Recent data from the United Nations reveals that global international migration has reached 304 million people in 2024, representing a twofold increase since 1990. The statistics show surprising patterns in where migrants are settling, with several unexpected nations hosting the highest proportions of foreign-born residents.
Leading the world in migrant population share is Qatar, where international migrants constitute 76.7% of total residents. The Gulf states dominate the top rankings, with the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait following at 74.0% and 67.3% respectively. These nations’ economies are heavily dependent on foreign workers, particularly through their kafala employment system, which connects migrant laborers directly to employers.
Small European nations also feature prominently among countries with high migrant populations. Monaco (70.2%), Liechtenstein (69.4%), and Andorra (59.1%) all rank in the top positions, their high percentages attributed to their compact size and roles as financial and tourist destinations.
While proportional rankings show one perspective, absolute numbers tell a different story. The United States remains the primary destination for international migrants, hosting 52.4 million foreign-born residents as of 2024. The Mexico-U.S. migration corridor continues to be the world’s busiest, with over 10 million Mexican-born individuals now residing in the United States.
On a regional scale, Europe leads globally with 94 million
international migrants, while Northern America – encompassing the United States, Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon – follows with 61 million. These regions have maintained their status as preferred migration destinations for decades.
The definition of an international migrant in this context refers to any individual residing in a country other than their birth nation for at least 12 months, regardless of their legal status or motivation for relocating. This includes people moving for various reasons, from seeking employment opportunities to fleeing conflict.
Other notable countries with significant migrant populations include Singapore, where nearly half (48.7%) of residents are foreign-born, and Jordan, with 45.7%. Traditional immigration destinations like Australia (30.4%), New Zealand (28.2%), and Canada (22.2%) maintain substantial migrant populations, reflecting their long-standing policies of welcoming international residents.
The data highlights how global migration patterns have evolved, with smaller nations often hosting proportionally larger migrant
populations than larger countries. This trend is particularly evident in places like Luxembourg (51.2%) and Malta (37.0%), where economic opportunities and specialized industries attract international workers.
The phenomenon of high migrant populations in Gulf states is largely driven by their economic models, which rely heavily on foreign labor for various sectors, from construction to domestic work. The kafala system, though controversial, has been instrumental in facilitating this large-scale labor migration.
These statistics reflect the increasingly interconnected nature of the global economy and workforce, with people moving across borders at unprecedented rates. The doubling of international migrant numbers since 1990 demonstrates how mobility has become a defining feature of the modern world, reshaping demographics and economies across the globe.