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India

Key statistics

250,904

people were displaced or stateless (or returning from forced displacement) within the country at the end of 2024

236,768

people were registered as refugees in the country at the end of 2024, mostly from Sri Lanka and Myanmar

$17.3 million

are needed in 2025 to ensure that operations and programmes in India are sustained

By the end of 2024, more than 240,000 refugees and asylum-seekers were identified and registered by UNHCR in collaboration with the Government, the majority originating from Myanmar and Afghanistan. Nearly half (46%) are women and girls, while children make up 36% of the population.

India has a long tradition of hosting diverse refugee groups and has provided solutions for many forcibly displaced people over the decades. UNHCR works in close partnership with the Government, supporting efforts to assist refugees across 11 states, and collaborating with line ministries, NGOs, and community-based organizations.

Most refugees in India live in urban areas alongside host communities. UNHCR focuses on protection, registration, and refugee status determination, while also promoting self-reliance and durable solutions. Since 2002, more than 17,900 Sri Lankan refugees have voluntarily returned home with UNHCR’s assistance.

The UNHCR India office also covers the Maldives, where the agency engages in capacity-building, promoting inclusion, and supporting the international protection needs of people forced to flee.

Latest updates

India: Factsheet
India: Factsheet
India: Factsheet
India: Factsheet
India Funding Update - 2024

Population and financial overview

India

Use the year selector to access information from previous years.

Populations

Population types

Note: The "Stateless" category does not include stateless people who are also in other categories, to avoid double counting. The total number of stateless, across all categories, is  .

NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.

Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.

Population by country

NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.

Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.

Population by origin

NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.

Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.

Financial

Budget and expenditure trend

Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.

Budget by pillar
Budget by objective

Note: The table presents the  budget for this operation broken down at the objective level. Resource allocation at the objective level is subject to change during the course of the year as the operational situation evolves and priorities shift. The current budget, reflected in the bottom line of this table, is updated on a monthly basis and is replaced by the final budget at year-end.

Expenditure by Outcome Area
Budget by Impact Area
Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions

Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.

Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.

Budget by Impact Area
Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions

Source: 2024 budget and 2023 current budget are taken from the budget document approved by UNHCR's Executive Committee in October 2023.

Budget by Impact Area
Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions

Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.

Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.

Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.

Budget by Impact Area
Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

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Strategy - Country

Strategy

For more information about our work in India:

India website

Find more information on our work in the area and the latest local news and stories.

Visit the India website

 

Refworld

Find legislation, case law and UNHCR policy relating to claims for international protection.

Visit Refworld

 

Office contact details

The UNHCR Chief of Mission in India

Street and mailing address:
B-2/16, Vasant Vihar, 110057 New Delhi, India

Phone:
+91 11 43530444

Email:
[email protected]

Time zone:
GMT +5.3

Working hours

  • Monday: 9:00 - 17:30
  • Tuesday: 9:00 - 17:30
  • Wednesday: 9:00 - 17:30
  • Thursday: 9:00 - 17:30
  • Friday: 9:00 - 17:30
  • Saturday: closed
  • Sunday: closed

The UNHCR Head of Field Office at Chennai

Street and mailing address:
No 11, 17th Cross Street,, Besant Nagar, 600090 Chennai, India

Phone:
+91 44 2446 1734

Fax:
+91 44 2446 1733

Email:
[email protected]

Time zone:
GMT +5.3

Working hours

  • Monday: 9:00 - 17:30
  • Tuesday: 9:00 - 17:30
  • Wednesday: 9:00 - 17:30
  • Thursday: 9:00 - 17:30
  • Friday: 9:00 - 17:30
  • Saturday: closed
  • Sunday: closed