OIM - World Migration Report 2026

WORLD MIGRATION REPORT 2026The opinions expressed in the report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the report do not imply expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IOM concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries. IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental organization, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; advance understanding of migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants. _____________________________ Publisher: International Organization for Migration 17 route des Morillons P.O. Box 17 1211 Geneva 19

Switzerland T el.: +41 22 717 9111

Fax: +41 22 798 6150

Email: hq@iom.int Website: www.iom.int Cover photos: T op Three hundred and thirty-seven people, including 121 children, arrived in T oronto, Canada, accompanied by three IOM escorts. IOM assisted the resettlement of 20,000 Afghan refugees to Canada since August 2021. © IOM 2022/Stephen UHRANEY Middle The Arbat area – 38 km north-west of Port Sudan – was severely impacted due to the collapse of a dam’s spillway on 25th August 2024, after heavy rains. © IOM 2024/Philippa LOWE Bottom People from Thailand and Myanmar regularly cross the border from Thailand’s Mae Sot to Myanmar’s Myawaddy by boats departing from Tha Huan Yang Pier in Tak province. © IOM 2018/Visarut SANKHAM Required citation: McAuliffe, M. and P. Ceriani Cernadas (eds.), 2026. World Migration Report 2026. International Organization for Migration (IOM), Geneva. _____________________________

ISSN 1561-5502

Required citation: McAuliffe, M. and P. Ceriani Cernadas (eds.), 2026. World Migration Report 2026. International Organization for Migration (IOM), Geneva. _____________________________

ISSN 1561-5502

ISBN 978-92-9278-064-7 (PDF)

© IOM 2026 Some rights reserved. This work is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 IGO License (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO). For further specifications please see the Copyright and T erms of Use. This publication should not be used, published or redistributed for purposes primarily intended for or directed towards commercial advantage or monetary compensation, with the exception of educational purposes e.g.  to  be included in textbooks.

Permissions: Requests for commercial use or further rights and licensing should be submitted to publications@iom.int. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo/legalcode

PUB2025/026/LWORLD MIGRATION

REPORT 2026ii

WORLD MIGRATION REPORT 2026

This volume is the result of a highly collaborative venture involving a multitude of partners and contributors under the direction of the editors. The World Migration Report 2026 project commenced in September 2024 and culminated in the launch of the report in May 2026 by the Director General. The findings, interpretations, conclusions and recommendations expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of IOM or its Member States. The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the report do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IOM concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries. All reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the data referred to in this report, including through data verification. We regret, however, any data errors that may remain. Unless otherwise stated, this report does not refer to data or events after December 2025. This report has been produced without generative AI tools. The stories behind the photographs can be found on page v .iii

through data verification. We regret, however, any data errors that may remain. Unless otherwise stated, this report does not refer to data or events after December 2025. This report has been produced without generative AI tools. The stories behind the photographs can be found on page v .iii

WORLD MIGRATION REPORT 2026

Editorial, review and production team Editors Marie McAuliffe (IOM)1 and Pablo Ceriani Cernadas (National University of Lanús) IOM reviewers Viviane Alt, T erhas Clark, Louis Hoffman, David Martineau, Pablo Rojas Coppari, Daniel Silva, Kristina Uzelac Academic reviewers Diego Acosta, Christelle Cazabat, Binod Khadria, Loren Landau, Henry Ngenyam Bang, Linda Oucho, Juan Ignacio Pérez Bello, Kerilyn Schewel, Rebecca Yeo Project Manager Céline Bauloz;2 Pablo Rojas Coppari3 Publication production manager Valerie Hagger IOM Research team Céline Bauloz,4 Jenna Blower,5 Giovanna Cuillo,6 Adrian Kitimbo, Micaela Lincango, Marie McAuliffe,7 Sofía Molina Araniva, Pablo Rojas Coppari Project administration Chiara De Leon and Anu Liisa Saarelainen Copyeditors Simon Hay Report layout Ramir Recinto Report webpage and interactive Adrian Kitimbo, Marie McAuliffe, Juliana Quintero, Xaquín Veira González, Mark Jason Gruta, Ray Leyesa, J.C. Borlongan Translations (FR and ES) French and Spanish Translation Units (IOM) Acknowledgements IOM is grateful to the editors, authors and to all of the reviewers, both IOM and academic, who provided constructive feedback on the draft chapters. We are especially grateful to IOM’s Director General, Amy E. Pope, and members of IOM’s senior leadership team, who supported this edition, including Ugochi Daniels, Eva Åkerman Börje, Muhammad Rizki and Stuart Campo. We also wish to acknowledge the Government of the United States of America for its 2024 financial donation.

and members of IOM’s senior leadership team, who supported this edition, including Ugochi Daniels, Eva Åkerman Börje, Muhammad Rizki and Stuart Campo. We also wish to acknowledge the Government of the United States of America for its 2024 financial donation. 1 Until July 2025, independent consultant from August 2025 until May 2026. 2 Until June 2025. 3 From July 2025 until May 2026. 4 Until June 2025. 5 Until May 2025. 6 Until February 2025. 7 Until July 2025.iv

WORLD MIGRATION REPORT 2026

Contributors Chapter 1: Report overview: migration during a time of increasing disruption and distortion Authors: Marie McAuliffe and Pablo Ceriani Cernadas Chapter 2: Migration and migrants: a global overview Main contributors: Adrian Kitimbo, Marie McAuliffe, Jenna Nassiri, Jerome Dolling and Guy Abel Other contributors: Julia Black Chapter 3: Migration and migrants: regional dimensions Main contributors: Adrian Kitimbo, Marie McAuliffe, Guy Abel, Jenna Nassiri Research assistants and other contributors: Jerome Dolling, Anny Yip-Ching Yu, Lea Mahfouz, Luisa Baptista De Freitas, Princelle Dasappa-Venketsamy, Khobib Elsayed Awad Mohamed, Olga Aymerich, Laura Bartolini, Luca Doll, Ivona Zakoska-T odorovska, T essa Claire Richardson, Alexandra Bonnie, Geertrui Lanneau Chapter 4: Migration and development: a strategic global asset at risk Authors: Marie McAuliffe, S. Irudaya Rajan, Gibril Faal and Micaela Lincango Chapter 5: Rethinking regular migration pathways: myths, realities and opportunities

Authors: Simon McMahon, Luciana Gandini and Balkissa Daouda Diallo Chapter 6: Addressing climate mobility: the role of local and community action Authors: Alina Narusova-Schmitz and Micaela Lincango Chapter 7: Internal displacement: trends, responses and solutions

Authors: Nikki Herwanger, Marie McAuliffe, Carolina Moreno and Naziye Dirikgil Research assistant: Jenna Nassiri Chapter 8: Disability and migration: trends, issues and responses

Authors: Céline Bauloz, Nicola Burns and Nara Khamkhom

Research assistant: Micaela Lincangov

WORLD MIGRATION REPORT 2026

Photographs Chapter 1 Bogota’s Mayoral Office runs the Orientation and Assistance Point (POA) in Bogota’s bus station where humanitarian partners like the International Organization for Migration (IOM) offer services to Venezuelan refugees and migrants. Bogota, Colombia. © IOM 2019/ Muse MOHAMMED Part I Venezuelans cross the Puente Internacional Simón Bolívar, the busiest border point connecting the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Colombia. Approximately 50,000 Venezuelans cross into Colombia through the three official border crossings in this Department daily. © IOM 2019/ Muse MOHAMMED Chapter 2 A scene from the Bushagara camp shows families going about their daily activities amidst rows of shelters. Despite the difficult conditions, life continues and families make the best of their temporary homes. Bulengo, Democratic Republic of the Congo. © IOM 2024/ Antoine LEMONNIER Chapter 3 In Somalia, there are an estimated 2.9 million people internally displaced due to conflict and natural hazards. Most of them are living in informal settlements, often without a land tenure agreement and in precarious conditions. © IOM 2021 Part II View of daily migrants crossing through one of the driest places in the world, trying to irregularly cross the border from the Plurinational State of Bolivia into Chile. Many of those who arrive on foot braving the Atacama Desert are Venezuelans looking for a better life. © IOM 2012/Richard ARANA

irregularly cross the border from the Plurinational State of Bolivia into Chile. Many of those who arrive on foot braving the Atacama Desert are Venezuelans looking for a better life. © IOM 2012/Richard ARANA Chapter 4 In Serbia, IOM and UNDP work together under the Swiss-funded project “Making Migration Work for Sustainable Development”. Young people and Roma returnees in local self-government of Prokuplje engaged in trainings for skills development and future employment with companies with whom a cooperation agreement is in place. Prokuplje, Serbia. © IOM 2022/Beyond Borders Media Chapter 5 Luay, his wife and four children prepare to be resettled to France where they hope to find better medical care for their son, who suffers from a medical condition and struggles to walk. The Syrian refugee family is looking forward to a new life. Beirut, Lebanon. © IOM 2019/Angela WELLS Chapter 6 A worker is laying the bricks of a shelter for people displaced by a climatic disaster. A woman brings a cement bucket. Bujumbura Mairie, Burundi. © IOM 2024/Alexander DEEvi

WORLD MIGRATION REPORT 2026

Chapter 7 The Bentiu Protection of Civilians site in South Sudan was established during the country’s civil war to shelter people fleeing violence. Over the years, it has become one of the largest displacement sites in the country, hosting tens of thousands of internally displaced persons. © IOM 2024/Muse MOHAMMED Chapter 8 Jasim looks at the missing roof where a bomb fell during the large scale operation to liberate the city from ISIS. He was hiding in the corner with 11 other relatives when the explosion caused the roof to collapse. Mosul, Iraq. © IOM 2018/Muse MOHAMMED Appendices Kateness migrated from Malawi to South Africa in search for better opportunities when she saw her cousin taking that same path. However once there, she didn’t found what she hoped for. Having reached out to IOM, she was assisted with return and reintegration support. She

Appendices Kateness migrated from Malawi to South Africa in search for better opportunities when she saw her cousin taking that same path. However once there, she didn’t found what she hoped for. Having reached out to IOM, she was assisted with return and reintegration support. She attended business trainings and together with her mother she now runs a little castor oil production business in Blantyre. Photos have been taken in the framework of the EU-IOM Knowledge Management Hub, funded by the European Union, and its audio-visual production activity on return and sustainable reintegration. © IOM 2022/Beyond Borders Media References Aerial view of Monterrey City in Nuevo León, Mexico. © IOM 2022/Alejandro

CARTAGENAvii

WORLD MIGRATION REPORT 2026

Contents Editorial, review and production team ............................................................................................................................................ iii Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................................................................iii Contributors ...............................................................................................................................................................................................iv Photographs ...................................................................................................................................................................................................v List of figures and tables ............................................................................................................................................ ..........................viii List of appendices ......................................................................................................................................................................................xi Foreword .......................................................................................................................................................................................................xii Chapter 1 – Report overview: migration during a time of increasing disruption and distortion ....................... 1 Part I Key data and information on migration and migrants ................................................................ 10 Chapter 2 – Migration and migrants: a global overview ...................................................................................................... 13 Chapter 3 – Migration and migrants: regional dimensions .................................................................................................. 43 Part II Complex and emerging migration issues ....................................................................................... 80 Chapter 4 – Migration and development: a strategic global asset at risk ....................................................................83 Chapter 5 – Rethinking regular migration pathways: myths, realities and opportunities .................................. 109 Chapter 6 – Addressing climate mobility: the role of local and community action ............................................ 127 Chapter 7 – Internal displacement: trends, responses and solutions .......................................................................... 151

Chapter 8 – Disability and migration: trends, issues and responses ........................................................................... 173 Appendices ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 195 References ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 241viii

WORLD MIGRATION REPORT 2026

List of figures and tables Chapter 1 Table 1. Key facts and figures from World Migration Report 2000 and World Migration Report 2026 ............... 5 Chapter 2 Table 1. International migrants since 1970 ..................................................................................................................................15 Figure 1. T op 20 international country-to-country migration corridors, 2024 ...........................................................16 Figure 2. International migrants, by sex ..........................................................................................................................................17 Figure 3. International migrants, by sex, top 20 destination countries (left) and origin countries (right) (millions) ............................................................................................................................18 Figure 4. International migrants, by sex, top 20 destination countries (left) and origin countries (right) – proportion ...................................................................................................................19 Figure 5. Migrant workers by destination country income level, 2013, 2017, 2019 and 2022 ........................... 20 Figure 6. Geographic distribution of migrant workers by sex (millions) ......................................................................... 21 Figure 7. Inflows of foreign nationals into OECD countries, permanent migration, 2003–2023 (millions) ............................................................................................................................................................23 Figure 8. Migrant deaths by region, 2014–2024 ......................................................................................................................... 24 Table 2. T op 10 countries receiving/sending international remittances (2010–2024) (current USD billion) ............................................................................................................................................................25 Figure 9. Average cost of sending 200 United States dollars by region of the world, 2015–2023 (percentage) ............................................................................................................................................................................27 Figure 10. Flows of internationally mobile students globally, 2002–2022 (millions) ..................................................... 28 Figure 11. Flows of internationally mobile students globally by gender, 2002–2022 (millions) .............................. 29

(percentage) ............................................................................................................................................................................27 Figure 10. Flows of internationally mobile students globally, 2002–2022 (millions) ..................................................... 28 Figure 11. Flows of internationally mobile students globally by gender, 2002–2022 (millions) .............................. 29 Figure 12. Number of refugees by top five countries of origin, 2005–2024 (millions) .............................................. 32 Figure 13. Number of refugees by top five host countries, 2005–2024 (millions) ...................................................... 33 Table 3. Number of refugees needing resettlement and number of refugees resettled globally, from 2005 ..................................................................................................................................................................................34 Figure 14. T op 20 countries with the largest populations of internally displaced persons by conflict and violence at the end of 2024 (millions) ........................................................................................ 37 Figure 15. Internal displacements due to conflict or violence and disaster, 2014–2024 (millions) ......................39 Chapter 3 Figure 1. Migrants to, within and from Africa, 1990–2024 ................................................................................................... 44 Figure 2. T op 20 countries with the largest proportional population change in Africa, 2005–2024 ............... 45 Figure 3. T op 10 migration corridors involving African countries, 2024 ........................................................................46 Figure 4. T op 10 African destination (left) and origin (right) countries by sex, 2024 .............................................. 47 Figure 5. T op 10 African countries by total refugees and asylum-seekers, 2024 ....................................................... 48 Figure 6. T op 20 African countries by internal displacements (disaster and conflict), 2024 .................................49 Figure 7. Migrants to, within and from Asia, 1990–2024 ...................................................................................................... 51 Figure 8. T op 20 countries with the largest proportional population change in Asia, 2005–2024 .................. 52ix

WORLD MIGRATION REPORT 2026

Figure 9. T op 10 migration corridors involving Asian countries, 2024 ............................................................................53

Figure 8. T op 20 countries with the largest proportional population change in Asia, 2005–2024 .................. 52ix

WORLD MIGRATION REPORT 2026

Figure 9. T op 10 migration corridors involving Asian countries, 2024 ............................................................................53 Figure 10. T op 10 Asian destination (left) and origin (right) countries by sex, 2024 ................................................. 54 Figure 11. T op 10 Asian countries by total refugees and asylum-seekers, 2024 .......................................................... 55 Figure 12. T op 20 Asian countries by internal displacements (disaster and conflict), 2024 .................................... 56 Figure 13. Migrants to, within and from Europe, 1990–2024 ................................................................................................ 57 Figure 14. T op 20 countries with the largest proportional population change in Europe, 2005–2024 ............ 58 Figure 15. T op 10 migration corridors involving European countries, 2024 ...................................................................59 Figure 16. T op 10 European destination (left) and origin (right) countries by sex, 2024 ......................................... 60 Figure 17. T op 10 European countries by total refugees and asylum-seekers, 2024 .................................................. 61 Figure 18. T op 20 European countries by internal displacements (disaster and conflict), 2024 ............................62 Figure 19. Migrants to, within and from Latin America and the Caribbean, 1990–2024 ......................................... 63 Figure 20. T op 20 countries with the largest proportional population change in Latin America and the Caribbean, 2005–2024 .......................................................................................................................................64 Figure 21. T op migration corridors involving Latin American and Caribbean countries, 2024 .............................. 65 Figure 22. T op Latin American and Caribbean destination (left) and origin (right) countries by sex, 2024 .............................................................................................................................................................................66 Figure 23. T op 10 Latin American and Caribbean countries by total refugees and asylum-seekers, 2024 .....67 Figure 24. T op 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries by internal displacements

by sex, 2024 .............................................................................................................................................................................66 Figure 23. T op 10 Latin American and Caribbean countries by total refugees and asylum-seekers, 2024 .....67 Figure 24. T op 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries by internal displacements (disaster and conflict), 2024 ..............................................................................................................................................68 Figure 25. Migrants to, within and from Northern America, 1990–2024 ........................................................................ 69 Figure 26. Countries with the largest proportional population change in Northern America, 2005–2024 ... 70 Figure 27. T op migration corridors involving Northern American countries, 2024 ....................................................71 Figure 28. Main destination (left) and origin (right) countries in Northern America by sex, 2024 ..................... 71 Figure 29. Number of refugees and asylum-seekers in and from Northern American countries, 2024 .......... 72 Figure 30. Northern American countries by internal displacements (disaster and conflict), 2024 ...................... 72 Figure 31. Migrants to, within and from Oceania, 1990–2024 .............................................................................................. 73 Figure 32. Countries with the largest proportional population change in Oceania, 2005–2024 .......................... 74 Figure 33. T op migration corridors involving Oceania, 2024 ..................................................................................................74 Figure 34. Main destination (left) and origin (right) countries in Oceania by sex, 2024 ........................................... 75 Figure 35. Number of refugees and asylum-seekers in and from Oceania, 2024 ........................................................ 75 Figure 36. T op countries in Oceania by internal displacements (disaster and conflict), 2024 ................................ 76 Chapter 4 Figure 1. International remittance flows to lowand middle-income countries (2000–2022) ............................ 86 Figure 2. Average cost of sending 200 United States dollars by region of the world, 2015–2022 (percentage) ........................................................................................................................................................................... 100 Chapter 5

Figure 1. International remittance flows to lowand middle-income countries (2000–2022) ............................ 86 Figure 2. Average cost of sending 200 United States dollars by region of the world, 2015–2022 (percentage) ........................................................................................................................................................................... 100 Chapter 5 Figure 1. Immigrants and emigrants by Human Development Index country category, 2020 ......................... 113 Figure 2. Association between Human Development Index scores and immigrant/emigrant stocks, 2005 ....................................................................................................................... 113x

WORLD MIGRATION REPORT 2026

Chapter 6 Figure 1. Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre records of weather-related internal displacements in 2024 ..................................................................................................................................... 131 Figure 2. Global climate migration projections ......................................................................................................................... 132 Figure 3. Climate mobility impacts dashboard ......................................................................................................................... 133 Table 1. Addressing climate-related mobility: a framework for local action ............................................................ 139 Chapter 7 Figure 1. Global numbers of internally displaced people since 2015 (millions) ........................................................ 151 Figure 2. Countries reporting the highest number of internally displaced people displaced by conflict (stock), 2019–2024 ..................................................................................................................................... 159 Figure 3. Countries reporting the highest number of internally displaced people displaced by disaster (stock), 2019–2024 .................................................................................................................................... 160 Figure 4. Humanitarian and unmet requirements, United Nations-coordinated appeals, 2013–2023 .......... 168 Chapter 8 Table 1. Overview of different definitional models of disability ..................................................................................... 175 Table 2. Factors underpinning a higher prevalence of disability in migrant and displaced populations ...... 178 Table 3. T ypes of ineligibility of people with disabilities for labour and family migration in immigration laws ............................................................................................................................................................ 182xi

WORLD MIGRATION REPORT 2026

List of appendices Chapter 3 Appendix A. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs: regions and subregions ............... 195 Chapter 4 Appendix A. Regional case studies............................................................................................................................................. ....... 200

in immigration laws ............................................................................................................................................................ 182xi

WORLD MIGRATION REPORT 2026

List of appendices Chapter 3 Appendix A. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs: regions and subregions ............... 195 Chapter 4 Appendix A. Regional case studies............................................................................................................................................. ....... 200 Chapter 5 Appendix A. Regional approaches and examples ..................................................................................................................... 204 Appendix B. Case Study 1: Latin America and Venezuelan migration ............................................................................ 206 Appendix C. Case Study 2: Africa’s free movement goals progress................................................................................. 207 Ap