Unveiling the cost of internal displacement: 2020 report

This report assesses the economic impact associated with internal displacement in 2019 for 22 countries. The countries selected have recently been affected by internal displacement associated with conflict and violence, disasters, or a combination of both. As they are located in different regions and range from low to upper-middle income, they provide a cross section of the conditions under which displacement crises can occur and the financial ramifications associated with them.

The paper finds that the estimated cost and loss associated with displacement ranged from $114 per IDP for a year of displacement in Colombia to $869 per IDP in Syria. This variation is a result of a range of factors including differences in the level of need across affected populations and the cost of meeting those needs, as well as IDPs' estimated loss of income. With about 50.8 million people living in internal displacement as a result of conflict, violence and disasters at the end of 2019, and an estimated average cost and loss of $390 per IDP, this places the total global economic impact in 2019 at $20 billion. Revealing the financial consequences of internal displacement can highlight the value of investing in preventative strategies and early interventions to support IDPs more effectively and reduce the negative economic impacts associated with their displacement.