According to UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide rose to 90 million by the end of 2021, propelled by new waves of violence or protracted conflict in countries including Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Burma, Nigeria, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2022, the war in Ukraine has displaced 8 million within the country and forced some 6 million to flee the country as refugees. This has pushed the total displaced to over 100 million for the first time.

"One hundred million is a stark figure—sobering and alarming in equal measure. It’s a record that should never have been set," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi. "This must serve as a wake-up call to resolve and prevent destructive conflicts, end persecution, and address the underlying causes that force innocent people to flee their homes." (UN News, May 23)

The UNHCR figure for total global refugees and displaced persons has broken previous records for several years running.