UNHCR released information stating that 2.5 million refugees will need to be resettled next year, according to a document and press release published on June 24.
UNHCR estimates that 2.5 million refugees worldwide will need to be resettled next year, according to the Projected Global Resettlement Needs report released on June 24.
While the figure remains high, projected annual resettlement needs have declined — from 2.9 million in 2025 to 2.5 million in 2026 — even as the global refugee population continues to grow.
This is mainly due to the changed situation in Syria, which has allowed for voluntary returns. The UN Refugee Agency is seeing some people pull out of resettlement processes in favor of plans to go home to rebuild.
Afghans are those with the strongest need of resettlement
For 2026, the largest refugee populations that will need to be resettled are Afghans (573,400), Syrians (442,400), South Sudanese (258,200), Sudanese (246,800), Rohingya (233,300) and Congolese (179,500), according to UNHCR.
The main refugee-host countries where refugees will need to be resettled from include Iran (348,900), Türkiye (258,000), Pakistan (215,000), Ethiopia (213,950) and Uganda (174,000).
Resettlement is widely viewed as a concrete alternative to dangerous journeys and a tool for showing international solidarity. It also helps ease the pressure on national systems in host countries Bb offering solutions for refugees with acute needs and greater dependency on assistance.
In 2025, however, resettlement quotas are expected to be the lowest in two decades, falling below the levels seen even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many countries paused their programmes. UNHCR warns that the decline in quotas risks reversing the significant progress made in recent years while also exposing refugees to more danger.
UNHCR appeal
UNHCR renewed its call on resettlement States to sustain their programmes and increase their intake. Moreover, the UN agency urges for more predictable and “agile resettlement programmes and adaptable quota allocations along key refugee routes”.
For 2026, the global target is to resettle 120,000 refugees — a figure UNHCR says is within reach, citing past achievements.
In 2024, over 116,000 refugees were resettled through UNHCR-supported efforts, despite ongoing challenges. Many of those selected faced acute risks, including deportation, violence, or medical emergencies.
