Global Report on Internal Displacements 2025 Key Highlights

Recently, the Global Report on Internal Displacements 2025 was released by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC).

What is Internal Displacement?

• Defined by IDMC as the forced movement of people within their country’s borders.
• Causes include natural disasters, armed conflict, violence, and large development projects.
• Monitored globally by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), part of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

Key Highlights from IDMC Report 2025

• Global Displacement Figures (2024)
  • Total disaster-related displacements: 45.8 million (highest since 2008).
  • Conflict-related displacements: 20.1 million.
  • People still displaced due to disasters (historical): 9.8 million.
  • Weather-related disasters (climate change impact): 99.5% of disaster displacements.
• Country-wise Displacement
  • USA: 11 million displaced (highest globally, mostly due to wildfires).
    • California (Park Fire): 66,000 displacements.
    • Hawaii (Maui fires, 2023): 3,000 still displaced by 2024.
  • 29 countries recorded their highest-ever disaster displacements.
• Regional Breakdown
  • Sub-Saharan Africa: 19.3 million displacements (7.8 million due to disasters).
    • All 23 conflict-affected countries also faced disaster displacements.
  • East Asia & Pacific: 16.2 million (14.8 million disaster-related, highest since 2016).
  • Americas: 14.5 million (13.1 million disaster-related).
  • South Asia: 9.2 million (mostly disaster-related, tripled from 2023 due to El Niño effects).
  • Middle East & North Africa: 5.7 million (599,000 disaster-related).
  • Europe & Central Asia: 846,000 (358,000 disaster-related; 60% due to Russia-Ukraine conflict).
• Key Observations
  • Pre-emptive evacuations (e.g., US, Philippines, Bangladesh) helped save lives but led to prolonged displacement due to inadequate support.
  • Climate-conflict nexus: 75% of conflict-displaced people lived in climate-vulnerable countries.
    • Number of countries facing both conflict & disaster displacement tripled since 2009.
• Trends & Concerns
  • Disaster displacements doubled compared to the annual average of the past decade.
  • Wildfires & delayed recovery (e.g., Hawaii) worsen long-term displacement.
  • Data gaps exist in tracking pre-emptive evacuations globally.

About the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC)

• Established in 1998 by the international community consensus.
• Part of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
• Maintains the Global Internal Displacement Database (GRID).
• Acts as a global monitor and advocate based on evidence and research.
• Influences policies of governments, UN agencies, NGOs, and donors.