The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, unveiled new data on Tuesday, July 14th, 2026, showing that public support for refugees remains stronger than often portrayed in public debates, despite a rise in fake news and hate speech targeting asylum seekers.

Dominique Hyde, UNHCR’s Director of External Relations, stated that support has remained broadly stable for years despite political tensions, economic pressures, and polarized discussions. Collaborating with pollster Ipsos, UNHCR found that two in three people across 29 countries agree that those fleeing war or persecution should be able to seek refuge in another country.

However, a similar proportion also believe that many seeking protection may not genuinely need it. Trinh Tu, Managing Director of Ipsos UK, explained, “Many of these people are the same people; they hold both views at the same time.” This reflects a tension between empathy for those in desperate need and skepticism about the effectiveness of asylum systems, border management, and integration policies.

This duality is evident in the UK, where despite having the lowest net migration, half the population perceives immigration as excessive. In countries with significant refugee intakes like Germany and Sweden, similar dynamics are observed.

The data also highlights significant shifts over time in some countries. Support for refugees in Japan rose from 23% in 2019 to 64% in 2026, while in France it increased from 43% to 68% during the same period.

The findings suggest that many people favor expanding refugee protection options beyond resettlement, which remains a crucial pathway for the most vulnerable refugees, 75 years after the adoption of the Refugee Convention in Geneva.

Additional reflections from the field underscore the hardships faced by refugees, including exposure to extreme weather conditions and severe food insecurity.

Sources