GENEVA — The global population of forcibly displaced individuals decreased slightly in 2025, marking the first decline in a decade, according to a report released last week by the United Nations refugee agency. However, the agency cautioned that the reduction largely reflected returns to countries of origin that were frequently unsafe or coerced.

The report detailed that nearly 118 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced last year, representing a 4.4 percent decline compared with 2024. This figure encompasses approximately 41.6 million refugees who crossed international borders and nearly 70 million people displaced within their own countries.

A significant factor in the overall decrease was the approximately 14.7 million refugees and internally displaced persons who returned to their home regions in 2025. This number was about 50 percent higher than the previous year. Notably, more than one million individuals returned to Syria, while nearly two million refugees returned to Afghanistan, primarily due to pressure and expulsions from neighboring countries Pakistan and Iran.

Barham Salih, head of the U.N. refugee agency, emphasized the complexity behind the numbers during a press briefing in Geneva. He stressed that "returns that are not safe and returns to countries that are involuntary are not solutions," underscoring concerns that many of those who returned did so under duress or without assurances of security and stability.

The agency’s findings highlight a troubling dynamic where reductions in displaced populations do not necessarily indicate improved conditions in conflict-affected regions. Instead, many returns appear to be driven by push factors such as restrictive policies or forced expulsions from host countries, rather than voluntary decisions based on restored safety.

The ongoing instability in key conflict zones, including Syria and Afghanistan, continues to contribute to high displacement levels. While the modest decline in numbers may suggest some progress in global displacement trends, the U.N. report calls attention to the need for durable, safe, and voluntary solutions for displaced populations worldwide.