For 2009, the number of identified stateless populations remained stable at almost 6.6 million. The data show a continuation of the trend already observed in previous years of a gradual expansion in coverage and knowledge of stateless persons. By the end of 2009, statistics on statelessness were available in 60 countries, two more than in 2008. This compares to 30 countries in 2004, the first year UNHCR started collecting statistics on stateless populations in a more systematic way, and reflects the data collection efforts of UNHCR offices. Two reasons explain these positive trends. First, UNHCR’s efforts were bolstered by an increasing awareness of the statelessness issue in a number of countries. Second, surveys and censuses are increasingly used to identify stateless populations. UNHCR expects the 2010 round of national population censuses to further increase its data coverage on stateless populations. UNHCR is not in a position to provide comprehensive statistics on the number of stateless persons in all countries around the world. As a result, there is a discrepancy between reliable country-level data reported by UNHCR and the total estimated number of stateless worldwide, some 12 million people. The increase in data coverage and gradual improvement in the quality of the data through increased use of population profiling methods, such as surveys, will continue to narrow this gap. IX. Other groups or people of concern UNHCR also extends its protection or assistance activities to individuals whom it considers “of concern”, but who do not fall into any of the above population categories. These activities are based on humanitarian or other special grounds and might, for instance, include asylum-seekers who have been rejected by States, but who are deemed by UNHCR to be in need of international protection. The number of people in these groups more than doubled from 167,000 at the start of 2009 to almost 412,000 by the end of the year. The increase arose primarily from the inclusion of some 155,000 former refugees from Burundi in the United Republic of Tanzania. Even though they were naturalized in 2009, UNHCR remains engaged with this group through local integration programmes. 22 2009 Global Trends