The United Nations High Commission for Refugees says the global refugee population rose 14percent last year, mainly because of a rapid exodus from Iraq.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees says the global refugee population rose 14percent last year, mainly because of a rapid exodus from Iraq.

Here are some facts about refugees, internally displaced people, asylum seekers and stateless people around the world in 2006 (latest figures in brackets for Iraq):

Refugees: Total - 9,9 million (not including 4,3 million Palestinian refugees cared for by another UN agency UNRWA).

Top countries of origin:

Afghanistan - 2,1 million

Iraq - 2,2 million

Sudan - 686000

Somalia - 460000

DRC - about 400000

Burundi - about 400000

Main countries of asylum:

Pakistan - 1 million

Iran - 968000

United States - 844000

Syria - 1,4 million

Germany - 605000

People internally displaced by conflict:

Total - 24,5 million

Main countries with internally displaced people:

Colombia - 3 million

Iraq - 1,8 million (now more than 2 million)

Uganda - 1,6 million

Sudan - 5 million

DRC - 1,1 million

Asylum seekers:

Total - 596600

Europe - 299000

Africa - 159000

Americas - 78000

Asia - 53500

Oceania - 7000.

- Reuters