International Migrants Day is celebrated on December 18. In recent years, conflict, insecurity and the effects of climate change have greatly contributed to movements across borders.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres acknowledged that more than 80% of those who cross borders in a safe and orderly manner are powerful drivers of “economic growth, dynamism and understanding.”
The migration data portal shows that the total number of international migrants in 2020 was more than 280 million people. Among the countries that receive the most displaced persons are the United States, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Russia and the United Kingdom.
1. USA — 50.6 million
According to UN estimates, the US ranks first in the world for the number of international immigrants. In 2020, more than 50 million people arrived in the North American country. Most displaced from Mexico, China and India.
Data for 2021 indicate that immigrants and their children, already born in the United States, represent some 84.8 million people, that is, 26% of the total US population. According to preliminary projections, by 2065 the proportion of immigrants in the total population will rise to 36%.
2. Germany — 15.8 million
Germany is the second country, with a number of immigrants that amounts to 15.8 million people. Almost 1.1% of German residents are of African descent, while 62% of foreigners moved to Germany from other European countries or are descendants of them. The most important countries of origin are Turkey, Poland, Russia, Kazakhstan and Syria.
Many people choose to live in the country for an extended period of time without resorting to naturalization. Almost 3 million people have been living in Germany without a passport for more than 25 years and 1.57 million foreigners were born in the country but do not yet have German citizenship. There are also more than 123,000 people without nationality or with undetermined nationality in the European country.
3. Saudi Arabia — 13.5 million
The largest diaspora is represented by citizens of India with almost 3 million people, Pakistan between 1.4 and 2.7 million and Bangladesh between 1.2 and 2.1 million.
As a consequence, in recent years the problem of high dependence on foreign labor has worsened and the unemployment situation of the citizens themselves has worsened.
4. Russia — 11.6 million
UN statistics show that Russia ranks fourth in the world in the number of international emigrants. In 2020 it was 11.6 million, that is, 8% of the country’s total population.
Every year more than half a million people from other nations come to Russia. Most of the displaced come from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and their goal is to find work. The most attractive cities are Moscow and Saint Petersburg. In recent years, the number of people leaving their homes to flee war has increased, the majority coming from Ukraine, Afghanistan and Syria.
5. The UK — 9.4 million
Data from the National Statistics Office show that the number of refugees has increased by 331,000 people in one year. These are at least 400,000 more people than promised by the Minister of the Interior, Suella Braverman, who declared that she is looking for ways to “stop the invasion” of immigrants who cross the English Channel in small boats to the country. In 2022 alone, more than 40,000 illegal immigrants arrived in the country.
The most common reason non-EU migrants initially moved to the UK is for family reunification, which accounts for 49%, followed by work, which accounts for 21%. The high proportion of family immigrants among the non-EU population partly reflects the fact that people arriving on family visas are more likely to settle permanently than those arriving on work or student visas, as explained in a report by the Migration Observatory.
India became the most common country of origin for immigrants to the UK, followed by African states, Poland and Pakistan.