IOM’s population movements assessments for Syria indicate that Raqqa governorate’s IDP population decreased between February 2025 and March 2026.928 In February 2025, around 196 000 IDPs were recorded in the governorate, representing approximately 22 % of an estimated total population of 891 000.929 By April 2026, this figure had fallen to around 145 000 IDPs, or approximately 18 % of an estimated total population of 807 000.930
During the escalation of conflict in north-east Syria in January 2026, Raqqa witnessed the displacement of tens of thousands of people towards Hasaka governorate.931 However, the governorate did not itself become a major destination for IDPs during this period. In relation to the most recent conflict, IOM recorded only 26 IDPs as having settled in Raqqa.932
UNHCR further estimated that, as of end of May 2026, 23 936 individuals had returned to locations in Raqqa governorate from internal displacement since December 2024933 and that 22 987 had returned to the governorate from abroad within the same period.934
- 928
IOM, Syrian Arab Republic – Community Baseline Assessment – Round 1 – February 2025, 6 March 2025, url, p. 8; IOM, Syrian Arab Republic – Population Mobility and Baseline Assessment – Round 14 – March 2026, 16 April 2026, url, p. 7
- 929
IOM, Syrian Arab Republic – Community Baseline Assessment – Round 1 – February 2025, 6 March 2025, url, p. 8
- 930
IOM, Syrian Arab Republic – Population Mobility and Baseline Assessment – Round 15 – April 2026, 18 May 2026, url, p.7
- 931
Health Cluster and WHO, Syria: Health Sector Bulletin - January 2026, 1 April 2026, url, p. 2
- 932
IOM, Syrian Arab Republic: Emergency Mobility Tracking Situation Report Aleppo/ North East Syria (NES) Conflict – Round 15, 11 March 2026, url, p. 1
- 933
UNHCR, Syrian Arab Republic: Comprehensive Overview of IDPs and IDP Returns Dashboard, 21 May 2026, url
- 934
UNHCR, Syrian Arab Republic: Comprehensive Overview of Refugee Returns Dashboard, 21 May 2026, url