Where are the World's Migrants?

The UN estimates the world’s migrant population at 304M in 2024, nearly double the figure from 2000. Most migrants originate from Asia (121M) and Europe (61M), with Europe (94M) and North America (61M) emerging as top destinations. Africa and Latin America are more often regions of origin than destinations, though regional movements within them remain significant. These flows reflect the push and pull of opportunity, demographics, and economic pressures across regions.

Importantly, not all migration is voluntary. About 17% of the world’s international migrants are refugees, asylum seekers, or others in need of protection, a share that has grown in recent years due to conflict and climate-related displacement. The numbers highlight both the opportunities migration brings to labour markets and economies as well as the humanitarian challenges facing governments as global pressures intensify.