World Refugee Day is on 20 June. It honours the strength of people who have been forced to flee their homes.
The date is 20 June.
How to use the World Refugee Day Countdown#
- Check the date. World Refugee Day is on 20 June every year.
- Choose what to count to. Stay on the next World Refugee Day, or look a year further ahead.
- Plan around it. The weekday and the weeks left are listed, so you can see at once how it fits your week.
The 2001 start#
The United Nations General Assembly established the day in 2000, and it was first observed on 20 June 2001, the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. The day is coordinated by the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR. According to UNHCR, well over a hundred million people around the world have been forced from their homes by conflict, violence and persecution.
Ways to help#
Donations to refugee agencies make a direct difference. Local groups often need volunteers, language tutors and donated goods. Schools can invite speakers and hold fundraisers. If you’re organising something, allow a month for planning and ask refugee-led groups how they would like the day to be marked.
When is World Refugee Day in the next few years?#
World Refugee Day is on 20 June every year.
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 20 June | Sunday |
| 2028 | 20 June | Tuesday |
| 2029 | 20 June | Wednesday |
| 2030 | 20 June | Thursday |
| 2031 | 20 June | Friday |
Who counts as a refugee#
Under the 1951 Refugee Convention, a refugee is someone outside their country who cannot return because of a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a social group. Their legal protection is different from that of other migrants, which is why the term matters. Most refugees stay in a neighbouring country rather than travelling far, and a large share live in countries with low or middle incomes.
Africa and Nigeria#
Africa hosts a large number of both refugees and internally displaced people. In north-eastern Nigeria, the conflict that began in the late 2000s displaced millions of people within the country and sent many across the borders into Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Humanitarian agencies, including UNHCR, run camps and programmes across the Lake Chad region, and local volunteers support them. Reading about the people near you is a useful start, because the numbers can feel remote until you see them in your own region.
Helping in a way that actually helps#
Money to established agencies usually goes furthest, because they can buy locally in bulk. If you give goods, ask what is needed first, as unrequested clothing is often a burden. Volunteering your skills, such as language tuition, legal help or job coaching, can matter more than cash. Listen to refugees’ own accounts, and invite them to speak if your event allows it, rather than speaking on their behalf.
Work back from Sun 20 June 2027: start planning about four weeks earlier (Sun 23 May 2027) and confirm any speaker two weeks ahead (Sun 6 June 2027). In 2027 the day falls on a Sunday.
Facts and figures#
- The UN Refugee Agency was created in 1950 with a three-year mandate. More than seven decades later it still works in more than 130 countries.
- Most refugees are hosted by countries next to the one they fled, not by wealthy nations far away.
- Children make up roughly four in ten of the world’s refugees, and many miss years of school.
- A refugee is different from an internally displaced person, who has fled home but remains inside their own country. Both groups need help, and the legal protection they get is different.
The day falls five days before the dates many countries celebrate their independence, which can be a time to think about what freedom means to people who have lost theirs.
Frequently asked questions#
20 June.
The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR.
The first one in 2001 marked the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention. The date has been kept since.
A refugee has fled their country because of war, violence or persecution and cannot safely go back, and international law protects them from being sent to a place where they would be in danger. A migrant usually moves by choice, for work, study or family, and can normally go home. The two groups are treated differently by law, so using the right word matters.
Ask the family or a refugee-led group what they need before you give anything. Practical help is often the most valuable: language practice, help with forms and school applications, introductions to employers, or a lift to appointments. If you give money, choose an established agency or a local group with a clear record. Listening and treating people as equals is as important as any gift.