Info Series
Info Series #2: Most people flee to "the West" - true or false?
Unpacking the mistaken belief that displaced people mostly flee to Europe, Australia and the United States.
Do most refugees flee to countries of the Global North?
No. Despite the common misconception that all refugees want to flee to European countries, the United States or Australia, most people who are forced to leave their homes do not seek refuge in far away places. In most cases, they remain within national borders or escape to neighbouring countries.
What do the statistics say?
Numbers reported by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in their 2019 report on global trends of forced displacement, back this up.
There are 79.5 million forcibly displaced people in the world - making up 1% of the global population.
Of these there are:
26 million refugees (legally recognised as such) - 20.4 million refugees under the UNHCRs mandate and 5.6 million Palestine refugees under UNRWAs mandate;
45.7 million internally displaced people - IDPs (remaining in their country of origin);
4.2 million asylum seekers (seeking recognition of their refugee status and protection, but their refugee status has not yet been granted);
3.6 Venezuelans displaced abroad.
More than half of all displaced people remain in their country of origin, known as IDPs. And of the rest - refugees, asylum seekers and Venezuelans displaced abroad - 85% are hosted in developing countries and 73% in neighbouring countries.
Where do most refugees flee to?
Actually, most refugees come from just a few countries that have legitimate threats of persecution, war or violence. Over two-thirds (68%) of the world’s refugees are from five countries. These are: Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Myanmar.
There is too, in addition to these refugees from the previously mentioned five countries, those defined as long-term Palestinian refugees. These refugees mostly reside in the neighbouring countries and regions of Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
This means that most refugees will also be hosted by countries neighbouring these states. Thus, the top host countries are:
Almost all of these are located in the Global South or so-called “developing countries”, four appear on UNCTAD’s list of “Least Developed Countries” and the share of refugees in these regions is constantly increasing. In other words, countries of the Global South are affected disproportionately in comparison to those of the Global North.
Of course there are displaced people in Europe, Australia and the US. But most displaced people flee to countries neighbouring their country of origin.
Further Reading:
Do most refugees flee to countries of the Global North?
No. Despite the common misconception that all refugees want to flee to European countries, the United States or Australia, most people who are forced to leave their homes do not seek refuge in far away places. In most cases, they remain within national borders or escape to neighbouring countries.
What do the statistics say?
Numbers reported by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in their 2019 report on global trends of forced displacement, back this up.
There are 79.5 million forcibly displaced people in the world - making up 1% of the global population.
Of these there are:
26 million refugees (legally recognised as such) - 20.4 million refugees under the UNHCRs mandate and 5.6 million Palestine refugees under UNRWAs mandate;
45.7 million internally displaced people - IDPs (remaining in their country of origin);
4.2 million asylum seekers (seeking recognition of their refugee status and protection, but their refugee status has not yet been granted);
3.6 Venezuelans displaced abroad.
More than half of all displaced people remain in their country of origin, known as IDPs. And of the rest - refugees, asylum seekers and Venezuelans displaced abroad - 85% are hosted in developing countries and 73% in neighbouring countries.
Where do most refugees flee to?
Actually, most refugees come from just a few countries that have legitimate threats of persecution, war or violence. Over two-thirds (68%) of the world’s refugees are from five countries. These are: Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Myanmar.
There is too, in addition to these refugees from the previously mentioned five countries, those defined as long-term Palestinian refugees. These refugees mostly reside in the neighbouring countries and regions of Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
This means that most refugees will also be hosted by countries neighbouring these states. Thus, the top host countries are:
Almost all of these are located in the Global South or so-called “developing countries”, four appear on UNCTAD’s list of “Least Developed Countries” and the share of refugees in these regions is constantly increasing. In other words, countries of the Global South are affected disproportionately in comparison to those of the Global North.
Of course there are displaced people in Europe, Australia and the US. But most displaced people flee to countries neighbouring their country of origin.
Further Reading:
