A joint report by the International Organization for Migration’s Global Data Institute (IOM GDI) and the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) highlights stark inequalities affecting communities impacted by internal displacement.
The analysis shows that the world’s most vulnerable populations—children, low-income households, and those with limited education—bear the heaviest burdens of displacement. Between 2018 and 2024, the proportion of children in displacement-affected areas rose from 28% to 40%, while average annual income in these communities plummeted from USD 11,800 to USD 1,600. Life expectancy and educational attainment also remain significantly below global averages.
The report finds wide variation based on displacement causes. Drought-affected populations in Ethiopia and Somalia are younger, poorer, and less educated, while wildfire-displaced populations in the U.S. are older, wealthier, and more educated. Storm and flood displacements hit farming communities hardest, whereas conflict and wildfires primarily affect urban areas.
Using geolocated data on 349 million displacements from 2018–2024, the study emphasizes the need for data-driven responses to tailor humanitarian aid and development planning. IDMC Director Alexandra Bilak stressed: “Data alone is not enough—it must be matched by sustained government action to turn evidence into solutions.”
Related Posts
