As of 31 December 2021, Türkiye hosted 3,736,799 Syrians under temporary protection, representing the largest refugee group by nationality both in Türkiye and globally. Syrians under temporary protection represent 88% of the total refugee and asylum seeker population in the country. By the end of 2021, Türkiye hosted 333,180 international protection applicants, mainly from Iraq, the Islamic Republics of Afghanistan and Iran.
The Presidency of Migration Management (PMM) under the Ministry of Interior, formerly the Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM), reported registering 29,256 new international protection applications from asylum seekers from Afghanistan (75%), Iraq (17%), the Islamic Republic of Iran (3.5%) and other nationalities (4.5%) in 2021.
A total of 71,747 people were apprehended at the land border with the Syrian Arab Republic in 2021, a decrease of 3% compared to 2020. The Turkish Land Forces (TLF) apprehended 143 individuals at the Iraqi border for irregular entry attempts. This figure represents a 45% increase compared to 2020. The year 2021 witnessed a drastic increase in apprehensions at the Iranian land border with 1,599 people apprehended in 2021 compared to 181 in 2020. Reportedly, some 120,000 people were prevented entry into Türkiye at the Iranian land border.
According to the Turkish Coast Guard (TCG) statistics, 23,676 people were intercepted along the western sea borders of Türkiye as of 31 December. In addition, the number of people crossing from Türkiye to Greece by sea showed a 55% decrease (4,331 people in 2021 compared to 9,714 in 2020).
Official statistics provided by the TLF stated that 2,680 people were intercepted at the western land borders in 2021 with 98% of apprehensions taking place at the land border with Greece. Apprehensions at the Greece- Türkiye land border as of 31 December indicated a decrease from 5,982 people in 2020 to 4,694 in 2021.
In 2021 UNHCR observed in 16 provinces interviews of 22,275 people voluntarily returning to Syrian Arab Republic – a significant increase from the 16,805 people monitored in 2020.
UNHCR submitted 12,269 refugees for third country resettlement and facilitated the resettlement departure from Türkiye of 7,382 refugees, of whom 76% were Syrians, 12.3% Afghans, 7% Iraqis and 4.7% of other nationalities.