International migration - key trends

International migration - key trends

The global number of international migrants reached an estimated 272 million in 2019, an increase of 51 million since 2010. Currently, international migrants comprise 3.5% of the global population, compared to 2.8% in the year 2000. The estimates are based on official national statistics on the foreign-born or the foreign population obtained from population censuses, population registers or nationally representative surveys.

In 2019, the number of international migrants worldwide has reached nearly 272 million, up from 221 million in 2010

Europe hosted the largest number of international migrants (82 million), followed by North America (59 million) and Northern Africa and Western Asia (49 million). The regional distribution of international migrants is changing, with migrants population growing faster in Northern America and Western Asia and in sub-Saharan Africa than in other regions.

The number of international migrants continues to increase in both developed and developing regions

In 2019, international migrants numbered an estimated 272 million, an increase of 51 million since 2010. Because the number of international migrants is growing faster than the total population, their share of the world’s population has been increasing. Currently, international migrants comprise 3.5% of the global population, compared to 2.8% in the year 2000. In the North, almost 12 of every 100 inhabitants are international migrants, compared to only 2 in 100 in the South.

The share of international migrants living in the South increased from 39 per cent in 2005 to 44%in 2019. Within the South, most of the growth has taken place in high-income and upper-middle-income countries, which now host 70% of all migrants living in the South.

The global number of international migrants has grown faster than the world’s population

Consequently, the share of international migrants in the total population has increased from 2.8%in 2000 to 3.5% in 2019. The share of international migrants in the total population varied considerably across regions, with Oceania (21%), including Australia and New Zealand, and Northern America (16%) recording the highest proportion.

Forced displacement across international borders have continued to rise

The number of refugees and asylum seekers increased by about 13 million between 2010 and 2017, accounting for close to a quarter of the increase in the number of international migrants. Refugees and asylum seekers increased at an annual average rate of over 8 per cent between 2010 and 2017, while other migrants increased at an annual rate of under 2% between 2010 and 2019. As of 2017, over 83 per cent of refugees and asylum seekers lived in the South.

In 2017, Northern Africa and Western Asia hosted 46% of refugees and asylum seekers globally, most of which (close to 90%) resided in Western Asia sub-region. Sub-Saharan Africa hosted close to 21% (5.9 million), while Central and Southern Asia and Europe each hosted close to 13% of the global total (3.6 million each).

Most of the world’s migrants live in a relatively small number of countries

In 2019, two thirds of all international migrants living in just 20 countries. The largest number of international migrants (51 million) resided in the United States of America, equal to about 19% of the world’s total. Germany and Saudi Arabia hosted the second and third largest numbers of migrants worldwide (around 13 million each), followed by the Russian Federation (12 million) and the United Kingdom (10 million).

Over two fifths of all international migrants worldwide in 2019 had been born in Europe (61 million) or in Central and Southern Asia (50 million)

Latin America and the Caribbean was the region of origin of an additional 40 million international migrants, and another 37 million originated in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia.

Most international migrants move between countries located within the same region

The majority of international migrants in sub-Saharan Africa (89%, Eastern and South-Eastern Asia (83%), Latin America and the Caribbean (73%), and Central and Southern Asia (63%) originated from another country in the same region where they resided. By contrast, most of the international migrants that lived in Northern America (98%), Oceania (88%) and Northern Africa and Western Asia (59%) were born in a region other than the one in which they were residing.

Although Europe and Northern America continue to host the largest numbers of international migrants, migrant populations have grown more rapidly in Northern Africa and Western Asia and in sub-Saharan Africa

Just over half of all international migrants reside in Europe and Northern America. In 2019, Europe hosted the largest number of international migrants (82.3 million), followed by Northern America (58.6 million) and Northern Africa and Western Asia (48.6 million).

Between 2010 and 2019, the fastest increase in the number of international migrants was observed in Northern Africa and Western Asia and in sub-Saharan Africa, which both grew at an average annual rate of 4.4%. Latin America and the Caribbean followed, at an annual rate of 3.8%, and Oceania, at 2.5%.

Over the same period, the number of international migrants rose more slowly, at a rate of 1.7% annually, both in Europe, and Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, and 1.6% annually in Northern America, while it remained essentially unchanged in Central and Southern Asia.

One-third of all international migrants originate in only ten countries

In 2019, India was the leading country of origin of international migrants, with 17.5 million persons living abroad. Migrants from Mexico constituted the second largest “diaspora” (11.8 million), followed by China (10.7 million), the Russian Federation (10.5 million) and the Syrian Arab Republic (8.2 million).

The distribution of international migrants is changing

The share of international migrants in Northern Africa and Western Asia increased from 14.7% in 2010 to 17.9% in 2019. Increases were also observed in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Oceania, though of a lesser magnitude.

Over two fifths of all international migrants were born in Europe or in Central and Southern Asia. In 2019, these two regions were the origin of around 111 million migrants. Latin America and the Caribbean was the source of an additional 40 million international migrants, with another 37 million originating in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia.

The top five regional corridors (origin-destination pairs) account for almost a half (46 per cent) of the world’s international migrants. Three of the top five migration corridors are intra-regional, with two in the South (migration within Northern Africa and Western Asia and within sub-Saharan Africa) and one in the North (within Europe). Of the remaining two top corridors, one involves migration from South to South (from Central and Southern Asia to Northern Africa and Western Asia), and the other from South to North (from Latin America and the Caribbean to Northern America).

Most international migrants move to other countries within their region of birth

Over two thirds of all European-born international migrants reside in Europe. In 2019, 42 million of the 61 million international migrants born in Europe resided in European countries (69%. Most migrants from sub-Saharan Africa were living in other countries of sub-Saharan Africa (65%), with somewhat lower figures for Northern Africa and Western Asia (51%) and Oceania (50%). By contrast, for Eastern and South-Eastern Asia (39%), Northern America (30%), Central and Southern Asia (23%) and Latin America and the Caribbean (20%), a majority of out-migrants were residing outside the region.

In 2019, more than 8 out of every 10 international migrants in sub-Saharan Africa (89 per cent) and Eastern and South-Eastern Asia (83 per cent) were born in their region of residence. The majority of international migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean (73%), Central and Southern Asia (63%) and Europe (52%) also originated in that same region. In contrast, a large proportion of international migrants residing in Oceania (88%) and Northern America (98%) were born in another region.

More international migrants from the South reside in the South than in the North

Since 2005, South-South migration has grown faster than South-North migration. The South hosts around 84% of the world’s total population and is the origin of around 74% of all international migrants. While the number of South-North migrants (originating in the South, living in the North) has increased by around 9 million every five years since 1990, the number of South-South migrants remained almost unchanged at about 60 million from 1990 to 2005 and then increased rapidly to over 105 million in 2019.

About two fifths of all international migrants have moved from one developing country to another

In 2019, 39% of all international migrants were born in a country of the less developed regions and were residing in another developing country (“South-South migrants”), while 35% were born in the South but residing in the North (“South-North migrants”). About one in five international migrants were born in the North and residing in the North (“North-North migrants”), while 5% were born in the North but residing in the South (“North-South migrants”).

Migration is a global phenomenon, but most movements involve a limited set of countries

The top 10 countries of destination host about half of all international migrants. The United States is the leading country of destination, hosting 50.7 million international migrants in 2019 or 19% of the world’s total. Germany and Saudi Arabia host the second and third largest numbers of migrants (13.1 million each), followed by the Russian Federation (11.6 million), the United Kingdom (9.6 million), the United Arab Emirates (8.6 million), France (8.3 million), Canada (8.0 million), Australia (7.5 million) and Italy (6.3 million).

The top 10 countries of origin account for one third of all international migrants. In 2019, with 17.5 million persons living abroad, India was the leading country of origin of international migrants. Migrants from Mexico constituted the second largest “diaspora” (11.8 million), followed by China (10.7 million), the Russian Federation (10.5 million), Syrian Arab Republic (8.2 million), Bangladesh (7.8 million), Pakistan (6.3 million), Ukraine (5.9 million), the Philippines (5.4 million) and Afghanistan (5.1 million).

In 2019, women comprise slightly less than half of all international migrants

The share of women in the total number of international migrants fell from 49.3% in 2000 to 47.9% in 2019. The share of migrant women was highest in Northern America (51.8%) and Europe (51.4%), and lowest in sub-Saharan Africa (47.5%), and Northern Africa and Western Asia (35.5%).

The sex composition of international migrants varies greatly across regions

Female migrants outnumber male migrants in the North, whereas male migrants outnumber female migrants in the South. In 2019, 47.9% of all international migrants were women, but that percentage ranged from 43.4% in the less developed regions to 51.5% in the more developed regions. Although female migrants outnumber male migrants in Northern America (51.8%), Europe (51.4%) and Oceania (50.4 per cent), they are less numerous in Latin America and the Caribbean (49.9%), Central and Southern Asia (49.4%), Eastern and South Eastern Asia (49.3%), sub-Saharan Africa (47.5%) and Northern Africa and Western Asia (35.5%).

Between 2000 and 2019, the percentage of female migrants increased in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Southern Asia, Oceania and Northern America, while it decreased in Northern Africa and Western Asia, Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean and Europe. These regional differences result from a combination of factors, such as varying levels of labour migration, population ageing of migrants and forced migration.

One out of every seven international migrants are below the age of 20 years

In 2019, 38 million international migrants, equivalent to 14% of global migrant population, were under 20 years of age. Sub-Saharan Africa hosted the highest proportion of young persons among all international migrants (27%), followed by Latin America and the Caribbean, and Northern Africa and Western Asia (about 22% each).

Three out of every four international migrants are of working age (20-64 years)

Globally, the proportion of migrants between 20 and 64 years of age increased from 69% in 1990 to 74% in 2010 and has remained at that level since. For women, the change has been from 68% in 1990 to 72% in 2019, while for men it has increased from 71% to 76%.

The percentage of older migrants, 65 years or over, has remained stable since 1990 at around 10 per cent for older men, 14% for older women and 12% for both sexes combined. The percentage of young migrants under 20 years of age has declined from 19% in 1990 to 14% in 2019.

Older migrants outnumber younger migrants in the North, whereas younger migrants outnumber older migrants in the South. In 2019, 20% of all international migrants in the South were under the age of 20 years, compared to less than 8% for migrants aged 65 years or over. In contrast, in the North, the share of the migrant population aged 65 years or over was much higher (15%) than the share of migrants under 20 years (9%).

SOURCES: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). International Migrant Stock 2019 (United Nations database, POP/DB/MIG/Stock/Rev.2019). Available at: www.unmigration.org 

IMAGE CREDIT: UNICEF


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