United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – Global Trends – Forced Displacement in 2015

“The total number of refugees has increased for the fifth consecutive year, from 10.4 million at end-2011 – a 55 per cent rise in just four years. This increase was driven mainly by the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic, which accounted for more than half of new refugees in 2015. There were also significant outflows of refugees from Afghanistan, Burundi, and South Sudan. Overall refugee numbers were reduced through the return of about 201,400 refugees, the resettlement of about 107,100 and the naturalization of at least 32,000. By end-2015, more than half of refugees globally – 55 per cent or approximately 8.8 million people – were residing in europe or sub-Saharan Africa.”