Context-According to the International Migrant Stock 2019, released by the UN DESA’s Population Division, India has emerged as the leading country of origin for immigrants across the world, with 17.5 million international migrants in 2019 coming from India, up from 15.9 million in 2015.

Key findings

• The number of international migrants in the world had reached an estimated 272 million 2019 which is 51 million more than in 2010.
•  The percentage of international migrants of the total global population has increased to 3.5% from 2.8% in 2000.
• Among countries, the U.S. hosts the highest number of international migrants (51 million), about 19% of the global population.
• After India, Mexico ranked second as the country of origin for 12 million migrants, followed by China (11 million), Russia (10 million) and Syria (8 million).

India

• The report provides the latest estimates of the number of international migrants as per their age, sex, and origin, for all countries and areas of the world.
• India remained the top source of international migrants constituting 6.4% of the total world’s migrant population.
• The most preferred destination of the Indian migrants was the UAE followed by the US, and then Saudi Arabia.
• In India, the highest number of international migrants came from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal.
• The percentage of international migrants of the total global population has increased to 3.5% from 2.8% in 2000.
• The share of women and girls in the global number of international migrants fell slightly from 49% in 2000 to 48% in 2019.
• In terms of age, one out of every seven international migrants is below the age of 20 years.
• Source of Migrants: Around two-fifths of all international migrants had gone from one developing country to another.
  • The one-third of all international migrants originated from mostly 10 countries.
  • India (17.5 million international migrants) is followed by Mexico (12 million migrants), China (11 million), Russia (10 million) and Syria (8 million).
• Destination of Migrants:
  • The European region hosted the highest number of immigrants (82 million), followed by North America (59 million) and Northern Africa and Western Asia (49 million).
  • Among countries, the U.S. hosted the highest number of international migrants that constitute about 19% of the global population.

International Migrant Stock

•   The United Nations Population Division (UNPD) International Migrant Stock data provide an overview of the global stock of international migrants, including refugees, and allow for the comparison of countries and world regions
• The International Migrant Stock data provide the stock of international migrants in each country across time using intervals of five years.
• The main sources of information are the population census of individual countries (about 70% of the cases).

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)

•  It is part of the United Nations Secretariat.
•  It is also a member of the United Nations Development Group.
•  It is based at UN Headquarters in New York
•   It is responsible for the follow-up to major United Nations Summits and Conferences, as well as services to the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the Second and Third Committees of the United Nations General Assembly.
•  UN DESA’s mission is to promote sustainable development for all, focusing on the most vulnerable.
•  This reflects a fundamental concern for equity and equality in countries large and small, developed and developing.
•  UN DESA assists countries around the world in agenda-setting and decision-making with the goal of meeting their economic, social and environmental challenges.