The International Organization for Migration (IOM)

A Short Introduction to Migration

Major Issues, Trends, Facts & Figures

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Definitions
Migration is

A process of moving, either across an international border or within a state, whatever its length, composition and causes It includes migration of refugees, displaced persons, uprooted people and economic migrants
A Migrant is

At the international level, no universally accepted definition exists The term is usually understood to cover all cases where the decision to migrate is taken freely by the individual concerned for reasons of personal convenience and without intervention of an external compelling factor
It applies to persons, and family members, moving to another country or region to better their material or social conditions and improve the prospect for themselves or their family
Source: Glossary on Migration, IOM 2004

Definitions
A diaspora is

Refugees are

Any people or ethnic population that leave their traditional ethnic homelands, being dispersed throughout other parts of the world A person, who owing to well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinions, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country

Internally displaced persons (IDP) are Definitions

Persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes In particular as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights or natural or human-made disasters, and who have not crossed an internationally recognized State border
Source: Glossary on Migration, IOM 2004

Migration At a Glance
Migration is

A Complex, Global Phenomenon

191 international million migrants world-wide 24.5 million conflict related internally displaced people (by the
close of 2006)

9.9 million refugees (by the close of

2006)

A phenomenon affecting all countries either as countries of origin, transit, destination or, increasingly, a combination of these Considerable potential for development and progress: remittances, transfer of know-how, multi-culturalism, contribution to economies of host countries Negative phenomena, too: brain drain, irregular migration in particular trafficking and smuggling, social tensions, impact on labour markets

Source: IDMC, UN Pop. Div.; UNHCR

Or, in more detail

The Causes
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Migration: The Causes

Migration: Major Causes

Four key determining factors in case of cross border migration:

1. Pull of changing demographics and labor market needs in higher income countries 2. Push of wage differentials and crisis pressures, and 3. Social networks within regions and across continents, based on family, friends, culture and history

4. Low cost of transportation and communication

Demographics & Labour Needs

Migration: The Causes

Increase of world population: expected to continue until 2050: 9.2 billion people Ageing of developed worlds population Population 15-25
Population +60 Other age groups

Chart 1. Age brackets as % of total population in selected countries

Younger, more dynamic population in emerging economies Seek opportunities abroad

Source: UN Pop. Div.

Migration: The Causes

Wages & Crisis

Income disparities

Low-income
Medium income High income

Chart 2. Average yearly incomes in selected countries

Source: UN Pop. Div.

Support Networks

Migration: The Causes

1985 1990

Trans-national communities: considerable growth Will act as support structure and basis for further migration (family reunification)

2001

Chart3: Numbers of foreign born in selected countries

(Hundreds of thousands) Source: National Immigration Authorities and Council of Europe

Migration: The Causes

Other Facilitating Factors

Facility of International Travel Declining Cost of Transportation

New Dehli - New York
Nairobi - London

Dollars costs adjusted for 2007 buying power parity

Chart 4. Cost of air travel on selected routes: 1960 - 2007

Source: International Air Transport Association

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Migration: The Causes

Migration: Major Causes

1. Demographics and labor market needs 2. Wage differentials and crisis pressures 3. Support networks 4. Other facilitating factors

All factors combined

Fuel international migration well into the future

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The Fundamental Numbers

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Migration: How Many?

Migration: The Big Picture

In 2005: 191 million international migrants worldwide (estimated)

Migrants represent approximately 3% of the global population

Source: UN Pop. Div.

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Migration: How Many?

Migration: The Big Picture

One out of every 35 people is an international migrant

If you grouped all the migrants worldwide in one country, it would constitute the fifth most populous country
1. China 2. India 3. Indonesia 4. U.S.A

1.31 bil. 1.11 bil. 301 mil. 231 mil.

5. Migrantland 191 mil.

Source: United Nations International Migration Report 2002

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Migration: The Big Picture

Other Groups of People
By the close of 2006, there were 24.5 million conflict related internally displaced people

The number of refugees by the close of 2006 was 9.9 million

Chart 7: (Needs to be revised) Numbers of Migrants, IDPs and Refugees (millions)

Source: UNHCR, IDMC

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Migration: The Big Picture

Types of Migrants

More types of migration

- Skilled: considerable increase

Chart 8: Number of H-B1 visas issued by U.S. 1998-2003

The H-B1 is a non-immigrant visa category in the U.S. under the Immigration & Nationality Act, section 101(a)(15)(H). It allows U.S. employers to seek temporary help from skilled foreigners who have the equivalent US Bachelors Degree education.

Source: U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

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Migrants: Where From?

The Big Flows

Migration not just South-North (from a developing to a developed country) movement 61 million moved from one developing country to another (SouthSouth)

Map 1: Major flows North-South and between developing countries

Source: UN World Population Prospects

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The Big Flows

Examples of movement between developing countries include: Bangladesh to India, or from India, Egypt, and Yemen to the Persian Gulf States. South-South migration is estimated to account for half of all outward migration from South Asia, 64% from Europe and Central Asia and 69% from Sub-Saharan Africa. India, Russia and South Africa are well-known as receiving countries in the South. Almost 80% of identified South-South migration takes place between countries with contiguous borders. The top South-South migration corridors include: Bangladesh - India Afghanistan - Iran Pakistan - India

India - Bangladesh Burkina Faso - Cote dIvoire

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Source: Population Reference Bureau; Ratha and Shaw, South-South Migration and Remittances (Development Prospects Group) World Bank

Migration: How Many?

Migration: The Big Picture

Breakdown by continent/region

Chart 9: Migrant population (as millions and % of total population)

Source: UN Pop. Div.

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Migrants: Where Are They?

Migration: The Big Picture

75% of all international migrants live in 28 countries 1 in every 3 migrants lives in Europe and about 1 in every 4 lives in Northern America
1. United States of America 2. Russian Federation 3. Germany 4. Ukraine 5. France 6. Saudi Arabia 7. Canada 8. India 9. United Kingdom 10. Spain 11. Australia 12. Peoples Rep. of China 38.4 12.1 10.1 6.8 6.5 6.4 6.1 5.7 5.4 4.8 4.1 3.3

Map 2: Migrant Population in 12 main countries (millions)

Source: UN Pop. Div., UNDESA, 2005

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Migrants: Where From?

The Major Senders

Top 3 countries of origin

India - with some 20 million China with a diaspora of some 35 million The Philippines with some 7 million

Map 3: Top 3 migrant-sending countries

Source: Global Commission on International Immigration (GCIM)

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Migrants: Where To?

The Receivers

Top 3 migrant-receiving countries:

USA with 35 mil. migrants: 20% of global migrant stock
The Russian Federation with 13.3 mil. migrants: 7.6 % of global stock

Germany with 7.3 mil. migrants: 4.2% of global stock

Map 4: Top 3 migrant-receiving countries

Source: Global Commission on International Immigration (GCIM)

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Migrants: Where To?

The Receivers

Major migrant-receiving regions:

Europe has the largest migrant population with more than 56 million

56 mil.
50 mil.
Asia follows with 50 million migrants
Source: UN Pop. Div. 2002

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Most migrant-populated countries

Migrants: Where Are They?
Countries where international migrants made up more than 60% of the population in 2000

Andorra Macao Special Administrative Region of China Guam The Holy See Monaco Qatar The United Arab Emirates

Source: IOM

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The Big Trends and Patterns

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Migration: the Recent Evolutions

Higher Volumes

More people on the move

Chart 10: Migrants total numbers and overall population

Source: UNDESA

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Migration: the Recent Evolutions Tourism

Higher number of arrivals

Chart 11. Numbers of worldwide arrivals (millions)

Source: World Tourism Organization

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Migration: the Recent Evolutions

More Types of Movement
- Skilled: considerable increase - Tourism: high number of arrivals

- Family reunification
- Business - Study and research - Forced migration - Irregular outflows

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Migration: the Recent Evolutions

More Destinations
Major movements 1960s

- Past: a handful of immigration countries

Major movements 2000s

- Present: almost all countries affected

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Migration: the Recent Evolutions Global Trends

How is Migration Evolving?

Number of Asian migrants has increased from 28.1 million in 1970 to 43.8 million in 2000 Asias share of global migrant stock decreased from 34.5 % to 25% over the same period.

All other regions decreased over the same period except North America and the former Soviet Union which saw a sharp increase in migrant stock. (For the Ex USSR this is in part due to the change of borders following the breakup)

Source: U.N. Pop. Div.

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Migration: the Recent Evolutions

More Routes and Travel Strategies

Short(er)-term
1-3 years

Multi-stage

A
Circular

B B

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Migration: The Feminization

Migration: How Many Women? The proportion of woman migrants has evolved over the years, but not evenly
Between 1960 and 2000 the proportion of women migrants rose by 2% from 46.7% to 48.6% The steepest rise was in Latin America and Oceania. In both regions the proportions rose by 6%

Asia: only region where female migrant share declined in this period: from 46.4% to 43.3% Recent global trend: women increasingly migrating independently, rather than as family members
Migration flows have changed in recent years with changing poles of attraction for labour migration In some parts of the world, migrant stock has actually decreased
Source: UNDESA, 2004

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Migration: How Many Women?

Migration: The Feminization

Todays migrant is not necessarily a male head of household close to 50% of migrants are women

men women

Chart 12: Women migrants as percentage of total migrants

Source: Migration Policy Institute, UNDESA

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The New Destinations

Migrants: Where To?

Traditional countries of immigration Australia Canada New Zealand United States Russia Japan

New countries of destination

Ireland Italy Norway

Portugal South Africa Saudi Arabia

Source: U.N. World Population Prospects 2006

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The New Patterns

Migration: patterns and trends Migration is not a movement just one way: most countries are both migrant receiving and sending countries Many are also transit countries Transit is defined as a stopover of passage, of varying length, while travelling between two or more countries1 Some transit countries include: Egypt, Yemen, Indonesia and Turkey2 Migration movement by individuals not just from one country to another: circular and multi directional, involving returns to the country of origin and movements on to other countries of destination

Source: Glossary on Migration, IOM 20041, Fargues, Senders Turned into Receivers 20072

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The Impact & the Benefits

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Migration: assessing impact

A Balance Sheet?

+
Social tension Public service costs Pressure on wages Brain drain Irregular migration Security risks Integration costs

Alleviates poverty Meets labour market needs Relieves unemployment Increases productivity Remittances

Return of skills & investments

Cultural diversity Social dynamism, innovation

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Migration: Assessing Impact

Drawbacks

Countries of destination Strain on infrastructure & public services

High integration costs

Countries of origin Brain drain Reliance on emigration delays structural reforms Adverse effect on development Effects on families & communities

Social instability
Job displacement

Migrants

Exploitation & uncertainty

Failure Rejection & isolation

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Migration: Assessing Impact

Benefits
Countries of destination Meets domestic labour needs Countries of origin

Increases productivity & occupational mobility Reduces inflationary pressures

Economic growth Cultural diversity & vibrancy Migrants Higher wages Professional opportunities Skills and knowledge acquisition

Alleviates poverty
Reduces unemployment Access to remittances & skills

Economic and social links with host country Investments

Empowerment of women

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Migration: Assessing Impact

Migration Myths
Immigration depresses wages and takes away jobs Loss is 0.3% of medium hourly wages. From $13/hour to $12.6* More visible for certain limited categories of workers

Local workers in same job categories as migrants more likely to lose Skilled migration generates jobs Immigration raises social welfare costs
Depends on age, skill level, social & ethnic background Migrants contribute to welfare systems Less dependant on welfare in certain countries Most self-supporting

Source: National Research Council study (1997)

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Migration: Assessing Impact

Migration Myths Brain drain is net loss

Out-migration can relieve unemployment pressure

Development of business linkages between countries of origin and destination Remittances Skills acquisition

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Irregular Migration Estimates

Between 30 and 40 million unauthorized migrants worldwide: 15 - 20% of global migrant stock1
The U.S. hosts 11-12 million undocumented migrants2
Largest absolute number of irregular immigrants 30% of its total foreign-born population Approximately 500,000 arrive each year Europe has 8 million undocumented migrants3 30% of its total foreign-born population Approximately 500,000 arrive each year

Source: Global Commission on Intl Migration1, U.S. State Department2, European Commission3, OECD3

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Migration: What Benefits?

Remittances

One indicator: Remittances

Global remittance flows: estimated in 2006 at more than USD 268 billion Of this, USD 167 billion went to developing countries Total figure is twice as much as remittances just 5 years ago While majority of remittances flow from North to South (from a developed to a developing country), a significant amount of remittances - 30 to 45% - flow from one developing country to another
India is the leading recipient of remittances in the world at 23.5 billion In Pakistan, remittance receipts tripled between 2001 and 2003, to reach 4.2 billion in 2004 In many regions, remittances exceed Official Development Assistance (ODA). For example, remittances in South Asia amounted to 6 billion in 2002, while ODA amounted to 5.9 billion
Source: The World Bank

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Migration: What Benefits?

Remittances

Remittances: considerable potential Steady growth from 17.7 bil. in 1988 to 72.3 bil in 2001 Volume surpasses official inflows and direct foreign investment

Official Remittances Private capital market Official inflows FDI Inflows

Chart 13. Remittances vs. other inflows in developing countries (billions)

Source: IMF, World Bank

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The Conclusions
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Migration: multi-faceted phenomenon

Conclusions
Multiple stakeholders involved: governments, migrants, host communities, businesses, NGOs and other civil society actors Within government many actors: migrations links with trade, development, security, health, environment, culture etc. Most analysts agree that migration is and has been a positive force for development and for social progress. The main problem is that migration is still largely unplanned or unmanaged. It is easy to get the impression that the only ones doing the planning are the individual migrants, and the smugglers who facilitate irregular movement and who often abuse migrants in the process. State policies and actions are too often primarily a reaction to this kind of movement. 46