A World On The Move: Global Migration Trends in 2024

Is there a clear south-to-north migration pattern in our world today? The latest data from 2024 reveals some compelling evidence.

Looking at traditionally wealthy nations:

• North America: Both the US and Canada show "More Moving In."
• Western Europe: Several key nations, including Germany, France, the UK, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, show "More Moving In."
• Asia-Pacific: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea all show "More Moving In."

In contrast, we see consistent outward movement from:

• Most of Africa: Countries like Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Africa show "More Moving Out."
• South Asia: India is a notable exception, showing "More Moving In," while Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka all show "More Moving Out."
• Most of Latin America: Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Peru all show "More Moving Out."

This pattern suggests a broad movement from the developing Global South to the developed Global North, though there are important exceptions, such as India, which shows more people moving in despite being typically categorized as part of the Global South.

Note: This data reflects net migration patterns for each country, representing the difference between the number of people moving into and out of a country. A positive net migration rate indicates that more people are entering than leaving ("More Moving In"), while a negative rate shows that more people are leaving than entering ("More Moving Out"). A neutral rate occurs when the inflows and outflows are balanced ("No Net Movement"). Countries for which net migration rate data is unavailable are shown in white on the map.

While the patterns are notable, it's important to remember that this specific dataset only captures migration movement. It does not provide insight into the complex social and economic factors driving these decisions. Additional analysis is required for that.