1.6 Mln Syrians Return Home Since 2024 Regime Change

Around 1.6 million Syrian refugees have returned to their country since the change of power in Syria at the end of 2024, according to United Nations data.

Citing figures from the UN Refugee Agency, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported that by 16 April 2026, approximately 634,000 Syrians had returned from Turkey, 621,000 from Lebanon, and 284,000 from Jordan.

The report noted that Germany is not listed separately in the UNHCR breakdown, but is included under “other countries,” accounting for around 6,100 returnees. Official figures from the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees show that 3,678 Syrians voluntarily returned from Germany in the past year alone.

Despite the scale of returns, Syrian authorities and experts say that documentation remains one of the biggest challenges facing returnees.

Syrian political analyst Dr Ahmed Hasim Al-Hussein said the issue of identity documents affects not only returnees but also millions inside and outside the country, due to administrative disruption caused by years of conflict.

He noted that while the current administration has adopted a generally facilitative approach, bureaucratic systems still require formal procedures that cannot be bypassed. Digital services have begun to ease pressure, with some ministries introducing online systems for passports, identity cards, and civil records.

Another analyst, Hussam Taleb, said documentation is not a major barrier at border entry points, as Syria has introduced simplified procedures at land and air crossings. Syrians without papers can often verify their identity through relatives or temporary documentation issued at the border.

However, Taleb stressed that the real administrative difficulties begin after entry, particularly when attempting to obtain or restore official documents through civil registry offices, local committees, and property records.

As large-scale returns continue, the reconstruction of civil documentation systems remains a key challenge for Syria’s post-conflict governance and reintegration process.