, the emergence of new conflicts, and the impacts of climate change.

The report highlights that Syrians will continue to have the highest resettlement needs, with almost 1 million refugees expected to require this vital assistance. Afghanistan, South Sudan, Myanmar, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo will also see significant increases, collectively accounting for over 1.3 million in projected resettlement needs.

Refugee resettlement, which involves the relocation of displaced individuals to a country willing to grant them permanent settlement, is a critical lifeline for the world’s most vulnerable. However, UNHCR stresses that this rising demand is occurring amidst challenging global economic conditions, declining humanitarian aid, and growing xenophobia – factors that threaten to undermine refugee protection.

“Resettlement is a meaningful response to increased and unresolved situations of forced displacement,” said Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection. “It is a core part of the route-based approach needed to address the magnitude and complexity of this global challenge.”

As the international community grapples with unprecedented levels of displacement, UNHCR is urging states to redouble their efforts to ensure those most in need of resettlement can access this vital solution.