The National
The National
The National
The National

Chart of the week: Countries hosting the largest Syrian refugee populations


Nour Ibrahim
  • English
  • Arabic

This chart highlights the critical role countries play in providing safety and support to Syrian refugees. Data sourced from UNHCR
This chart highlights the critical role countries play in providing safety and support to Syrian refugees. Data sourced from UNHCR

Live updates: Follow the latest on Syria

The crisis in Syria is now extending into its 14th year, with devastating consequences for millions of people.

As of 2024, an estimated 16.7 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, the UN's refugee agency (UNHCR) says. The Syria situation remains one of the largest displacement crises in the world, with a 2025 projection of 7.2 million internally displaced people and 6.2 million refugees.

Our latest Chart of the Week illustrates the top 10 host countries for Syrian refugees this year, nations that together host 95 per cent of all Syrian refugees worldwide, based on UNHCR data.

Neighbouring countries such as Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq, as well as nearby Egypt, continue to play a critical role in providing refuge for millions of displaced Syrians, along with European nations such as Germany and Sweden.

These countries are providing vital shelter and services to displaced populations. Turkey alone hosts more than 3 million refugees, making it the top host country for Syrians and illustrating its central role in the humanitarian response.

Lebanon and Jordan also host significant numbers of refugees, despite economic challenges and constrained resources.

This comes as some European nations recently announced a suspension of asylum applications for Syrians following the fall of the Assad regime.

Read more about decisions by countries such as Germany, Sweden and the UK to pause applications here.

Test squad: Azhar Ali (captain), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan(wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah

Twenty20 squad: Babar Azam (captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz 

The biog

Name: James Mullan

Nationality: Irish

Family: Wife, Pom; and daughters Kate, 18, and Ciara, 13, who attend Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS)

Favourite book or author: “That’s a really difficult question. I’m a big fan of Donna Tartt, The Secret History. I’d recommend that, go and have a read of that.”

Dream: “It would be to continue to have fun and to work with really interesting people, which I have been very fortunate to do for a lot of my life. I just enjoy working with very smart, fun people.”

Updated: February 28, 2025, 6:16 AM