iI. REFUGEE population The global number of refugees under UNHCR’s mandate was estimated to be 16.1 million at the end of 2015. This was the highest level in the past two decades and approximately 1.7 million more than the total reported 12 months earlier. 11 T he total number of refugees has increased for the fifth consecutive year, from 10.4 million at end-2011 – a 55 per cent rise in just four years. This increase was driven mainly by the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic, which accounted for more than half of new refugees in 2015. There were also significant outflows of refugees from Afghanistan, Burundi, and South Sudan. Overall refugee numbers were reduced through the return of about 201,400 refugees, the resettlement of about 107,100 and the naturalization of at least 32,000. By end-2015, more than half of refugees globally – 55 per cent or approximately 8.8 million people – were residing in Europe or sub-Saharan Africa. 11 This figure includes some 637,500 persons in refugee-like situations, with about 200,000 in Bangladesh, 167,000 in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, 68,300 in Ecuador, and 53,100 in Thailand. 12 The vast majority of newly registered refugees were recognized as refugees on a group or prima facie basis. Over 1 million Syrian refugees were newly registered during 2015, bringing this total population to close to 5 million, compared to 3.9 million Syrian refugees at the end of 2014 and 2.5 million at the end of 2013. Most Syrian refugees sought protection in neighbouring countries, with nearly 1 million seeking refuge in Turkey under its temporary protection regime during 2015. Only during the latter part of 2015 did increasing numbers of Syrian refugees move to other European countries. Over the reporting period, 526,700 people were recognized as refugees following an individual status determination procedure, compared to 371,400 in 2014.12 At the end of 2015, approximately 12.3 million of the total 16.1 million refugee population under UNHCR’s mandate were assisted by UNHCR, compared to 10.8 million out of 14.4 million at the end of 2014. Refugees receive UNHCR’s assistance in locations where the agency has been invited to support the Government and local authorities with the UNHCR Global Trends 2015 13