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A record 71 million people worldwide have been displaced by war, persecution and violence, the United Nations has said.

The figure, accurate as of the end of 2018, is an increase of 2.3 million compared with the year before - and is twice as many as 20 years ago.

There are now more displaced people worldwide than the population of the UK or France.

Some of the refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced people included in the report released by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) have spent decades living away from their homes.

About four-fifths of these "displacement situations" have lasted more than five years.

Forty migrants intercepted trying to cross English Channel

Adult men, women and children were saved during the crossing, with the Home Office describing the attempts as a "huge risk"

More than 41 million people have been displaced within their home countries - including 13 million people in Syria following eight years of civil war.

High commissioner Filippo Grandi said: "There are new conflicts, new situations, producing refugees, adding themselves to the old ones. The old ones never get resolved."

Launching the report ahead of World Refugee Day on Thursday, Mr Grandi urged Donald Trump and other world leaders to stop depicting migrants and refugees as a threat to host countries.

He condemned the "damaging" language often used to describe vulnerable people fleeing insecurity and danger.

'Migrant' sailing to UK on raft of flower pots and wood

The Eritrean man, using a piece of plastic as a sail, was picked up one kilometre from shore and was in a "really good" condition

Mr Grandi added: "In America, just like in Europe actually and in other parts of the world, what we are witnessing is an identification of refugees - but not just refugees, migrants as well - with people that come take away jobs that threaten our security, our values.

"And I want to say to the US administration - to the president - but also to the leaders around the world: this is damaging."

Despite the record total, the report's authors said the figures are "probably on the low side" as the document does not properly reflect the crisis in Venezuela.

More than 340,000 Venezuelans - faced with runaway inflation, political turmoil and food shortages - left the South American country last year.

The US remains the "largest supporter of refugees" in the world, but also has the biggest backlog of asylum claims at nearly 719,000.

Government oppression, gang killings, sexual abuse, militia murders and other violence are listed as some of the reasons why people leave their homes.

The report details stories of people crossing rivers, deserts, seas, fences and man-made barriers to seek refuge - and urges more to be done to ensure refugees can return home voluntarily with safety and dignity.