estimated 1.8 million having sought refuge, mainly in neighbouring countries. Afghan and Iraqi
refugees account for almost half (45%) of all refugees under UNHCR’s responsibility worldwide.
Somalis constitute the third largest refugee group under UNHCR’s responsibility with 678,000 persons
at the end of 2009, an increase of 117,000 over 2008. Security and humanitarian conditions in Somalia
continued to steadily deteriorate and were particularly acute in the central and southern areas of the
country. The crisis was further compounded by severe drought conditions, poverty, food insecurity and
periodic heavy flooding in the Horn of Africa. Some 132,000 Somalis fled their country during 2009,
primarily to Kenya (72,500), Yemen (32,000), Ethiopia (23,600), and Djibouti (3,700). This is in addition
to the almost 300,000 people who were newly displaced within Somalia during the year.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the fourth largest country of origin, with 456,000 refugees
under UNHCR’s mandate at the end of 2009. More than 144,000 people fled the country during 2009
alone. The majority fled clashes sparked by fishing and farming disputes in Equateur Province, in the
north-west of the country, during October 2009. The Central African Republic and the Republic of the
Congo were the countries most affected by the crisis with a combined number of more than 113,000
new arrivals. At the same time, renewed fighting in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the
Congo led to an outflow of 31,000 people to Sudan and Uganda.
Other main source countries of refugees were Myanmar (406,700), Colombia (389,800),(15) and Sudan
(368,200). The increased number from Myanmar was due to the inclusion of an estimated 200,000
unregistered people in Bangladesh. The estimates of Sudanese refugees decreased for the fifth
consecutive year following the return of more than 33,000 people to Southern Sudan.
Capacities and contributions of host countries
Countries with strong economies are more likely to be
capable of absorbing and supporting refugees. By
comparing the refugee population with the average
income level of a country (measured by the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) (PPP) (16) per capita (17)), a
measure can be obtained of the relative impact of
hosting refugees. If the number of refugees per 1 USD
GDP (PPP) per capita is high, the relative contribution
and effort made by countries compared to the national
economy can be considered as high. Among the 25
countries with the highest number of refugees per 1
USD GDP per capita, all are developing countries,
including 14 least developed countries.
Fig 4
Number of refugees
per 1 USD GDP (PPP) per capita
End-2009
Pakistan
745
Dem. Rep. of Congo
592
Zimbabwe
527
Syrian Arab Rep.
244
Kenya
237
Chad
Bangladesh
Ethiopia
234
164
142
Uganda
113
Nepal
101
Islamic Rep. of Iran
99
At the end of 2009, Pakistan was hosting the highest
United Rep. of Tanzania
97
number of refugees compared to its national economy.
Sudan
89
Jordan
88
As such, it hosted 745 refugees per 1 USD GDP (PPP)
73
Yemen
per capita. The Democratic Republic of the Congo was
second with 592 refugees per 1 USD GDP (PPP) per
capita, followed by Zimbabwe (527), the Syrian Arab Republic (244), and Kenya (237). The first
developed country was Germany at 26th place with 17 refugees per 1 USD GDP (PPP) per capita.
15
This figure includes refugees as well people in a refugee-like situation in Ecuador, Venezuela (the Bolivarian Republic of), and other
countries in the region.
16
Source for Gross Domestic Product (Purchasing Power Parity): International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database,
October 2009 (accessed 14 May 2010).
17
Source for national population: United Nations, Population Division, "World Population Prospects: The 2008 Revision", New York,
2009.
2009 Global Trends 9