The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has revealed that a record 83.4 million people were internally displaced by the end of 2024, driven by rising conflicts and natural disasters.
This was disclosed in the IOM’s 2025 Global Report on Internal Displacement, released on Tuesday. According to the report, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) — those forced to flee their homes due to conflict, violence, or disasters without crossing international borders — has more than doubled since 2018.
The report stated that the 83.4 million displaced individuals were spread across 117 countries and territories.
“These figures are a clear warning: without bold and coordinated action, the number of people displaced within their own countries will continue to grow rapidly,” said IOM Director-General, Amy Pope.
Conflict escalation in countries such as Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Ukraine, and Palestine was cited as a major driver of the recent surge in displacement. These new displacements come in addition to millions already living in protracted situations in places like Afghanistan, Colombia, Syria, and Yemen.
Disaster-induced displacement also surged dramatically, rising from 26.8 million in 2023 to 45.8 million in 2024 — nearly twice the annual average of the past decade. IOM’s report, compiled by its Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), said nearly 30 countries and territories reported unprecedented levels of disaster displacement, with cyclones responsible for more than half of those cases.
The United States accounted for about one in four global disaster displacements, underscoring the widespread nature of the crisis. IOM noted that with climate change intensifying the frequency, severity, and duration of weather-related hazards, this trend shows no sign of slowing down.
“This report is a call for preventive action — to use data and tools to anticipate displacement before it occurs, and for humanitarian and development sectors to partner with governments on long-term solutions,” Pope emphasized.
While displacement caused by conflict and violence remains a leading factor, the report noted a slight decline in conflict-related displacements in 2024 compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, over 20 million conflict-induced displacements were recorded, with nearly half originating from Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“This is more than a humanitarian issue — it’s a development and political crisis demanding far greater global attention,” said Alexandra Bilak, Director of the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre.
“The cost of inaction is rising, and displaced people are paying the price,” Bilak warned.
ADEOLA KUNLE
