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New global study shows majority support for the principle of people seeking refuge from war or persecution, but concerns remain – the majority are suspicious most refugees are not genuine and worries about integration are growing. 

A new Ipsos global study conducted to mark World Refugee Day finds that a majority across 26 countries believes that people should have the right to seek refuge – including in their own country - from war or persecution.  However, broader opinions to refugees still include some negative attitudes, and there are some signs that they could even be hardening compared with two years ago.   For example, the survey, conducted online among adults aged under 74 in 26 countries, also finds that a majority on average across the countries are sceptical about whether those coming into their country as refugees are genuine refugees, and people have also become less convinced about the ability of refugees to successfully integrate into their new society.

The study shows that:

Globally, just over half of people (54%) are doubtful that people coming to their countries claiming to be refugees really are genuine, instead believing that they are coming to their country for economic reasons or take advantage of welfare services.  Three in 10 people disagree – a fall of five points from two years ago, suggesting people are less certain about people’s motives for trying to enter the country. 

Those most likely to doubt the authenticity of refugees coming into their country are in India (70%), Turkey (69%) and South Africa (66%), while those among the least likely to question whether refugees are genuine are in Canada (45%) Spain (45%), Brazil (40%).

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