The global refugee population rose to nearly 26 million in 2018, as conflicts in Afghanistan and South Sudan continued, civil war in the Syrian Arab Republic and the crisis in Myanmar escalated. While many refugees travel to Europe and beyond, 9 in 10 refugees are hosted by low- and middle-income countries. Countries adjacent to conflict absorbed the most, with Turkey hosting the most refugees, over 3.6 million, followed by Jordan hosting nearly 3 million. Turkey individually hosted more refugees than all high-income countries together. With nearly one refugee for every three citizens, Jordan also hosted the most refugees relative to population size.
The highest refugee population by origin is from Syria and Afghanistan. While the refugee population from Afghanistan has fallen from 3 million in 2010 to 2.7 million in 2018, the refugee population from Syria has increased dramatically, from 18,000 refugees in 2010 to over 6.6 million in 2018. This is about two-fifths of Syria’s population and a quarter of the global refugee population.