Unequal Burdens of Displacement: The Changing Geography of Refugee Origins and Host Countries

Abstract

The number of refugees has increased significantly over the last several years, and the geographic distribution of refugees and those states that take in refugees has changed substantially. This study explores shifts in refugee origin and host countries from 2010 to 2022 based on a quantitative longitudinal method. To examine temporal change, hosting concentration, and major displacement corridors, annual refugee populations were analysed by country of origin, host country, and bilateral origin–host country relationships. The results reflect a significant rise in the numbers of refugees in the world, from an estimated 10,551,000 in 2010 to 29,410,000 in 2022. By 2022, most refugees were from three countries: Syria, Ukraine and Afghanistan. By contrast, hosting roles showed more geographical re-distribution with Türkiye, Uganda, Poland and the Russian Federation assuming larger hosting roles, while Pakistan, Iran and Germany retained their important hosting positions. Bilateral analysis showed that long-standing corridors, like Afghanistan–Iran and Afghanistan–Pakistan, remained in place, as well, and that more recent origin–host relationships, specifically between Syria and Türkiye, and Ukraine-related destinations, emerged. Results overall show that refugee displacement is a process of simultaneous concentration at origin and of redistribution across host countries; a dynamic and more complex geography of displacement is emerging.