The International Organization for Migration (IOM) report, World Migration Report 2026, highlights the significant impact of safe and orderly migration routes on economies, societies, and communities. The report compiles global data and analyses to provide a comprehensive understanding of migration trends worldwide.
Released during the International Migration Review Forum in New York, the report emphasizes that restricting legal migration pathways increases risks for migrants, escalates costs for states, and diminishes the broader benefits that migration can offer.
Migration continues to play a crucial role in the global economy. As of mid-2024, an estimated 304 million international migrants, constituting approximately 3.7% of the world’s population, are on the move. The number of migrant workers has also seen substantial growth, increasing by over 30 million between 2013 and 2022.
Benefits of Migration
“Migrants contribute as workers, entrepreneurs and consumers, adding value through the skills, innovations and connections they bring across borders,” stated IOM spokesperson Zoe Brennan.
The financial contributions of migrants remain substantial, with remittances projected to reach $905 billion in 2024, of which $685 billion will go to low and middle-income countries. These flows exceed the combined total of official development assistance and foreign direct investment.
IOM Director General Amy Pope noted, “Migration globally helps to drive economic growth, stability and social cohesion. While countries have the right to determine their own migration policies, cooperation at regional and global levels yields safer and better outcomes.”
Unequal Access and Rising Displacement
Despite these benefits, access to migration opportunities remains unequal. While more pathways are available in high-income countries, options are limited in lower-income contexts. Migration patterns also vary significantly across regions, indicating that there is no single global migration narrative.
These trends emerge at a time when global displacement has reached record highs. By the end of 2024, over 120 million people are expected to be displaced worldwide, including refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons. A staggering 83.4 million people are displaced within their own countries, the highest number ever recorded.
Much of this displacement is driven by a combination of conflict, environmental pressures, and structural vulnerabilities. The largest displacement situations require both humanitarian assistance and a long-term, development-focused approach.
Migration Gains at Risk
However, the report warns that these migration benefits are at risk. As pathways narrow, they are pushed into more dangerous channels, increasing both humanitarian and economic costs.
“Providing safe and regular pathways and strengthening regional cooperation are concrete steps that help countries manage migration more effectively,” Brennan said.
To sustain these benefits, IOM calls for practical steps including expanding safe routes, reducing remittance costs, supporting skills mobility, and enhancing regional cooperation.
The organization also stresses the need for better data and more inclusive, evidence-based policies to effectively manage migration in the evolving global landscape.
