Today, one person out of 30 is an international migrant. It is estimated that there are 191 million people worldwide living in a country other than their own (2005). This represents a little more than 3% of the world population.

Migration is a complex global phenomenon. There are many reasons why people are compelled to migrate. There are also many ways to assess the impact of migration and to address the issues arising from migration. The following Fact Sheets aim to introduce key concepts and the links between migration, trade and human rights in the context of development. The role of Canada in relation to migration is also outlined.

• Download PDF: Migration as a Global phenomenon
• Download PDF: Migration & Development
• Download PDF: Migration & Human Rights

Why do people migrate in the first place?

People leave their own country in search of another for many reasons. For some, they are looking for better economic prosperity, for others, they are forced to move because they cannot find work at home. People move not just for themselves but also for their families - often to send money back home. Still, for others, their safety is in danger for political reasons and so they move.

According to the IOM, "people tend to move only when their situation and that of their families falls below a critical threshold of tolerance, below which they no longer perceived possibilities of survival according to local norms of safety, dignity and well-being." In other words, when people's basic human needs are not being met, they see no other option than to look for another place to live.

More specifically, the IOM outlines several main reasons that compel migration:

1. Increased armed violence

2. Ethnic and racial conflict

3. Features of globalization

4. Environmental degradation

5. Development-induced displacement

6. Denial of democracy

7. Large-scale corruption

8. Economic insecurity

These reasons motivate the need to protect and help people who migrate - a task that requires individual States and international institutions to cooperate and act collectively.

Migration is a global phenomenon

Most international migrants are from developing countries but migration does not just occur from the South to the North. While 60% of migrants live in the most developed countries, 40% live in less developed countries, with migration occurring within and/or between developing countries. (Millenium Development Goals & Migration Report, 2005)

An important trend in international migration is the increase in transnational migration. According to the UN report on the Millenium Development Goals and Migration (2005), instead of people migrating permanently to one location, people are migrating more and more on a temporary, seasonal and circular basis (move back and forth).

Some of the global forces influencing migration include the rise of new information and communication technologies. These have made it easier for migrants to communicate with each other and to stay in touch with those left behind. Also, changes in global transportation have made traveling cheaper and easier.

Fast Facts

• In 2005, there were 191 million migrants worldwide (people living outside their country of origin or citizenship) which includes those migrating for employment, their dependants and refugees and asylum seekers. (ILO)

• In the year 2000, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated that 86 million of the 175 million international migrants were economically active migrant workers:
  • Africa: 7.1 million
  • Asia & the Middle East: 25 million
  • Europe: 28.5 million
  • Latin America and the Caribbean: 2.5 million
  • North America: 20.5 million
  • Oceania: 2.9 million

• Women now make up 49% of migrants worldwide and more than 50% in Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and Oceania. (ILO)

• Migrant workers send home US$250billion in remittances, more than all official development assistance and foreign direct investment put together. (ILO)

• Developing countries lose 10-30% of skilled workers and professionals through "brain drain". Least developed countries are most affected. (ILO)

• There is a high level of labour market discrimination against migrant workers in industrialized countries. ILO studies indicate that more than 30% of qualified immigrant applicants were unfairly excluded in job selection procedures. (ILO)

• During the 1990s, some 90 - 100 million people around the world were displaced as a result of infrastructure development projects. (WHO, 2003)

• There are at least 20 to 25 million Internally Displaced People (IDPs) worldwide. (WHO, 2003)

• There are at least 12 million registered refugees worldwide. That number is probably higher because people don't always register as many are undocumented workers or have been taken in by family members. (WHO, 2003)

• There are some 914,000 are asylum seekers worldwide. (WHO, 2003)

Sources: ILO Facts on Labour Migration; World Health Organization - International Migration, Health & Human Rights"

What is a migrant?

International law defines many different kinds of migrants, each facing specific circumstances and human rights considerations. The following are some key definitions:

Refugees

People who are forced to leave their homes due to fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, social or political affiliation.

Asylum seekers

People who have fled to another country where they have applied for state protection by claiming refugee status, but have not received a final decision on their application.

Development displacees

People who move as a result of policies and projects undertaken in the name of "development". These include dam and road construction, urban clearance projects, mining and deforestation, the establishment of conservation parks/reserves and biosphere projects.

Internally displaced persons (IDPs)

People who are forced to relocate within their own State because of circumstances such as war, civil conflict and political persecution.

Migrant workers

People who work in a state other than their country of origin or nationality. Of some 175 million migrants in the world, some 120 million are migrant workers and their families (WHO, 2003):

• Africa: 20 million
• North America: 18 million
• Central & South America: 12 million
• South and East Asia: 7 million
• Middle East: 9 million
• Europe: 30 million (21 million in Western Europe alone)

Permanent migrants

This is a major category of migrants especially for traditional countries of immigration (such as Canada). However, there is no common legal definition of a permanent migrant. The practice of defining immigrant categories, qualifications and treatment varies from country to country. In general, countries are becoming more selective in terms of gender and age when it comes to international labour migration. Many national immigration and "temporary" labour migration policies place legal limits on families accompanying temporary migrant workers.

Temporary contract workers

This is the most common category of documented labour migrants. They are allowed to enter a country for a limited period of time with the intention of returning home when their contract expires. Most temporary workers are low skilled and recruited to work in seasonal occupations such as agriculture and construction. Migrant workers are also increasingly in demand for other low-paid, less-skilled jobs in cleaning and maintenance, domestic services and health care. At the same time, they are more in demand for high-skilled information technology and professional jobs.

Foreign students

People who move to benefit from academic programs and opportunities offered by countries and educational institutions. The U.S. is the most popular destination, with almost 5550,000 foreign students enrolled in U.S. universities during the 2000-2001 academic year.

Source: International Migration, Health and Human Rights Report 2003, World Health Organization