Facts & Figures
• At the start of the year 2002, the number of people of concern to UNHCR was 19.8 million. They included 12 million refugees (61%), 940,800 asylum seekers (5%), 462,700 returned refugees (3%), 5.3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) (25%), 241,000 returned IDPs (1%) and 1 million others of concern (5%). (p.8)

• The global refugee population of 12 million remained virtually unchanged from the previous year, with half a million people fleeing their countries during 2001 and nearly as many going home. (p.8)

• At the end of 2001, Asia hosted the largest refugee population (48.3%), followed by Africa (27.5%), Europe (18.3%) North America (5%), Oceania (0.6%) and Latin America and the Caribbean (0.3%). (p.8)

• When all persons of concern to UNHCR are included, Asia hosted 44.6%, Africa 21.1%, Europe 24.6%, North America 5.5%, Latin America and the Caribbean 3.8% and Oceania 0.4%. (p.8)

• Currently, an estimated 7.7 million people under UNHCR’s care are children below the age of 18. The percentage of children compared with the overall refugee population ranges from 57 per cent in Central Africa to 20 per cent in Central and Eastern Europe. (p.8)

• Refugees above 60 years of age constitute more than 15 per cent of the refugee population in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, whereas in Africa they generally represent less than 5 per cent of the refugee population. (p.8)

• In most regions, women and girls of all ages constitute between 45-55 per cent of the refugee population. (p.8)

• Compared to the size of the national population, the main refugee hosting countries during 2001 were Armenia, with 70 refugees per 1,000 inhabitants, followed by Congo (40 per 1,000), Yugoslavia (38 per 1,000), Djibouti (37 per 1,000) and Zambia (27 per 1,000). (p.8)

• During 2001-02, there were 7,808 unlawful non-citizens admitted to Australia’s immigration detention facilities. This figure was 7,881 in 2000-01. This was slightly fewer than the 8,205 admitted in 1999-00 but more than double the number of 3,574 in 1998-99 and 2,716 in 1997-98. The increase reflected a huge growth in the number of unauthorised boats arriving in Australian territory in that period. (p.13)

• By November 2001 there were some 3,400 people detained in immigration detention facilities in Australia. By November 2002 there were only 1,282 people in detention, of whom less than 600 were unauthorised boat arrivals. The decrease to the current figure reflects the dramatic slowing of unauthorised boat arrivals since December 2001. (p.13)

• The five main nationalities of detainees in 2001-02 were Iranian, Afghan, Chinese, Indonesian and Sri Lankan. In 2000-01 the five main nationalities were Afghan, Iraqi, Iranian, Palestinian and Chinese. (p.14)

• As of 1 February 2002, the total number of women and children in mainland Australian immigration detention centres is 637. This number comprises of 259 adult women, 224 male children, 141 female children. (p.16)

• On 3 May 2002, there were 1,258 people in immigration detention in Australia. A further 1,515 asylum seekers have been held in detention facilities at Manus Island and Nauru that are administered by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). (p.18)

• Some 80 per cent of asylum seekers receive a primary decision on their asylum application within 18 weeks and 10 per cent of cases are processed within seven weeks. These figures compare very favourably with other countries with similar systems. (p.25)

• Most people who spend lengthier periods in detention have been found not to be refugees and have chosen to appeal the decisions in the tribunals and courts, thus lengthening their stay. In almost 90 per cent of these appeal cases the Department’s initial decision is upheld. (p.25)

• During the current financial year, the average time spent in detention was 155 days for people who arrived unlawfully by boat. This includes people who were released after an appeal process, which lengthened their stay in detention. (p.25)

• According to Amnesty International, 1 in every 115 people on earth are refugees, and a new refugee is created every 21 seconds. Refugees re-settle all over the world. However, the distribution of refugees across the world is very unequal. (p.27)

• Tanzania hosts one refugee for every 76 Tanzanian people (1:76); Britain hosts one refugee for every 530 British people. (1:530); and Australia hosts one refugee for every 1,583 Australian people. (1:1583). (p.27)

• The real burden of assisting refugees is borne in the main by the world’s poorest nations. (p.27)

• 71 countries accept refugees and asylum seekers in some form or other; of the 71 Australia is ranked 32nd; on a per capita basis Australia is ranked 38th, slightly behind Kazakhstan, Guinea, Djibouti and Syria; of the 29 developed countries that accept refugees and asylum seekers, Australia is ranked 14th. Per capita, the US takes twice as many refugees as Australia. (p.27)

• Of 21 countries listed by UNHCR as resettlement countries, Australia is one of only nine that operates a formal resettlement program, and is in fact one of the most generous resettlement countries in the world. More than 600,000 refugees and displaced people have been settled in Australia since World War 2. (p.40)

• Australia accepts around 12,000 people each year under its Humanitarian Program, which demonstrates the continuing commitment of the Australian Government and the Australian community to helping those in need. (p.40)