In most discussions on migration, the starting point is usually the numbers. Understanding changes in scale, emerging trends, and demographic changes help us make sense of the changing world we live in and plan for the future. The current global estimate is that there were around 281 million international migrants in the world in 2020, equivalent to 3.6% of the world’s population.
In general, the estimated number of international migrants has increased in the last five decades. The estimated total of 281 million people living in a country other than their country of birth in 2020 was 128 million more than in 1990 and more than three times more than in 1970. Many people move from country to work, study or family. However, they can also be displaced by climate change, conflict or economic instability. There were 272 million immigrants in 2020, representing 3.5% of the world’s population.
In addition to new citizens or residents, a variety of people fit the definition of a migrant: foreign workers, international students, or refugees. The UN also includes estimates of unauthorized immigrants living in various countries. Mind you: tourists, temporary workers and military personnel abroad are generally not included.
The proportion of immigrants varies considerably from one country to another and for various reasons. It is easy to emigrate to some countries, while others are more difficult to access by comparison. This interactive map from Our World in Data highlights immigration by country, as a percentage of the total population, and recent trends, using UN data.
Higher levels of immigration correlate with higher living standards and advanced economies. For example, North America, Europe and Oceania have a high proportion of immigrants. The 10 countries with the highest number of foreign-born residents are: United States: (50.6 million)Germany (15.8 million), Saudi Arabia (13.5 million), Russia (11.6 million), United Kingdom (9.4 million), United Arab Emirates (8.7 million), France (8.5 million), Canada (8 million), Australia (7.7 million) and Spain (6.8 million).
The United States is home to the largest number of immigrants in the world. An estimated 50.6 million people in the United States, just over 15% of the total population of 331.4 million, were born in a foreign country. The number of immigrants has increased by at least 400% since 1965 and is incredibly diverse, with nearly every country in the world represented among American immigrants. Mexico is the main country of origin for US immigrants, with more than 11 million, approximately 25%, of all of them.
Perhaps the most unique entry in the top ten is the United Arab Emirates, whose 8.7 million immigrants represent almost 89% of the country’s total population. This gives the United Arab Emirates one of the world’s highest proportions of immigrant residents relative to the total national population.
Meanwhile, South Korea has seen the largest relative increase in immigrants in the last three decades. Facing the world’s lowest fertility rate and an aging population, the country has enacted policy reforms to encourage immigration, including a formal guest-worker program and local voting rights for permanent foreign residents.
The other side of the coin: the emigrant countries
When used in the context of national populations, “immigrants” refers to foreign-born residents who have moved to that country, and “emigrants” refers to people who have left that country to live elsewhere.
The top 10 countries with the largest number of emigrants (former residents living elsewhere) are: India (17.9 million), Mexico (11.1 million), Russia (10.8 million), China (10.5 million), Syria (8.5 million), Bangladesh (7.4 million), Pakistan (6.3 million), Ukraine (6.1 million), Philippines (6.1 million), Afghanistan (5.9 million) .
India has the largest number of natives living abroad with 17.9 million of people in total. But the truth is that the figures for emigrants are not always as accurate as those for immigrants, mainly because most governments are not as concerned with those who leave the country as with those who enter and use government-funded services or infrastructure. .
The lottery of birth and integration
Examining the overall quality of life by country and the ability to migrate in terms of visa access reveals that the availability of migration options is related in part to the birth lottery and, in particular, to the potential migrant’s national passport. It is not unreasonable to say, for example, that some nationality groups are much less likely to have access to visas and visa-free arrangements.
The Henley Passport Index, a global ranking of countries based on the freedom of entry of their citizens, for example, reveals that a person’s ability to enter a country with relative ease is determined in many respects by nationality. Visa access also broadly reflects a country’s status and relationships within the international community and indicates how stable, secure and prosperous it is.
The data also shows two other things: that there are some significant differences between the highest ranked human development countries and others; and that middle-ranked developing countries can be important countries of origin, transit and destination at the same time. Immigrants can help fill job gaps and drive economic innovation in their new country of residence. Depending on their destination, they may benefit from things like higher salaries, access to a better education, and a more stable political climate.
In particular, countries respond to immigration in different ways. In a study measuring what governments are doing to integrate immigrants, Sweden ranked first. The country offers non-EU citizens equal access to educationlabor market rights and your social safety net, and also has strict anti-discrimination laws.
On the other hand, immigrants may face challenges integrating into other countries. For example, the kafala (sponsorship) system of the United Arab Emirates is structured so that work visas are granted by local individuals or businesses instead of the state. This gives employers greater power over their workers, and has in the past led to alleged human rights abuses.