Armed conflicts and violence forced more people to be displaced within their own countries during 2025 than natural disasters, setting a new global record with 32 million new displacements, mainly in Iran and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to the annual report prepared by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre and the Norwegian Refugee Council, a total of 82.2 million people were living displaced within their countries at the end of 2025, the second highest level ever recorded after the record of 2024.
IDMC director Tracy Lucas told AFP that "the numbers remain at historically high levels," calling the new displacement trends "a wake-up call."
The report highlights that 65.8 million new internal displacements were recorded last year, including people who have been forced to flee multiple times.
Of these, 32.3 million displacements were caused by conflict and violence, a 60% increase compared to 2024, while another 29.9 million came as a result of natural disasters, such as floods and fires.
According to the report, it is the first time that armed conflicts have surpassed natural disasters as the leading cause of internal displacement.
Iran and the Democratic Republic of the Congo accounted for nearly two-thirds of new conflict-related displacement, with around 10 million cases each.
Meanwhile, Sudan continues to host the highest number of displaced people for the third year in a row, with over 9 million people forced to flee due to civil war. It is followed by Colombia, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan.
NRC Director Jan Egeland stated that "the displacement of tens of millions of people is evidence of a global failure to prevent conflicts and protect civilians."
The report also highlights that, although displacements from natural disasters fell by 35% compared to record levels in 2024, climate change is increasing the risk in many countries around the world.
Massive forest fires forced almost 700 people to flee their homes in 2025, while the report calls for major investments in climate change adaptation.
Humanitarian organizations warn that the situation could worsen further due to reduced international funding, especially following aid cuts from the United States, traditionally the largest global donor.
