Over 300 million people now live outside their birth countries: IOM

An estimated 304 million individuals, constituting nearly 4% of the global population, are now living outside their country of birth, according to data released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for International Migrants Day. The UN agency emphasized the profound economic and social contributions of migrants while calling for enhanced global systems to protect those on the move and support host communities.

Economic Impact and Human Contributions

The IOM reported that migrants sent approximately $905 billion in international remittances in 2024, a critical financial lifeline for families in low- and middle-income nations covering essentials like food, education, and healthcare. Beyond remittances, migrants bring skills, creativity, and entrepreneurship, bolstering key sectors such as healthcare, construction, agriculture, and technology, particularly in countries facing demographic challenges like aging populations.

Growing Challenges and Perilous Journeys

Despite these benefits, the IOM warned of escalating humanitarian challenges. By the end of 2024, conflict, violence, and disasters had internally displaced 83.4 million people within their own countries. Many migrants are forced to undertake dangerous journeys due to a lack of safe, regular migration pathways. The Mediterranean Sea was cited as one of the world's deadliest migration corridors, with over 33,000 recorded deaths since 2014. The World Health Organization echoed these concerns on social media, noting nearly 80,000 deaths on migration routes since 2014, most victims unidentified.

Call for Dignified Systems and a Turkish Perspective

IOM Director General Amy Pope stated, "Migration is woven into the lives of families and communities everywhere," calling for global solidarity to shape "fair and inclusive systems." For nations like Türkiye, which hosts the world's largest refugee population, this data underscores a lived reality. Türkiye's experience highlights both the immense responsibility of hosting large migrant communities and the critical need for international burden-sharing, cooperation, and policies that ensure safe, orderly, and dignified migration, aligning with its longstanding advocacy on the global stage.