The number of internally displaced people worldwide has surpassed 80 million for the first time, according to the Global Report on Internal Displacement 2025. The report, released Tuesday by the Norwegian Refugee Council’s Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), reveals a stark new reality: 83.4 million people were displaced by the end of 2024.
This unprecedented figure marks more than double the total recorded in 2018, now equivalent to the population of Germany. Nearly 90% of these displacements were driven by conflict and violence, displacing 73.5 million people globally.
Sudan has emerged as the country with the highest number of internally displaced persons, recording 11.6 million – nearly 60% of the global total. Meanwhile, the Gaza Strip’s population remains largely displaced.
The report also highlights climate crises as a key driver of displacement. Natural disasters led to 45.8 million internal displacements in 2024, the highest since records began in 2008. In the United States alone, 11 million people were displaced due to disasters, a record for any country.
Alexandra Bilak, IDMC Director, stressed that internal displacement is not only a humanitarian crisis but also a political and development challenge. Jan Egeland, Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, called for urgent global solidarity, warning that the lack of political will and funding constitutes a “moral stain on humanity.”
The report also warns that the increasing overlap of conflicts and climate disasters will worsen vulnerabilities. As countries struggle to cope with both, the IDMC urges immediate and coordinated global action to prevent further displacement.
