News|Syria's WarHow many Syrians have returned home one year since the fall of al-Assad?One year after al-Assad’s fall, nearly 1.8 million displaced Syrians and 780,000 refugees have returned home.
## Regulation: Syrian Migration and Return
Regulation: Syrian Migration and Return
On December 8, it marks one year since the al-Assad dynasty, which lasted 54 years, was removed from power. The 14-year conflict led to a significant migration crisis, with approximately 6.8 million Syrians leaving the country at its peak in 2021.
Of these refugees, about 3.74 million settled in Turkiye, 840,000 in Lebanon, and 672,000 in Jordan. The interactive content below illustrates the migration patterns of Syrian refugees from 2011 to 2025, focusing on the top 10 host countries.
As Syria enters a new phase, many refugees and diaspora members are considering returning to rebuild their lives.
Over the past year, more than 782,000 Syrians have returned from abroad, as documented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Of these, 170,000 returned to Aleppo, 134,000 to Homs, and 124,000 to rural Damascus.
On December 8, it marks one year since the al-Assad dynasty, which lasted 54 years, was removed from power.
While some returnees, like those who opened businesses, are finding opportunities, many struggle with limited job prospects and high living costs. Housing conditions vary, with 69% owning property, 19% renting, 11% hosted for free, and 1% squatting.
Following the fall of al-Assad, several European nations, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Sweden, and the UK, paused asylum applications from Syrians. This pause affected both new and ongoing applications, resulting in a 23% decrease in total asylum applications across the EU+ by mid-2025 compared to the first half of 2024. This decline was primarily due to a decrease in Syrian applications, which fell by two-thirds.
On December 3, the EU updated its guidance for Syrian asylum seekers, stating that opponents of al-Assad and military service evaders are no longer at risk of persecution. Between 2012 and June 2025, approximately 705,000 Syrian applicants were granted refugee status by EU+ states.
Return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
The IOM has documented nearly 1.8 million internally displaced Syrians returning to their towns in the past year, bringing the total number of returning refugees and IDPs to 2.6 million. Of the internally displaced returning, 471,000 went to Aleppo, 460,000 to Idlib, and 314,000 to Hama.
Despite these returns, over six million Syrians remain internally displaced, with the largest populations in rural Damascus (1.99 million), Aleppo (1.33 million), and Idlib (993,000).
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
