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Migration is one of the most significant and politically contentious dimensions of globalisation. The movement of people across borders reshapes economies, societies, and cultures in both origin and destination countries. Understanding the causes, patterns, and consequences of global migration is essential for analysing global systems and governance.
Key Definition: Migration is the permanent or semi-permanent movement of people from one place to another. International migration involves crossing a national border.
The UN estimated that there were 281 million international migrants in 2020 — approximately 3.6% of the global population. While this may seem a small proportion, the absolute number has more than tripled since 1970 (when there were 84 million international migrants).
| Statistic | Figure |
|---|---|
| International migrants (2020) | 281 million |
| Share of world population | 3.6% |
| Refugees and asylum seekers | 26.6 million refugees (UNHCR, 2020) |
| Internally displaced persons (IDPs) | 55 million (2020) |
| Remittances to LMICs (2022) | $656 billion |
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