More than 3 in 4 Australians support the right for people to take refuge

While support for refuge is steady in Australia, there are other signs of gradual decline in support.

This year’s survey comes at a critical time. We are seeing more people displaced from their homes than ever before, and at the same time, organisations that help refugees are facing serious budget cuts. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), by the end of April 2025, 122 million individuals globally were forcibly displaced from their homes. This includes 42.7 million refugees, a significant 73% of whom are being hosted in low- and middle-income countries, highlighting the disproportionate pressure faced by these nations.

The survey was conducted ahead of World Refugee Day on 20 June 2025.

Key Australian findings

• More than three in four (77%) support the right to seek refuge. Aside from the spike Ipsos found in its previous survey in 2022 (83%), this proportion has been relatively steady over the past five years.
• While less concerned than most around the globe, a significant proportion of Australians expressed concerns about refugee motives and integration, with half (51%) believing that many asylum seekers are primarily economic migrants.  In comparison to the 2020 Ipsos survey, this is down 5%.
• On the less positive side, with 40% of Australians thinking we should close our borders to refugees entirely, and Ipsos has seen a gradual increase over the last two years in this view (up 4%) after a sharp increase in 2023 (7%).
• A little under six in ten (57%) Australians believe refugees make a positive contribution to Australia, which is in line with 2024 (58%) but does represent a decline since 2022 (68%).
• We are also seeing some decline in personal action in Australia, with 77% reporting they haven’t taken any action, through activities such as donations or social media engagement,in the past 12 months.  In 2024 and 2023, 74% hadn’t taken action.

Key global findings

• Majority still support the right to seek refuge: Despite global challenges, a strong majority globally (67%) continues to support offering refuge to those fleeing war or persecution. Countries like Sweden, Argentina, and the Netherlands show particularly strong support.
• Concerns about motives and integration persist: A significant percentage (62%) believe that many asylum seekers are primarily economic migrants, leading to anxieties about border security. This perception fuels concerns about refugees' ability to integrate and contribute positively to society.
• Wealthier nations expected to increase support: A majority (62%) believe wealthier nations have a moral obligation to provide financial assistance to refugees. The public would most like to see increased financial contributions from international organisations, such as the UN and World Bank, (39%) - just as aid to the UN is being drastically reduced - and governments of other wealthier nations (30%). Citizens in some nations, like the US, Ireland, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Australia, show a desire for their governments to do more.
• Declining personal action: While compassion remains relatively high, active support through activities such as donations or social media engagement has decreased from 38% in 2024 to 29% this year. This decline may be attributed to shifting public priorities, particularly economic concerns.

Commenting on the findings, Trinh Tu, MD Ipsos Public Affairs UK said: "This survey confirms the public's continued commitment to providing refuge, which is encouraging. It’s also clear from our data that there is an urgent need to address the persistent underlying concerns among the public about asylum seekers' motivations and integration. A more balanced narrative, acknowledging the diversity of views and experiences among both refugees and the public, would greatly assist this. This is the driving force behind Ipsos’ annual global survey for World Refugee Day – to provide data that informs constructive discussions and solutions that benefit both refugees and local communities."

Dominique Hyde, UNHCR’s Director of External Relations, said: “There’s a clear disconnect between compassion and action. The public still believes in the right to seek safety and wants wealthy nations to do more, but the economic backdrop and global political climate are eroding individual support. Needs are more acute than ever. The humanitarian system will wither without a unified effort from governments, organisations, the private sector and the public to build solutions and hope for those forced to flee.”

About the study

This study, conducted across 29 countries, is part of Ipsos’ commitment to building a better global understanding of public attitudes towards refugees. It has been undertaken annually since 2017 and continues to highlight the importance of understanding diverse public attitudes to inform effective solutions and support for refugees worldwide.

This year survey took place between 25 April and 9 May 2025. Ipsos interviewed a total of 22,734 adults in these countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Spain, U.S, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Thailand, and Türkiye.