Global Displacement

Global displacement represents a complex combination of poverty, political instability, weak governance, environmental degradation, persecution and natural disasters.

The numbers of people crossing borders to seek protection in 2011 were the highest since 2000: 15.2 million, in addition to 895,000 asylum seekers.

2011 also saw the internal displacement of 26.4 million people.

Afghanistan continues to top the list of refugee-producing countries, with 2.7 million refugees, followed by Iraq at 1.4 million, and Somalia at 1.1 million.

The vast majority of the world’s refugees continue to flee to neighbouring countries: Pakistan hosts 1.7 million refugees, Iran, 886,500, and Kenya, 566,500.

Germany hosts the most refugees among industrialised countries, with 571,000

South Africa continues to be the largest recipient of individual asylum applications, with 107,000 lodged last year.

4.3 million people were newly displaced in 2011; Côte d'Ivoire has seen a 270% increase in just one year, and Libya +89.9% 

The majority of people "of concern" to the UNHCR are children aged under 18, a staggering 72% in Eritrea

This information is sourced from Global Trends 2011 published by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) June 2012

Global Occupational Therapy (OT)

Three countries with the most OTs

USA (105 750 OTs) both hosts refugees and in 2011 produced 3 778 refugees 

Japan (53 080 OTs) hosts 2 649 refugees, 3 698 asylum seekers, and 1 234 stateless people (UNHCR, January 2012).

Germany (35 000 OTs) settles the more refugees, 571 000, than any other industrialised country

OTs and countries with protracted displacement

Pakistan (53 OTs) hosts 1.7 million refgees, many from the number one source country Afghanistan (2.7M refugees)

Indonesia (820 OTs) hosts many asylum seekers in protracted limbo just north of Australia (15 000 OTs)

Kenya (700 OTs) hosts 566 550 refugees in protracted situations from nearby countries.

Number of OTs /10 000 population 

Denmark (11), Sweden (10), Iceland (7), Australia (7), Norway (6), Belgium (6), UK (5), New Zealand (5), Israel (5), Germany (4) are mostly settlement countries, however less than 1% of the worlds displaced people ever have this opportunity.

This information combines Global Trends 2011 (UNHCR, 2012) with the Human Resources Project (WFOT, 2010)