Key Takeaways
- As of 2020, the global stock of international migrants stood at 281 million people, equivalent to 3.6% of the world's population.
- Between 2000 and 2020, the number of international migrants increased by 60%, from 173 million to 281 million.
- In 2020, Asia hosted the largest number of international migrants with 87 million, followed by Europe with 82 million.
- Europe hosted 87 million international migrants in 2020, up from 56 million in 2000.
- In 2022, Germany had 16.8 million foreign-born residents, 20% of its population.
- The UK saw net migration of 606,000 in the year ending June 2023.
- The US hosted 50.6 million immigrants in 2022, 15.1% of population.
- Canada admitted 431,645 permanent residents in 2022.
- Mexico had 1.2 million emigrants to the US in 2020.
- Australia had 7.7 million overseas-born residents in 2023, 29.3% of population.
- New Zealand's migrant inflow was 173,000 in year to June 2023.
- Japan's foreign residents reached 3.3 million in 2023, 2.6%.
- UAE hosted 8.7 million migrants in 2020, 88% of population.
- Saudi Arabia had 13.5 million expatriates in 2023, 39%.
- Turkey hosted 3.6 million Syrian refugees in 2023.
Migration continues to grow globally, shaping economies and societies in profound ways.
Africa
- Sub-Saharan Africa had 40 million internal migrants in 2020.
- Nigeria hosted 1.8 million IDPs in 2023.
- South Africa had 2.9 million migrants, 5% population.
- Ethiopia sheltered 920,000 refugees, hosted 4 million IDPs.
- DR Congo had 6.9 million IDPs in 2023.
- Somalia's refugees abroad: 3.8 million.
- Sudan's IDPs reached 9.1 million post-2023 conflict.
- Morocco hosted 100,000 sub-Saharan migrants.
- Kenya sheltered 800,000 refugees in Dadaab.
- Uganda hosted 1.5 million refugees.
- Remittances to SSA: $53 billion in 2023.
- Intra-African migration: 50% of continental flows.
- Libya transit migrants: 700,000.
- Sahel displacement: 3 million IDPs.
- Zimbabwe hosted 20,000 refugees.
- Angola repatriated 150,000 refugees.
- West Africa ECOWAS free movement benefits 400 million.
- South Africa xenophobia displaced 10,000 in 2023.
- Remittances growth in Africa: 9% in 2023.
- AU migration policy ratified by 40 states.
- Migration boosts GDP by 2% in host African countries.
Africa Interpretation
Asia-Pacific
- Australia had 7.7 million overseas-born residents in 2023, 29.3% of population.
- New Zealand's migrant inflow was 173,000 in year to June 2023.
- Japan's foreign residents reached 3.3 million in 2023, 2.6%.
- South Korea issued 120,000 E-9 visas for unskilled workers in 2023.
- Singapore's foreign workforce: 1.5 million in 2023, 25% of labor force.
- India's net migration rate is -0.4 per 1,000 in 2023.
- China had 1 million outbound migrants annually pre-COVID.
- Philippines OFWs remitted $36.1 billion in 2023.
- Australia's humanitarian intake: 20,000 places in 2023-24.
- Indonesia hosted 13,500 refugees in 2023.
- Malaysia's foreign workers: 2 million registered in 2023.
- Thailand had 2.5 million migrant workers from Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia in 2023.
- Vietnam sent 150,000 labor migrants abroad in 2023.
- Bangladesh labor migration: 450,000 in 2023.
- Pacific Islands net migration loss of 10,000 annually.
- Hong Kong's foreign domestic workers: 370,000 in 2023.
- Taiwan hosted 700,000 migrant workers in 2023.
- Australia's Indian-born migrants: 800,000 in 2023.
- Japan's refugee recognition rate: 1% in 2023, 303 accepted.
- South Korea's F-2 visas for long-term residents: 200,000.
Asia-Pacific Interpretation
Demographics
- In 2020, 112 million women were international migrants.
- Children under 20 comprised 31% of forcibly displaced in 2022.
- 65% of Syrian refugees are women and children.
- Europe's migrant population aged 20-34: 40%.
- US Hispanic population growth 80% from immigration 2000-2020.
- Africa's youth migrants (15-24): 20 million.
- 48% of global migrants are female.
- Refugees over 60: only 4% of total.
- Indian diaspora: 60% under 40 years old.
- EU third-country nationals: 50% from Asia/Africa.
- 25% of Canada's population foreign-born, half Asia.
- Venezuelan migrants: 55% female.
- Rural-urban migrants in China: 290 million.
- Gulf migrants: 90% male labor migrants.
- US Asian immigrants: 31 million, 7% population.
- Elderly migrants (65+): 28 million globally.
- 40% of Rohingya refugees are children.
- Mexico-US corridor: 70% family units now.
- Germany's Turkish diaspora: 3 million, second gen 50%.
- Philippines migrants: 60% female domestic workers.
- Africa's median migrant age: 25 years.
- EU family migrants: 30% of inflows.
- Stateless children: 70% of 4.4 million stateless.
- Brazilian Japanese descendants: 2 million.
- 35% of migrants have tertiary education.
- Irregular migrants: 70% young males.
- Diaspora youth remittances focus on education.
Demographics Interpretation
Economic Impacts
- In 2020, 82 million international migrants lived in Europe.
- Migrants contributed 9.4% to UK GDP in 2018.
- US immigrants founded 55% of $1B+ startups.
- Remittances to LMICs: $626 billion in 2022, exceeding FDI.
- EU migrants fill 15% of high-skill jobs.
- Gulf migrants remit 10% of GDP in origin countries.
- Immigrants in Canada have 20% higher entrepreneurship rate.
- Mexican remittances grew 12% to $61B in 2023.
- Migrants pay $500B+ in taxes in OECD countries annually.
- 25% of US Nobel laureates since 2000 are immigrants.
- Immigration increased US GDP per capita by 1-2% 1990-2010.
- Filipino remittances: 9% of GDP.
- EU migrant labor fills shortages in healthcare: 10% workforce.
- Global migrant savings transfers: $100B annually.
- Immigrants 28% more likely to start firms in US.
- Remittances reduce poverty by 4% in recipient households.
- OECD countries gain $6,600 per migrant in fiscal net.
- Indian diaspora investments: $100B FDI inflows.
- Migrants innovate 25% more patents per capita.
- Australia's migration adds 1% annual GDP growth.
- 70% of African remittances used for education/health.
- US H-1B holders earn 25% above average.
- Global diaspora bonds raised $50B.
- Immigrants lower prices by 1% via competition.
- Remittances stable during crises, unlike FDI.
- In Germany, migrants contributed €22B net to budget 2012-2018.
- 15% of global trade facilitated by migrant networks.
- Immigrants are 80% of net labor force growth in EU.
- Migrant entrepreneurs create 1.5x more jobs.
- Global remittances expected to reach $800B by 2024.
Economic Impacts Interpretation
Europe
- Europe hosted 87 million international migrants in 2020, up from 56 million in 2000.
- In 2022, Germany had 16.8 million foreign-born residents, 20% of its population.
- The UK saw net migration of 606,000 in the year ending June 2023.
- France hosted 8.5 million immigrants in 2021, 13% of population.
- In 2022, 1.1 million asylum seekers applied in EU+ countries.
- Spain's foreign population reached 8.4 million in 2023, 17.3% of total.
- Italy had 5.05 million foreign residents in 2022, 8.5% of population.
- Sweden's immigrant population was 2.17 million in 2022, 20.6%.
- In 2023, Ukrainian refugees in Europe numbered over 6 million.
- Netherlands hosted 2.5 million immigrants in 2023, 14% of population.
- Poland issued 1.5 million work permits to foreigners in 2023.
- Belgium's migrant stock was 1.8 million in 2022, 15.5%.
- In 2022, EU Blue Card issuances totaled 36,400 for highly skilled migrants.
- Austria had 1.8 million foreign-born in 2023, 20% of population.
- Switzerland's foreign population was 2.3 million in 2022, 27%.
- Norway received 25,000 asylum applications in 2023.
- Denmark's immigrant share reached 13.8% in 2023.
- Finland hosted 450,000 foreign-born in 2023, 8.2%.
- Ireland's net migration was 77,600 in 2022.
- Portugal had 781,000 foreign residents in 2023, 7.5%.
- Greece saw 950,000 migrants in 2022, amid island arrivals of 40,000.
- Czech Republic issued 200,000 employee cards in 2023.
- Romania hosted 200,000 third-country nationals in 2022.
- Hungary received 80,000 asylum claims in 2023.
- In 2023, 45% of migrants in Western Europe were from EU countries.
- Eastern Europe's net migration was negative at -1.2 million in 2022.
Europe Interpretation
Global Overview
- As of 2020, the global stock of international migrants stood at 281 million people, equivalent to 3.6% of the world's population.
- Between 2000 and 2020, the number of international migrants increased by 60%, from 173 million to 281 million.
- In 2020, Asia hosted the largest number of international migrants with 87 million, followed by Europe with 82 million.
- Women accounted for 48% of all international migrants in 2020, totaling approximately 135 million female migrants globally.
- The top destination for international migrants in 2020 was the United States with 51 million migrants, representing 18% of the global total.
- India was the largest country of origin for international migrants in 2020, with 18 million Indian-born migrants living abroad.
- From 2015 to 2020, the number of refugees worldwide increased by 7 million, reaching 26 million by mid-2021.
- In 2022, the total number of forcibly displaced people globally reached 108.4 million, including 35.3 million refugees.
- South-South migration accounted for 38% of all international migration in 2020, involving 107 million migrants.
- The COVID-19 pandemic led to a 27% drop in international migrant stock growth between 2019 and 2020.
- By 2030, the international migrant stock is projected to reach 405 million if trends continue at current rates.
- In 2020, 74% of international migrants were of working age (15-64 years).
- The number of international students as migrants reached 5.6 million in 2020, a 25% increase from 2015.
- Undocumented migrants are estimated to comprise 10-30% of the global migrant stock, around 28-84 million people.
- Climate-induced displacement affected 21.5 million people annually from 2010-2019.
- In 2021, international remittances totaled $702 billion, with $605 billion going to low- and middle-income countries.
- Global migration corridors like Mexico-US saw 11 million migrants in 2020.
- The share of migrants in the global population rose from 2.9% in 1990 to 3.6% in 2020.
- In 2020, 85 million international migrants lived in high-income countries.
- Youth migrants (15-24 years) numbered 36 million globally in 2020.
- The Global Compact for Migration was endorsed by 164 UN member states in 2018.
- Internal displacement due to conflict and disasters reached 40.5 million new cases in 2022.
- 281 million international migrants contributed $6.7 trillion to global GDP in 2015.
- By 2050, 143 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America may migrate due to climate slow-onset factors.
- In 2020, Europe received 1.2 million asylum applications.
- Global irregular border crossings detected by Frontex reached 330,000 in 2022.
- The number of stateless persons estimated globally is 4.4 million as of 2023.
- In 2022, 117 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide.
- Migration contributed to 9% of global population growth between 2000 and 2020.
- 48% of international migrants were born in Asia in 2020.
- In 2019, 272 million international migrants represented 3.5% of world population.
Global Overview Interpretation
Latin America
- In 2020, Latin America and Caribbean hosted 15 million migrants.
- Brazil had 1.2 million Venezuelans in 2023.
- Mexico's migrant transit: 700,000 through Darien Gap in 2023.
- Argentina hosted 1.5 million immigrants, 3.4%.
- Colombia sheltered 2.5 million Venezuelans in 2023.
- Peru had 1.5 million Venezuelans in 2023.
- Chile's Haitian migrants: 200,000 in 2023.
- Central America's Northern Triangle sent 800,000 to US 2018-2023.
- Ecuador granted 100,000 visas to Venezuelans.
- Costa Rica hosted 300,000 Nicaraguans.
- Panama's Darien crossings: 520,000 in 2023.
- Uruguay's migrant stock: 100,000.
- Dominican Republic had 500,000 Haitians.
- Remittances to Latin America: $142 billion in 2023.
- 60% of Venezuelans abroad since 2014.
- Brazil's refugee status to 60,000 Venezuelans.
- Guatemala's deportees from US: 20,000 annually.
- El Salvador Bitcoin migration policy attracted 1,000.
Latin America Interpretation
Middle East
- UAE hosted 8.7 million migrants in 2020, 88% of population.
- Saudi Arabia had 13.5 million expatriates in 2023, 39%.
- Turkey hosted 3.6 million Syrian refugees in 2023.
- Jordan sheltered 660,000 Syrian refugees in 2023.
- Lebanon's Syrian refugees: 780,000 registered in 2023.
- Gulf Cooperation Council countries host 25 million migrants.
- Qatar's migrant population: 2.1 million, 88% in 2020.
- Kuwaiti expatriates: 3.1 million in 2023, 69%.
- Oman hosted 1.8 million migrants in 2023.
- Bahrain's foreign workers: 700,000, 50% of population.
- Iran hosted 3.4 million Afghans in 2023.
- Iraq returned 1.1 million IDPs in 2023.
- Yemen had 4.5 million IDPs in 2023.
- Israel absorbed 70,000 Ethiopian Jews since 1980s.
- Saudi kafala system governs 10 million workers.
- Turkey issued 1 million work permits in 2023.
- Egypt hosted 500,000 Sudanese refugees in 2023.
- Remittances to Middle East: $50 billion in 2022.
- 90% of UAE workforce is migrant.
- Syrian refugees in Middle East: 5.6 million total.
- Gulf states deportation rate: 500,000 annually pre-reform.
Middle East Interpretation
North America
- The US hosted 50.6 million immigrants in 2022, 15.1% of population.
- Canada admitted 431,645 permanent residents in 2022.
- Mexico had 1.2 million emigrants to the US in 2020.
- In 2023, US border encounters reached 2.5 million.
- Canada's immigrant population hit 8.3 million in 2023, 23%.
- Unauthorized immigrants in US numbered 11 million in 2022.
- US granted 1 million green cards in FY2022.
- Mexico received $60 billion in remittances in 2023.
- Canada issued 55,000 study permits in 2023.
- US asylum grants totaled 30,000 in FY2022.
- 25% of Canada's population growth in 2023 was from immigration.
- Unauthorized Mexican immigrants in US dropped 60% since 2007 peak.
- US H-1B visas issued: 386,000 in FY2023.
- Canada's Express Entry invitations: 110,000 in 2023.
- 4.6 million Venezuelans fled abroad by 2023, many to North America.
- US family-based immigration: 440,000 green cards in 2022.
- Mexico's northern border apprehensions: 700,000 in 2023.
- Canada's refugee resettlements: 76,000 in 2022.
- 37% of US physicians are foreign-born.
- US deported 142,580 in FY2023.
- Gulf of Mexico unauthorized entries minimal, under 10,000 annually.
- Canada francophone immigration target: 8% outside Quebec in 2023.
- US STEM OPT extensions: 100,000 annually.
- India's diaspora in North America: 5 million in 2023.
- US temporary protected status beneficiaries: 700,000 in 2023.
- In 2020, Northern America hosted 59 million international migrants.
North America Interpretation
Policy
- In 2022, EU granted 3.7 million first residence permits.
- US asylum affirmative grants: 35,000 in FY2023.
- Canada's points system selected 60% economic migrants.
- Australia's skilled migration: 70% of permanent visas.
- EU Pact on Migration adopted in 2024, quotas for 30,000 relocations.
- Turkey-EU deal reduced crossings by 97% since 2016.
- US DACA protected 580,000 Dreamers in 2023.
- UK's points-based system post-Brexit: 250,000 visas 2023.
- France's talent passport: 10,000 annually.
- Spain's regularization: 600,000 in 2005.
- Italy quota system: 80,000 work permits 2023.
- Sweden family reunification: 20,000 grants yearly.
- Refugee resettlement: US 25,000, Canada 40,000 in 2023.
- Schengen visas issued: 10 million annually pre-COVID.
- EU return decisions: 300,000, 20% executed.
- Australia's offshore processing: 1,000 arrivals managed.
- MERCOSUR residence agreement benefits 5 million.
- African Continental Free Trade Area eases intra-migration.
- US parole for 500,000 Cubans/Haitians post-2022.
- Japan's specified skilled worker visas: 170,000 by 2024.
- Gulf Nitaqat system localized 20% jobs for nationals.
- EU Blue Card: 40,000 issued yearly.
- Global passports strength: Japan #1, Afghanistan #103.
- UNHCR resettled 110,000 refugees in 2023.
Policy Interpretation
Sources & References
- Reference 1UNun.orgVisit source
- Reference 2PUBLICATIONSpublications.iom.intVisit source
- Reference 3MIGRATIONPOLICYmigrationpolicy.orgVisit source
- Reference 4UNHCRunhcr.orgVisit source
- Reference 5IOMiom.intVisit source
- Reference 6UISuis.unesco.orgVisit source
- Reference 7INTERNAL-DISPLACEMENTinternal-displacement.orgVisit source
- Reference 8WORLDBANKworldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 9ECec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 10FRONTEXfrontex.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 11PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 12DESTATISdestatis.deVisit source
- Reference 13ONSons.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 14INSEEinsee.frVisit source
- Reference 15INEine.esVisit source
- Reference 16ISTATistat.itVisit source
- Reference 17SCBscb.seVisit source
- Reference 18DATAdata.unhcr.orgVisit source
- Reference 19CBScbs.nlVisit source
- Reference 20POZNANpoznan.plVisit source
- Reference 21STATBELstatbel.fgov.beVisit source
- Reference 22STATISTIKstatistik.atVisit source
- Reference 23BFSbfs.admin.chVisit source
- Reference 24UDIREGELVERKudiregelverk.noVisit source
- Reference 25DSTdst.dkVisit source
- Reference 26STATstat.fiVisit source
- Reference 27CSOcso.ieVisit source
- Reference 28INEine.ptVisit source
- Reference 29MVCRmvcr.czVisit source
- Reference 30OECDoecd.orgVisit source
- Reference 31CANADAcanada.caVisit source
- Reference 32CBPcbp.govVisit source
- Reference 33STATCANstatcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 34USCISuscis.govVisit source
- Reference 35BANXICObanxico.org.mxVisit source
- Reference 36IRCCircc.canada.caVisit source
- Reference 37STATCANwww150.statcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 38UNHCRunhcr.caVisit source
- Reference 39ICEice.govVisit source
- Reference 40MEAmea.gov.inVisit source
- Reference 41ABSabs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 42STATSstats.govt.nzVisit source
- Reference 43MOJmoj.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 44MOISmois.go.krVisit source
- Reference 45MOMmom.gov.sgVisit source
- Reference 46MACROTRENDSmacrotrends.netVisit source
- Reference 47Visit source
- Reference 48IMMIimmi.homeaffairs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 49IMIimi.gov.myVisit source
- Reference 50DOLdol.go.thVisit source
- Reference 51MOLISAmolisa.gov.vnVisit source
- Reference 52SPCspc.intVisit source
- Reference 53IMMDimmd.gov.hkVisit source
- Reference 54WDAwda.gov.twVisit source
- Reference 55IMMIGRATIONimmigration.go.krVisit source
- Reference 56WORLDPOPULATIONREVIEWworldpopulationreview.comVisit source
- Reference 57GDPALgdpal.gov.saVisit source
- Reference 58GULFMIGRATIONgulfmigration.grc.netVisit source
- Reference 59PSApsa.gov.qaVisit source
- Reference 60PAMApama.gov.kwVisit source
- Reference 61NCMSncms.gov.omVisit source
- Reference 62BAHRAINbahrain.bhVisit source
- Reference 63CBScbs.gov.ilVisit source
- Reference 64HRWhrw.orgVisit source
- Reference 65CSGBcsgb.gov.trVisit source
- Reference 66MIGRANTS-REFUGEESmigrants-refugees.vaVisit source
- Reference 67MEImei.eduVisit source
- Reference 68INDECindec.gob.arVisit source
- Reference 69EXTRANJERIAextranjeria.gob.clVisit source
- Reference 70CANCILLERIAcancilleria.gob.ecVisit source
- Reference 71R4Vr4v.infoVisit source
- Reference 72INEine.gub.uyVisit source
- Reference 73ONEone.gob.doVisit source
- Reference 74CONAREconare.gov.brVisit source
- Reference 75MIGRACIONmigracion.gob.gtVisit source
- Reference 76MIGRACIONmigracion.gob.svVisit source
- Reference 77DTMdtm.iom.intVisit source
- Reference 78STATSSAstatssa.gov.zaVisit source
- Reference 79AUau.intVisit source
- Reference 80ECOWASecowas.intVisit source
- Reference 81KNOMADknomad.orgVisit source
- Reference 82AFDBafdb.orgVisit source
- Reference 83MIGRATIONOBSERVATORYmigrationobservatory.ox.ac.ukVisit source
- Reference 84NVCAnvca.orgVisit source
- Reference 85BLOGSblogs.worldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 86IMFimf.orgVisit source
- Reference 87NBERnber.orgVisit source
- Reference 88BSPbsp.gov.phVisit source
- Reference 89HEALTHhealth.ec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 90AMERICANIMMIGRATIONCOUNCILamericanimmigrationcouncil.orgVisit source
- Reference 91INDIA-BRIEFINGindia-briefing.comVisit source
- Reference 92WWW TREASURYwww treasury.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 93IFCifc.orgVisit source
- Reference 94IABiab.deVisit source
- Reference 95ECONOMY-FINANCEeconomy-finance.ec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 96STATSstats.gov.cnVisit source
- Reference 97DMWdmw.gov.phVisit source
- Reference 98IBGEibge.gov.brVisit source
- Reference 99IFADifad.orgVisit source
- Reference 100HOME-AFFAIRShome-affairs.ec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 101GOVgov.ukVisit source
- Reference 102SERVICE-PUBLICservice-public.frVisit source
- Reference 103INTERIORinterior.gob.esVisit source
- Reference 104INTEGRAZIONEMIGRANTIintegrazionemigranti.gov.itVisit source
- Reference 105MIGRATIONSVERKETmigrationsverket.seVisit source
- Reference 106WRAPSNETwrapsnet.orgVisit source
- Reference 107HOMEAFFAIRShomeaffairs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 108MERCOSURmercosur.intVisit source
- Reference 109AU-AFCFTAau-afcfta.orgVisit source
- Reference 110JITCOjitco.or.jpVisit source
- Reference 111GOSIgosi.gov.saVisit source
- Reference 112HENLEYGLOBALhenleyglobal.comVisit source






