UNHCR in Europe
UNHCR in Europe
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Europe has a long history of offering sanctuary to refugees. The 1951 Refugee Convention was established as a response to the urgent needs of refugees generated by World War II. Since then, Europe has received people seeking asylum as they flee conflict, persecution and human rights violations.
Apart from refugees, the mandate of UNHCR also includes asylum-seekers, stateless people and internally displaced persons.
By the end of 2024, 18.4 million people were forcibly displaced in Europe. Europe, including Türkiye, hosted 12 million refugees, a third of all refugees under UNHCR’s mandate. The countries hosting the largest number of refugees are Türkiye and Germany. Around 15,000 refugees were resettled to European countries in 2024 (8% of the global figure).
With a Regional Bureau in Geneva, Switzerland, and office presence in 35 European countries, UNHCR is covering 49 States, including 27 EU Member States, and one territory in the region.
Below is information on how UNHCR carries out its mandate:
What role does UNHCR play in Europe?
As the custodian of the 1951 Refugee Convention, UNHCR works to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons by providing guidance and support to governments across Europe and promoting the best international standards in legislation, policy and procedures.
As part of these efforts, we forge and strengthen partnerships and coordination mechanisms to garner wide-ranging support from relevant stakeholders in the spirit of the Global Compact on Refugees, to enhance joint advocacy efforts, mobilize resources and counter negative discourse.
UNHCR supports efforts by governments and other stakeholders to find solutions for refugees. We also promote safe and regulated avenues under which refugees can be admitted to a third country. These include community sponsorship programmes, family reunification, scholarships and humanitarian visas.
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Ukraine emergency
The full-scale war on Ukraine since February 2022 has caused widespread destruction, loss of life and suffering. It also forced millions of people from their homes. As of end-2024, over 5 million refugees from Ukraine are seeking safety in countries in Europe, whilst 3.7 million people remain internally displaced inside Ukraine. More than 12.7 million people inside Ukraine are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. In light of the emergency and the scale of humanitarian needs of 5 million refugees from Ukraine, an inter-agency Regional Refugee Response Plan has been in place since 2022 and updated annually to support the efforts of refugee-hosting countries.
UNHCR has strengthened its presence in Ukraine and continues to provide humanitarian assistance wherever necessary and possible. Since 2022, UNHCR has also greatly expanded its presence in areas of Ukraine and neighbouring countries where large numbers of people have sought safety.
UNHCR coordinates the Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP) for the Ukraine Situation. The RRP outlines the multi-sector response strategy of some 260 partners supporting the host governments of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Romania and Slovakia in providing assistance and protection to refugees from Ukraine.
UNHCR has been advocating to end statelessness in Europe and globally by 2024, in line with the #IBelong campaign. At the same time, we are also calling for concerted European action to prevent loss of life in the Mediterranean and to improve the reception facilities and systems for asylum-seekers.
We produce and publish statistics and data on refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless people and engage with the public to foster inclusiveness and empathy.
UNHCR works closely with refugee-led and community-based organisations to better understand the issues facing people forced to flee and to include people we serve in decision-making concerning their life.
What is the difference between a refugee, an asylum-seeker and a migrant?
People who are forced to flee their country in fear of persecution are refugees. They have legal protections under the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, as well as other legal instruments. UNHCR, governments and humanitarian organizations offer assistance to refugees, who are recognized by State authorities or UNHCR, because it is too dangerous for them to return home. Asylum-seekers are people whose request for refugee status, or asylum, is being processed.
People who move to a different country primarily to improve their lives by finding work or gaining education, or to reunite with family, are known as migrants.
This distinction is important. States interact with refugees through specific norms dealing with refugee protection and asylum defined in regional and international frameworks.
How many refugees have arrived in Europe?
According to UNHCR data, by the end of 2024, the number of people forcibly displaced in Europe was 18.4 million. This is 5% lower than 19.5 million at the end of 2023.
By the end of 2024, Türkiye remained among the largest refugee-hosting countries worldwide, with 2.9 million refugees. Germany is the second largest refugee-hosting country in the Europe region, hosting 2.6 million refugees.
There are also some 443,000 stateless people in Europe, who have been denied a nationality and lack access to basic rights such as education, health care, employment and freedom of movement.
For up-to-date numbers of people arriving in Europe via Mediterranean and Northwest African maritime routes, as well as the numbers of people who have died or gone missing after attempting to cross the sea, please see our Operational Data Portal for the Mediterranean Situation.
You can find more statistics and data visualizations on the numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers in Europe on our Figures at a glance page, Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office, and in the latest Global Trends Report.
Are all refugees coming to Europe?
No. As a region, Europe is hosting some 12 million refugees (as of end-2024), of the global total of 36.8 million refugees. 73% are hosted by low- and middle-income countries and 67% hosted in neighbouring countries. The Global Compact on Refugees emphasizes the importance of greater responsibility-sharing and solidarity with refugee-hosting countries and communities.
How many people are displaced within their own country in Europe?
By the end of 2024, the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Europe is 4.9 million. The majority are in Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Georgia, Serbia and Kosovo - S/RES/1244 (1999) .
The full-scale war in Ukraine has resulted in the displacement of millions within the country. Estimates of these populations are challenging due to the rapidly evolving situation. As of end-2024, there were an estimated 3.7 million IDPs in Ukraine.
Greece. Shirin (R), originally from Iran, who works as Gender-Based Violence Prevention Officer at NGO Diotima Centre, together with Hawanatu, Memunatu and Fatmata, GBV survivors and beneficiaries of the GBV Prevention and Response Programme - a “shield” for refugee and asylum-seeker women on Lesvos.
Where can I find statistics and information about refugees and asylum-seekers arriving in Europe?
UNHCR maintains a public database of statistics on refugees and asylum-seekers in Europe and around the world. It has also developed a mobile application for iOS and Android. Each year, we publish a Global Trends report, an authoritative overview of the world’s refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced people and stateless persons.
In addition, data on specific situations in Europe can be found on dedicated operational portals (Ukraine, Mediterranean and South Eastern Europe).
Who are UNHCR’s partners in Europe?
As per its mandated responsibilities and in line with the Global Compact on Refugees, UNHCR engages with various stakeholders to pursue its protection and solutions priorities in Europe. These include governments, international organizations within and outside the UN system, other humanitarian and development actors, regional actors (notably the European Union and its agencies, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe), local authorities, municipalities, academia, the private sector, media and civil society. Refugees and other people with and for whom UNHCR works are key partners, and we have been strengthening our engagement with organizations led by refugees, other forcibly displaced and stateless people.
In collaboration with the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), we organize regular regional dialogues and consultations with civil society actors to identify opportunities for joint and complementary advocacy.
We are also committed to supporting the realization of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. In Europe, UNHCR is an integral part of the regional UN system and co-chairs the Issue-Based Coalition on Large Movements of People, Displacement and Resilience.
In Europe, four of our offices are accredited to regional institutions (the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the European Union Agency for Asylum, and Frontex).
Ukraine Situation : Regional Refugee Response Plan 2025-2026
See more publications from UNHCR operations in Europe under the Global Focus Europe Region page and the Ukraine Situation page
How do I get in touch with UNHCR?
The best way to contact us is via our website.
How do I locate a spokesperson who can tell me more about UNHCR’s work in Europe or the world?
Contact UNHCR spokespeople at our headquarters in Geneva or in many of our country offices worldwide for media enquiries and interviews.
If I am an asylum-seeker or refugee in Europe and need help or advice, what should I do?
You can use the help.unhcr.org page in some countries, or contact UNHCR or one of its partners directly in the country where you are.
If I want to work for UNHCR, what should I do?
You can find available job openings, internships and other opportunities on the careers page on UNHCR’s website and on the organization’s country-specific and regional websites. There are also opportunities to volunteer with UNHCR and its partner organizations.
How can I contribute to and support UNHCR’s work?
UNHCR relies almost entirely on voluntary contributions from governments, UN and pooled funding mechanisms, intergovernmental institutions and the private sector, as well as individual donations. We encourage these funds to be allocated as flexibly as possible to enable us to assist where the needs are the most acute by providing protection, shelter, water, health, education and other essential support to refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons and internally displaced people across the region.
UNHCR’s website contains information on how to contribute financially. Donations can also be made to individual refugee-hosting countries through our private sector partnerships and also to specific emergencies.
Stay informed with the latest reports and updates on UNHCR’s work in Europe
Find key figures and trends on displacement in the region and media highlights of the month.
Find refugee situation overviews and key priorities per country.
Find the latest data and statistics on refugees and other displaced persons.
Stay up to date on emergencies and our work in Europe.
