Migration to developed countries declines for second year

The United States saw a 14% drop, although it still leads countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, with more than 1.2 million permanent migrants in 2025.PARIS (AFP) — Migration to developed countries dwindled for a second year in a row in 2025, down 1.6% compared to the previous year, according to an OECD report published Thursday.While still experiencing high numbers, the 38 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries recorded 6.1 million new permanent immigrants in 2025, compared to 6.2 million the previous year.There has been a backlash in many Western countries against the arrival of irregular migrants fleeing conflict, authoritarian rule and economic hardship in their home countries.Legal humanitarian migration dropped “sharply” by 26% in 2025 compared with 2024, the report found. Labour migration increased by 13%.While 2025 marked an overall decline in migration, the number of permanent immigrants settling for the long term was up 12% compared with 2019.Three countries recorded a notable spike in permanent migrants in 2025.Portugal saw a 139% increase to 313,600 individuals, resulting from approvals of a backlog of pending residency permits.Spain saw a 25% increase to 460,500 people, notably after having broadened its residency policies.Italy saw a 45% increase to 248,800 people, largely attributed to a flux of family and labor migration.Other countries saw significant declines in permanent migrants.The United States saw a 14% drop, although it still leads OECD countries, recording more than 1.2 million permanent migrants in 2025.Canada saw a 19% decrease to 393,800 people, and the United Kingdom a 32% decline to 295,800 people.Asylum seekers downIndia remained the leading country of origin for migratory flows to the OECD in 2024, ahead of China and Colombia, according to the latest available figures.The 1.1 million asylum applications in 2025 marked a 22% decrease to OECD countries, excluding the United States, compared with the previous year, although remaining about 10% higher than 2019 figures.Men continue to account for the majority of migratory flows to OECD countries.According to the latest available data from 2024, women accounted for about 46% of new immigrants.The OECD countries that admitted significantly more women than men were the United States and Ireland with 54% female immigrants, Sweden with 53%, and Israel, Chile, Australia and New Zealand with 52%.Migration poses an opportunity to boost long-term productivity in many countries, particularly in the face of aging populations, the OECD noted.“With the OECD working-age population set to decrease by 8% by 2060, pushing overall growth downwards, reviving productivity growth is key to maintaining living standards,” said Mark Pearson, the OECD’s acting director of Employment, Labour and Social Affairs.“Immigrants now account for 16% of employment across the OECD, 3 percentage points more than a decade ago,” he added.While labour participation rates remain at historic highs across the OECD in 2025, the report stated that the migrant rate was at an average 1.5 percentage points higher than native-born workers in 24 out of 34 OECD countries.The question “is not whether migration is good or bad for productivity, but how policies can maximize its potential,” Pearson said.—By ESTELLE EMONET Agence France-PresseSubscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads