Global Support for Refugees Holds Firm Amid Aid Cuts and Political Tensions

Despite growing global instability, steep humanitarian aid reductions, and the politicization of refugee issues, public support for the rights of refugees to seek safety remains remarkably resilient, according to the latest Ipsos World Refugee Day Global Survey for 2025. Conducted across 29 countries, the survey sheds light on enduring compassion for refugees alongside rising skepticism and shifting engagement levels—revealing a complex global sentiment that governments and humanitarian agencies must address with urgency.

Widespread Support Endures, Though With Caveats

A key finding of the 2025 Ipsos survey is that 67% of respondents across 29 countries continue to support the fundamental right of individuals to seek refuge in other countries when fleeing war, conflict, or persecution. This represents only a marginal drop of two percentage points compared to 2024, signaling that public attitudes remain generally steady despite mounting geopolitical and economic pressures.

Countries including Sweden, Argentina, the Netherlands, and Australia stand out for their consistent and strong support of refugee rights. In contrast, others have witnessed more polarized sentiments, particularly in areas where refugee-related issues have been politicized or coupled with domestic concerns over security and economic burden.

Calls for Wealthy Nations to Take Greater Responsibility

The survey highlights a global consensus around the moral responsibility of wealthier countries: 62% of respondents believe that more affluent nations should play a greater financial role in supporting refugees. This sentiment is especially strong in countries like Indonesia, South Korea, and Türkiye, where public calls for increased engagement from international organizations were prominent.

This viewpoint comes at a time when major donors have slashed contributions to key humanitarian institutions like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). These funding cuts threaten to exacerbate the already precarious conditions of the world’s 42.7 million refugees and over 122 million forcibly displaced people as of April 2025.

Scepticism About Motives Persists

While overall support for refugee protection remains high, the public’s perceptions of refugee motivations continue to skew sceptical. The survey reports that 62% of global respondents believe most refugees are primarily seeking better economic opportunities rather than escaping genuine threats. This belief has become a core driver of political narratives around border security and welfare state pressures.

As a result, 49% of survey participants supported closing their countries' borders to asylum-seekers altogether—a stark reminder that empathy for refugees often exists alongside significant fears about integration, social impact, and national security.

A Decline in Personal Involvement

In another concerning trend, personal engagement in refugee support activities—such as volunteering, donating, or participating in awareness campaigns—has dropped from 38% in 2024 to 29% in 2025. Experts cite several reasons, including growing compassion fatigue, economic challenges, and public disillusionment about the effectiveness of their actions.

“The public still believes in the right to seek safety and wants wealthy nations to do more, but the economic backdrop and global political climate are eroding individual support,” said Dominique Hyde, UNHCR’s Director of External Relations. “The humanitarian system will wither without a unified effort from governments, organizations, the private sector and the public to build solutions and hope for those forced to flee.”

Hope and Pragmatism Going Forward

Despite the mixed data, there remains a strong undercurrent of hope and solidarity. Approximately 40% of respondents still acknowledge the positive contributions refugees make to their host communities, with particularly high support in the United States (56%), where public discourse around refugees has remained relatively constructive.

This dichotomy—between empathy and caution—points to a need for more effective public communication strategies. Trinh Tu, Managing Director at Ipsos Public Affairs, emphasized the importance of narrative framing: “There is an urgent need to address the persistent underlying concerns among the public about asylum-seekers' motivations and integration. A more balanced narrative, acknowledging the diversity of views and experiences among both refugees and the public, would greatly assist this.”

Data-Driven Dialogue for a More Inclusive Future

First launched in 2017, Ipsos’ World Refugee Day Global Survey serves as a vital tool for gauging public opinion and shaping international policy. The 2025 findings underscore that while governmental action and multilateral cooperation are essential, public trust and engagement remain the bedrock of sustainable refugee protection systems.

As international stakeholders gather to observe World Refugee Day 2025, the message is clear: the world must harness existing public goodwill, address fears with facts, and invest in scalable, humane, and inclusive solutions that honor the dignity and potential of every person forced to flee.