Syrian Arab Rep. (4.9 million) AFGHANISTAN (2.7 million) 54 per cent SOMALIA (1.1 million) More than half (54%) of all refugees worldwide came from just three countries: the Syrian Arab Republic (4.9 million), Afghanistan (2.7 million), and Somalia (1.1 million). 3.2 million ASYLUM-SEEKERS By end-2015, about 3.2 million people were waiting for a decision on their application for asylum. 107,100 resettlement In 2015, UNHCR submitted 134,000 refugees to States for resettlement. According to government statistics, States admitted 107,100 refugees for resettlement during the year, with or without UNHCR’s assistance. The United States of America accepted the highest number (66,500). top host 201,400 refugees returned During 2015, only 201,400 refugees returned to their countries of origin. Most returned to Afghanistan (61,400), Sudan (39,500), Somalia (32,300), or the Central African Republic (21,600). 51 per cent Children below 18 years of age constituted about half of the refugee population in 2015, up from 41 per cent in 2009 and the same as in 2014. 1. Turkey (2.5 million) 2. Pakistan (1.6 million) 3. Lebanon (1.1 million) 4. Islamic Rep. of Iran (979,400) 5. Ethiopia (736,100) 6. Jordan (664,100) For the second consecutive year, Turkey hosted the largest number of refugees worldwide, with 2.5 million people. 2.0 million ASYLUM APPLICATIONS Asylum-seekers submitted a record high number of new applications for asylum or refugee status – estimated at 2.0 million. With 441,900 asylum claims, Germany was the world’s largest recipient of new individual applications, followed by the United States of America (172,700), Sweden (156,400), and the Russian Federation (152,500). 98,400 unaccompanied or separated children Unaccompanied or separated children in 78 countries – mainly Afghans, Eritreans, Syrians, and Somalis – lodged some 98,400 asylum applications in 2015. This was the highest number on record since UNHCR started collecting such data in 2006. UNHCR Global Trends 2015 03