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Statelessness is the condition of a person who is not considered a national by any state under the operation of its law. Stateless individuals may lack a legally recognized nationality, which often restricts access to identity documents, travel, employment, education, healthcare, and social services. Statelessness is distinct from being a refugee, though some people may be both.

Causes include gaps in nationality laws, where birth in a given territory does not grant citizenship; loss or renunciation of nationality without a replacement; state succession or discriminatory practices that revoke nationality from specific groups; and insufficient birth registration or administrative obstacles to registering a child.

Consequences can be pervasive and persistent. Without a passport or national status, stateless people may be unable to obtain work permits or enroll in schools, and may face travel bans, detention, or risk of arbitrary expulsion. They may also lack access to marriage rights, property, and social protection.

International law seeks to address statelessness. The 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons defines the rights of stateless people within states that recognize them. The 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness obliges states to prevent new cases and to grant nationality in defined circumstances. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees tracks stateless populations and assists with legal reforms and documentation.

Solutions include reforming nationality laws to prevent statelessness at birth, automatic birth registration, preserving or restoring nationality when gaps occur, and providing accessible naturalization paths. Accurate civil registration and data collection are essential. UNHCR estimates place the global stateless population in the low millions, with the figure varying across assessments.