The number of internally displaced people (IDPs) reached an all-time high of 83.4 million by the end of 2024. This is stated in the Global Report on Internal Displacement 2025 released by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC). This represents a staggering increase, now surpassing the entire population of Germany. It has more than doubling the figures from just six years ago.
Alexandra Bilak, Director of IDMC, highlighted the critical intersection of conflict, poverty, and climate change. She stated, “Internal displacement is where conflict, poverty and climate collide. This situation hits the most vulnerable the hardest. These latest numbers prove that internal displacement is not just a humanitarian crisis. It’s a clear development challenge as well as a political challenge. It requires far more attention than it currently receives.”
CONFLICT AND CLIMATE CHANGE: KEY DRIVERS OF DISPLACEMENT
Conflict and violence continue to be the primary cause of internal displacement. They are responsible for displacing nearly 90% of the total IDPs, or approximately 73.5 million people. This is an 80% increase in just six years. Notably, Sudan has set a record with 11.6 million IDPs, the highest number ever recorded in a single country.
Alongside conflict-induced displacement, climate-induced disasters have displaced 9.8 million people, a 29% increase from the earlier year. Countries like Afghanistan (1.3 million) and Chad (1.2 million) have seen disproportionately high numbers of internal displacements.
Jan Egeland, Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, called the global response insufficient: “Internal displacement rarely makes the headlines. For those living it, the suffering can last for years. This year’s figures must act as a wake-up call for global solidarity. How long will this continue? Will the number of people affected by internal displacement be allowed to keep growing? This is happening because there is no ownership and leadership.”
DISPLACEMENT IN CONFLICT ZONES AND NATURAL DISASTERS
The year 2024 saw a particularly troubling trend as 12.3 million internal displacements were recorded in just three countries. These countries are the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Palestine, and Sudan. This accounts for nearly 60% of the global total for conflict displacements.
On the disaster front, 45.8 million people were displaced due to natural disasters, the highest number since IDMC began monitoring disaster displacements in 2008. These figures were primarily driven by weather-related events, which accounted for 99.5% of disaster-related displacement. The United States, Chad, Brazil, Afghanistan, and the Philippines were among the hardest-hit regions.
Cyclones such as Hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as Typhoon Yagi, led to mass displacement, particularly across East Asia and the U.S. Floods were also a major cause, with devastating events seen across continents.
THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON DISPLACEMENT
In 2024, over three-quarters of the world’s IDPs from conflict and violence lived in countries that were highly vulnerable to climate change. This intersection of climate vulnerability and conflict is eroding people’s ability to recover and straining government resources, deepening their suffering. Inaction could exacerbate the problem further, leading to even more prolonged displacement.
A CALL FOR GLOBAL ACTION
The report stresses that the cost of inaction is rising, and the displaced populations are paying the price. Bilak emphasized the urgent need to act:
“The data is clear, it’s now time to use it to prevent displacement, support recovery, and build resilience. Resolving displacement needs immediate efforts to help people who have lost everything. It also requires investments to address underlying vulnerabilities. This ensures people don’t become displaced in the first place.”
PRE-EMPTIVE EVACUATIONS AND THEIR ROLE IN DISASTER DISPLACEMENT
Many countries have implemented pre-emptive evacuations to save lives during imminent disaster risks. The report notes that even those evacuated can remain displaced for prolonged periods without adequate support. The U.S., Philippines, and Bangladesh have been leaders in this area, yet gaps in support still persist.
THE WAY FORWARD: A GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY
IDMC’s report serves as a stark reminder. Internal displacement is not just a humanitarian crisis. It is a pressing political and development challenge. This challenge requires far-reaching solutions. Governments must prioritize long-term financial investments and political will to address the underlying causes of displacement and ensure the protection of affected populations.
As the number of internally displaced people continues to grow, it is more crucial than ever for the global community to take meaningful action toward preventing displacement, supporting displaced communities, and building resilience in crisis-prone areas.