Millions of people worldwide are still not considered citizens of any state.
Modern.az reports that, according to 2026 data, approximately 14 million people worldwide live as stateless persons.
According to the information, the vast majority of them are migrants and refugees. However, approximately 25 percent, despite living in their native country, are not recognized as citizens by the state for various reasons.
According to statistics for January 2026, the top 10 countries by the number of stateless persons are as follows:
Bangladesh — over 900 thousand
Côte d'Ivoire — 692 thousand people
Thailand — 479 thousand people
Latvia — 225 thousand people
Syria — approximately 160 thousand people (accurate statistics are difficult to obtain due to the war)
Dominican Republic — 134 thousand people
Kuwait — 92 thousand people
Estonia — 78 thousand people
Iraq — 47 thousand people
Colombia — up to 25 thousand
According to experts, statelessness severely restricts individuals' access to education, healthcare, employment, and social security rights, and this problem maintains its relevance as a human rights issue on a global scale.
