Migrant numbers could soar to 405 million by 2050

The number of international migrants could soar by 68 percent to 405 million in 2050, the International Organization (IOM) said on Monday, noting that emerging economies in Asia, Africa and Latin America are becoming important destinations.

“There are far more international migrants in the world today than ever previously recorded—214 million,” IOM said in its annual report.

“If the migrant population continues to increase at the same pace as the last 20 years, the stock of international migrants worldwide by 2050 could be as high as 405 million,” the inter-government agency added.

It noted that a key reason for the rise is the significant growth in the workforce in developing countries as populations in developed countries are ageing.

“Current demographic imbalances between developed and developing countries are predicted to increase in the near future,” the report noted.

By 2025, young people entering the workforce in developing countries will surpass the current total workforce in industrialized states, IOM said.

Fast-growing economies in Asia, Africa and Latin America, meanwhile, are becoming increasingly popular as destination countries for migrant workers, it added.

They “not only emphasize the increasing importance of South-South migration movements, but the need for further investment in migration management in these regions,” IOM said.

The United States, however, remains the top destination for migrants, with 42.8 million in 2010, at about 20 percent of the number across the world.

Other countries with high foreign-born populations include Russia, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Canada, France, Britain, Spain, India and Ukraine, IOM said. –AFP