Definitions, statistics, and problems of world refugees are presented in this document for high school global education classes. Although various agencies have determined different definitions of the term, the authors consider as refugees all those forced to flee their native land in order to survive. For most refugees the attraction of a higher standard of living is secondary to their sheer need to escape war, political or economic oppression, or natural disaster. Current statistics indicate that 80 percent of refugees end up in poorer third world countries rather than in wealthier countries or developed regions; most refugees are women and children under 15 years of age. Often, host governments turn back refugees or create squalid, crowded camps to contain them. Changes can be effected, for example, by a change in the current refugee policies of wealthy nations from foreign policy interests to humanitarian interests. The document contains a map charting the world refugee movement accompanied by statistics from the "World Refugee Survey," (1981 and 1982), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service. Ideas for action and a brief reference list are also included. (KC)