What is the difference between a returnee, refugee, and internally displaced person?
A refugee is outside their country and meets a protection definition; an internally displaced person remains inside their country; a returnee has gone back to a country or area of origin but may still need reintegration support.
What the figure or term means
One person’s category can change over time.
Deportation or forced return should not be called voluntary repatriation.
Categories affect rights, data, and assistance pathways.
Use UNHCR definitions for case-specific questions.
How to use this information responsibly
Good data use begins with the indicator definition, source, publication date, reference period, geographic coverage, denominator, and whether the figure is observed, estimated, projected, targeted, or reached.
A precise-looking number can still carry uncertainty. Responsible reporting preserves the source’s wording and does not convert projections into verified counts.
Check the underlying information.
Editorial standard: This page is reviewed by a person, sourced to Famidi records or authoritative references, and revised when the program or underlying guidance changes. It does not replace legal, tax, medical, or financial advice.