3.2. Return trends and conditions upon return

Table of contents

According to official data, over 1.6 million Syrian refugees have returned since December 2024, including more than 250 000 in the first quarter of 2026. Syrian refugees returned mainly from Türkiye (40 %), Lebanon (38 %) and Jordan (18 %), with smaller numbers from Iraq (3 %), Egypt (2 %) and other countries.936 As of 30 April 2026, most returns from abroad have been recorded to Damascus, Idlib, Aleppo, Rural Damascus, Homs, and Hama. UNHCR monitoring indicates that returnees were 52 % female and 48 % male, with children aged 0–17 constituting the largest age group, followed by working-age adults (18–59).937 Returns from Europe occur938 but remain limited,939 as refugees there generally have access to more comprehensive services and are less inclined to relinquish them.940

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Map 4. © UNHCR, Locations of 1,630,874 Syrian Refugees returnees by governorate 30 April 2026

Most returnees from abroad surveyed by UNHCR reported returning spontaneously (78 %), accompanied by their immediate family (88 %) and to the same location they had lived before fleeing Syria (76 %).941 The main pull factors for returnees from abroad were family unity and reunification (58 %), perceived improved security conditions (56 %), and the desire to access/recover HLP (42 %).942 Most returnees from abroad did not carry out prior visits before returning (75 %) relying on information from family and community networks (71 %) to make their decision.943

  • 936

    UNHCR, Syria: Protection and Reintegration Insights. Voices of returnees and host communities across Syria (January - March 2026), 28 April 2026, url, p. 8

  • 937

    UNHCR, Comprehensive Overview of Refugee Returns Dashboard, 30 April 2026, url

  • 938

    Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs: General Country of Origin Information Report on Syria, January 2026, url, pp. 141-142

  • 939

    DW, German government pushes Syrians to return to their homeland, 11 February 2026, url; DK, DIS, Security Situation, Return and Documents, url, p. 78 [SNHR]

  • 940

    DK, DIS, Security Situation, Return and Documents, December 2025, url, p. 78 [SNHR]

  • 941

    UNHCR, Syria: Protection and Reintegration Insights. Voices of returnees and host communities across Syria (January - March 2026), 28 April 2026, url, pp. 8-9

  • 942

    UNHCR, Syria: Protection and Reintegration Insights. Voices of returnees and host communities across Syria (January - March 2026), 28 April 2026, url, pp. 10-11

  • 943

    UNHCR, Syria: Protection and Reintegration Insights. Voices of returnees and host communities across Syria (January - March 2026), 28 April 2026, url, p. 12