The Countries Hosting the Most Refugees

In this chart we focus on data from the latest UNHCR report which highlights the countries which were hosting the most refugees as of mid-2021. Acting as a geographical stepping stone to the European Union for the millions fleeing the conflict in neighboring Syria, Turkey is home to by far the largest amount of refugees at 3.7 million. Colombia, neighbor of crisis-hit Venezuela hosts the second largest amount - 1.7 million.

According to UNHCR: "For nine consecutive years, persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and events seriously disturbing public order have fuelled an increase in the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide, a figure that stood at 82.4 million at the end of 2020. This worrisome trend has continued well into 2021. Six months into the year, the number of refugees under UNHCR’s mandate had surpassed 20.8 million (an increase of 172,000)"

More than half of all people displaced across borders were hosted by just ten countries. Syria is the most common origin country with over a quarter of all people displaced fleeing the ongoing crisis there. The aforementioned Venezuela crisis means that people forcibly displaced from the country make up the second-largest group of people. As described by the source: "Mounting insecurity in Afghanistan during the first half of 2021 forced many Afghans to flee. More than 2.6 million Afghan refugees were living in 97 countries at mid-year, making Afghanistan the third largest country of origin for refugees." Pakistan hosted the largest share of these refugees.