Migration
X. The impact of international migration on population age structure
International migration can modify the age structure of a population especially when the volume of migrant inflow or outflow is sizeable compared to the resident population in the country of origin or destination. In their host countries working-age migrants can play a significant role in easing at least temporarily the fiscal pressures on pension and healthcare systems that are associated with population ageing. However because migrants often chose to continue residing in countries of destination after reaching retirement age in some host societies international migrants comprise a large and growing share of the population also at older ages.
XI. Poverty and inequality
Poverty and inequality can be important drivers of international migration leading individuals and families to seek better opportunities abroad. However the poorest of the poor usually lack the means information and access to networks necessary to migrate. Migrants often contribute to reducing poverty in countries of origin especially through the remittances they send back to their families and communities. However remittances can also reinforce inequalities in countries of origin. In countries of destination migrants can become trapped in intergenerational cycles of poverty particularly when they become segregated in lowincome neighbourhoods. Policies to promote the economic integration and social inclusion of migrants in countries of destination can help mitigate some of these negative impacts by reducing inequalities between migrants and host populations.
III. Defining and measuring international migration
International migration is a complex phenomenon that is difficult to conceptualize and measure in a coherent and consistent manner. Many countries lack up-to-date information on migration patterns and trends and on migrants and their basic characteristics. Strengthening the evidence base on international migration would enable more informed policymaking. Accurate consistent and timely data on international migration and migrants are essential to monitor progress in the achievement of internationally agreed development goals including the Sustainable Development Goals and the objectives of the Global Compact for Safe Orderly and Regular Migration.
XXI. Facilitating orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people
A growing number of countries have focused on providing options for safe orderly and regular migration with more than half of all Governments with available data reporting that they have such policies. A much lower proportion of Governments however report having policy measures to protect the human rights of migrants. Further progress is needed given that the respect protection and fulfilment of migrants’ human rights regardless of migration status are essential for ensuring that migrants become active empowered and well-integrated members of societies.
VIII. International migrants and their distribution by broad age group
Populations of international migrants have a distinctive age pattern that reflects both the timing of migration trajectories and how migrants are defined and counted. Most international migrants are of working age meaning that they are between the ages of 20 and 64. Children and young people tend to be underrepresented among international migrants with roughly five migrants of working age for every international migrant under the age of 20. International migrants aged 65 years or older comprise less than one in six migrants globally. Refugees and asylum seekers tend to include large numbers of children and thus to be much younger on average compared to other migrant groups.
IX. Contribution of international migration to population size
International migration contributes both directly and indirectly to changes in population size. Immigrants and their descendants increase the size of a population while emigration has the opposite effect. In the future immigration is expected to become the main driver of population growth in many high-income countries attenuating or counteracting a potential decline in population size due to a negative balance of births and deaths. The impact of international migration on population size in most countries or regions of origin tends to be relatively small especially for those where the population is growing rapidly.
Executive summary
Every year millions of people leave their countries of origin to move abroad. International migrants hail from all regions with some settling in neighbouring countries and territories while others cross the globe. For some the experience of living abroad is of short duration while for others it extends over a lifetime. Migrants include some of the most highly educated and successful individuals in the world as well as people suffering from multiple and intersecting forms of deprivation. The reasons and circumstances that motivate or compel people to migrate are also diverse with some leaving in search of better work opportunities to pursue educational goals to reunite with family or simply for leisure while others are forced to migrate to escape conflict violence or persecution.
XVIII. Food security and sustainable agriculture
Hunger and food insecurity remain important drivers of human mobility. In countries of origin remittances-receiving households tend to be more food-secure compared to households that do not receive remittances from abroad. The remittances or savings accumulated abroad by migrants can be invested to improve the sustainability of food production systems. Promoting sustainable farming and aquaculture as well as other types of rural development can create opportunities and jobs in rural areas ensuring that people migrate out of choice rather than necessity. Migrants play a key role in agriculture and food systems in countries of destination. Migrants however are often at high risk of experiencing food insecurity.
XV. Decent work
In many parts of the world people migrate because they are unable to build sustainable livelihoods at home. As the number of people living in the poorest regions of the world continues to grow creating more opportunities for work that is productive and delivers a fair income is critical for addressing some of the adverse drivers and structural factors that motivate or compel people to migrate. Given the demographic realities and development challenges these countries face however it is equally important to enhance the availability of pathways for regular migration in a manner that facilitates labour mobility and promote decent work. For host countries that rely heavily on migrant workers and particularly those with ageing populations planning for future labour market needs by investing in education and training both in their own countries and in countries from which they may recruit migrant workers in the future is critical to address deficits in the availability of decent work and lessen the negative impact on countries of origin resulting from “brain drain”. Reducing the vulnerability of migrants in the workplace protecting the rights of migrant workers facilitating fair and ethical recruitment and promoting the mutual recognition of skills qualifications and competences are some additional steps that countries of destination should take to maximize the benefits of labour migration.
XIII. Education
The number of young people who study outside of their country of origin has grown rapidly over the past decades and has helped to foster greater knowledge production and exchange. However the emigration of highly educated individuals can deprive countries of the skilled labour force needed for achieving the Goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. When the skills and qualifications that migrants carry with them are not recognized this can lead to “brain waste”. Facilitating the recognition of skills qualifications and competences is critical to minimizing such waste. Many countries have explicit policies to attract migrant workers with high levels of human capital. Complying with ethical recruitment practices and actively investing in the development and training of skilled labour in countries of origin and destination can help ensure that the migration of highly educated individuals does not exacerbate inequality in access to human capital among countries. In host societies children of migrant families can face economic socialinstitutional and other types of obstacles in accessing education especially if they have an irregular immigration status. Addressing language and other barriers can improve migrant children’s educational outcomes and promote their integration into host societies.
IV. Where do migrants reside?
Most international migrants reside in high-income countries with Europe hosting the largest number of migrants globally followed by Northern America. In recent decades nearly all regions have seen an increase in the number of migrants residing there. However while a combination of labour and family migration explain most of the recent increase in the number of migrants living in Europe and Northern America for Latin America and the Caribbean Northern Africa and Western Asia and sub-Saharan Africa forced migration has been an additional important driver. Most of the world’s international migrants live in a small number of high-income countries whereas most of the world’s refugees and asylum seekers are hosted by a handful of mainly low-income and middle-income countries.
XX. Legal and normative framework for international migration
Over the past decades international migration has emerged as a critical policy issue. Conferences summits and meetings at the United Nations have helped further the dialogue on international migration building consensus and fostering cooperation between Governments and other stakeholders. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognized the contributions of migrants to inclusive and sustainable growth and called on Member States to strengthen cooperation to ensure safe orderly and regular migration with full respect for human rights. The Global Compact for Safe Orderly and Regular Migration which is rooted in the 2030 Agenda and the Global Compact on Refugees have placed international migration squarely at the center of the international agenda.
XVI. Sustained and inclusive economic growth
International migration can contribute to promoting sustained and inclusive economic growth in both countries of origin and countries of destination. For instance the remittances that migrants send home tend to benefit the households communities and economies that receive them. However remittances can also create dependencies that stifle growth and lead to cycles of emigration and economic stagnation or decline. To optimize the transformative impact of remittances for sustainable development and harness the contributions of migrants and diasporas countries of origin should enact policies to enhance economic competitiveness strengthen governance and social institutions and facilitate migrant and diaspora investments and entrepreneurship. In countries of destination the inflow of migrant labour and human capital can contribute to enhancing productivity and boosting the capacity for innovation with positive impacts for economic growth. The fiscal contribution of migration is also important for host countries particularly those with rapidly ageing populations.
I. Why is international migration so important?
Throughout history migration has been a human strategy to fulfil individual aspirations and respond to adversity or lackof opportunity. Even though the scale of international migration is small compared to other major demographic trends its social and economic ramifications are consequential not only for migrants and their families but also for people in countries of origin transit and destination who are not themselves migrants. The economic social and political relevance of international migration is likely to continue to increase in the years ahead tied in part to other critical trends including climate change population ageing urbanization and conflict.
XIX. Climate change and responsible consumption and production
Natural disasters environmental degradation and climate change are among the adverse drivers and structural factors that compel people to migrate. With the number of people displaced by weather-related events both within and across borders expected to rise anticipating and planning for climate-related migration is imperative in particular for vulnerable countries such as small island developing States. Building adaptive capacity and achieving the Goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development can reduce future risks of climate-related displacement. Curbing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting responsible consumption and production worldwide can help to attenuate some of the adverse drivers of climate-related migration and forced displacement.
VI. Migration within and across regions
International migration often takes place within regions facilitated by geographical proximity and by the close economic social and cultural ties with shared borders or countries within the same region often enjoy. Yet there are differences between regions in the balance of intra-versus inter-regional migration. While nearly all international migrants born in Europe live in another European country this is not the case for migrants born in Central and Southern Asia in Latin America and the Caribbean or in Northern America. The spatial distribution of transnational populations also varies with some being highly concentrated in a small number of countries of destination and others dispersed across various countries and regions. Refugees and asylum seekers tend to cluster in neighbouring countries or in other countries of first asylum often located within the same region.
Preface
This report International Migration and Sustainable Development examines the linkages between international migration and the social economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. It is organized in four parts.
XIV. Gender equality and women’s empowerment
International migration and gender dynamics are intrinsically linked with each of them affecting and being shaped by the other. Migration can increase women’s status power and decisionmaking in society and contribute to promoting greater gender equality. However migrant women can also face barriers that prevent them from taking part fully and equally in the social political and economic life of host societies. In addition they can be at high risk of suffering from exploitation violence and abuse. Gender-responsive migration policies can address the specific needs of migrant women reduce their vulnerability and promote their empowerment and inclusion.
V. Where do migrants come from?
The desire and ability to migrate are shaped by the context of people’s lives by the resources available to them and by the barriers that they face. Spatial patterns of international migrant origins reflect these underlying asymmetries which in turn are an expression of differences in levels of development within and among countries among other factors. Most international migrants today come from middle-income countries and not from the world’s poorest countries. Among major regions Europe still has the largest diaspora. In recent decades however the gap between Europe and other regions as a place of origin has narrowed with numbers of persons living abroad rising more rapidly for some other regions than for Europe. For Latin America and the Caribbean Northern Africa and Western Asia and sub-Saharan Africa much of the recent increase in the size of their diaspora has been due to forced migration. Over the past decades the number of countries from which migrants originate has grown. However 41 per cent of all international migrants worldwide still hail from just 15 countries.