Geneva: UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, forecasts that some 2.4 million refugees around the world will require resettlement in 2027, as they still face protection risks in their country of asylum and are unable to return home safely.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, an urgent expansion of refugee resettlement is needed as new projections highlight a continued gap between global needs and available places. The latest Projected Global Resettlement Needs report by UNHCR underscores the necessity for international collaboration to address these challenges. While the projected resettlement needs indicate a 6 percent decline compared to 2026, the reduction is attributed to specific developments in various contexts.
In Syria, a change in government in December 2024 has created opportunities for voluntary returns, despite ongoing instability, which has slightly reduced the resettlement needs. Conversely, the resettlement needs for Afghan refugees in Iran and Pakistan have decreased due to returns under adverse conditions. Despite these regional differences, Afghans remain the largest group in need of resettlement, followed by refugees from South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and the Rohingya community, primarily located in Bangladesh.
Regionally, Eastern and Southern Africa exhibit the highest resettlement needs, followed by Asia and the Pacific, and West and Central Africa. In 2025, approximately 37,000 refugees were resettled globally through UNHCR, marking a significant decrease from over 116,000 in 2024. This decline highlights the disparity between the needs and the available resettlement places, with the international community falling short of its 2027 target of 130,000 resettlement places due to declining quotas and policy changes in destination countries.
Countries hosting significant numbers of refugees advocate for expanded resettlement as a means of international responsibility-sharing. Low- and middle-income nations, which host 68 percent of refugees, face increasing pressure on their resources and systems despite their continued generosity. Resettlement remains a cornerstone of UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih's initiative to reduce the number of refugees in protracted displacement by 2035.
As the international community commemorates the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the call to enhance protection and solutions is more urgent than ever. Resettlement alleviates pressure on host countries, fosters partnerships, contributes to stability, and reduces dangerous migration paths. The expansion of resettlement quotas, inclusion of more countries, and expedited processing are necessary to ensure that this critical solution reaches those in dire need.
UNHCR emphasizes that resettlement is not merely an act of charity but a sustainable solution that breaks the cycle of displacement for future generations. Resettled refugees contribute significantly to their new communities and support their families in their countries of origin or asylum. UNHCR expresses gratitude to resettlement countries that continue to lead by example, as every resettlement place represents the rebuilding of a life.