Canada reported a net migration inflow of 1.2 million in 2023, while Japan recorded a net outflow of -9,000. These swings reflect how immigration policy settings and labor market conditions shape realized flows. Measurement and displacement pressures also influence the estimates, even when data are comparable across countries.
Key Takeaways
- OECD’s International Migration Database provides comparable migration flow data across countries, enabling standardized net migration analytics
- Canada’s StatCan produces net migration estimates using components of population growth, with net migration as a measurable component distinct from natural increase
- Peer-reviewed research highlights that undercounting and definitional differences can bias net migration estimates; a 2020 study quantified the effect of measurement error on migration rates
- Net migration in Canada increased to 1.2 million in 2023 (latest annual estimate reported), indicating net population inflow
- Japan reported a net migration (international migration balance) of -9,000 in 2023, indicating a net outflow
- The OECD reports that net migration outcomes are strongly affected by immigration policy settings and labor market conditions, with large year-to-year changes observed across member countries
- Labor migration accounts for the largest share of long-term immigration in OECD countries (over 40% of inflows in many member states, depending on data source definitions)
- In 2023, global forced displacement exceeded 117 million people, which is a major upstream driver of international net migration into host countries
- A 2016 meta-analysis found that deteriorating labor market prospects and wage gaps increase migration propensity, a core driver of net inflows (study on migration determinants)
- UNHCR reported that in 2023, about 5.8 million refugees were living in protracted situations, which influences long-term net migration and integration needs
- In 2023, there were 7.6 million displaced people in Sudan’s neighboring countries (proxy for forced migration pressures affecting net inflows)
- In OECD countries, foreign-born residents accounted for about 13.5% of the population in 2022 (cross-country average), affecting integration capacity and net migration effects
- In the United States, foreign-born workers represented 17.0% of the labor force in 2023, contributing to net migration labor market effects
- In 2022, OECD countries recorded that immigrants accounted for 11.0% of total employment (share varies by country), impacting net migration labor outcomes
- OECD found that employment rates for immigrants can converge toward natives over time; one OECD analysis reported convergence within about 10 years for many destination countries
Net migration trends in OECD countries reflect policy, labor markets, and forced displacement driving rapid inflow and outflow swings.
Related reading
01 · Category
Measurement & Data Quality3 stats
01
OECD’s International Migration Database provides comparable migration flow data across countries, enabling standardized net migration analytics
02
Canada’s StatCan produces net migration estimates using components of population growth, with net migration as a measurable component distinct from natural increase
03
Peer-reviewed research highlights that undercounting and definitional differences can bias net migration estimates; a 2020 study quantified the effect of measurement error on migration rates
Interpretation
Measurement & Data Quality Interpretation
Across OECD comparable migration flows and Canada’s StatCan component-based estimates, measurement errors are not trivial since a 2020 study quantified how undercounting and definitional differences can bias net migration rates.
02 · Category
Policy Impacts3 stats
01
Net migration in Canada increased to 1.2 million in 2023 (latest annual estimate reported), indicating net population inflow
02
Japan reported a net migration (international migration balance) of -9,000 in 2023, indicating a net outflow
03
The OECD reports that net migration outcomes are strongly affected by immigration policy settings and labor market conditions, with large year-to-year changes observed across member countries
Interpretation
Policy Impacts Interpretation
In the policy impacts category, Canada’s net migration rising to 1.2 million in 2023 while Japan recorded a -9,000 net outflow the same year underscores how immigration and related labor market policy settings can drive sharply different outcomes across countries.
03 · Category
Net Flow Drivers4 stats
01
Labor migration accounts for the largest share of long-term immigration in OECD countries (over 40% of inflows in many member states, depending on data source definitions)
02
In 2023, global forced displacement exceeded 117 million people, which is a major upstream driver of international net migration into host countries
03
A 2016 meta-analysis found that deteriorating labor market prospects and wage gaps increase migration propensity, a core driver of net inflows (study on migration determinants)
04
Debt and cost barriers for migrants influence whether flows translate into cross-border movement; OECD reporting highlights that administrative burden can reduce realized migration
Interpretation
Net Flow Drivers Interpretation
Net Flow Drivers show that labor migration is responsible for over 40% of long term inflows in many OECD countries, while forced displacement reaching more than 117 million people globally in 2023 and studies linking wage gaps and labor market deterioration to higher migration propensity reinforce the momentum behind net migration flows.
04 · Category
Demographics & Integration9 stats
01
UNHCR reported that in 2023, about 5.8 million refugees were living in protracted situations, which influences long-term net migration and integration needs
02
In 2023, there were 7.6 million displaced people in Sudan’s neighboring countries (proxy for forced migration pressures affecting net inflows)
03
In OECD countries, foreign-born residents accounted for about 13.5% of the population in 2022 (cross-country average), affecting integration capacity and net migration effects
04
A 2021 OECD report estimated that language training and credential recognition are among the most effective integration policies, quantified through improved employment probabilities
05
The OECD reported that in many destinations, immigrants have lower naturalization rates in the first years, implying net migration can result in longer periods of legal integration work
06
Migration and integration can affect school systems: OECD Education at a Glance reports quantified shares of immigrant students in school systems for multiple countries
07
A 2019 peer-reviewed study found immigrants’ integration outcomes improve with years since arrival; the study reported measurable increases in employment and earnings by tenure
08
In 2022, the US foreign-born share of total population was 13.7% (Census Bureau estimates), reflecting the demographic footprint of net migration
09
In 2023, the share of foreign-born residents in Australia was about 30.7%, affecting demographic structure and integration demand
Interpretation
Demographics & Integration Interpretation
Across Demographics and Integration, the scale of net migration is clear as foreign born residents range from 13.5% of the population on average in OECD countries to 30.7% in Australia, while protracted displacement reaches 5.8 million refugees in 2023, signaling that integration systems must handle long term arrivals rather than short term flows.
05 · Category
Economic & Labor Effects7 stats
01
In the United States, foreign-born workers represented 17.0% of the labor force in 2023, contributing to net migration labor market effects
02
In 2022, OECD countries recorded that immigrants accounted for 11.0% of total employment (share varies by country), impacting net migration labor outcomes
03
OECD found that employment rates for immigrants can converge toward natives over time; one OECD analysis reported convergence within about 10 years for many destination countries
04
A 2014 OECD study estimated that a 10 percentage point increase in the employment rate of migrants could improve fiscal balances by about 0.5% of GDP (directionally), reflecting net migration’s fiscal effect
05
OECD reported that migrants are overrepresented in certain labor market segments; in many countries, more than 20% of recent immigrants work in high-need sectors
06
A peer-reviewed study in 2020 found that immigration can increase wages of native workers in the long run in certain settings, implying net migration can have complex distributional effects
07
A 2018 IMF paper quantified that net migration flows affect government revenues and spending depending on integration outcomes and age structure
Interpretation
Economic & Labor Effects Interpretation
For the Economic and Labor Effects angle, the data suggest that immigration can strengthen labor markets and fiscal outcomes over time, with foreign-born workers making up 17.0% of the US labor force in 2023 and OECD research indicating immigrant employment rates can converge toward natives within about 10 years and that a 10 percentage point rise in migrant employment could improve fiscal balances by roughly 0.5% of GDP.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Priya Chandrasekaran. (2026, February 13). Net Migration Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/net-migration-statistics
MLA
Priya Chandrasekaran. "Net Migration Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/net-migration-statistics.
Chicago
Priya Chandrasekaran. 2026. "Net Migration Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/net-migration-statistics.
Sources & references
26 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+14 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)