The G20 and migration
Last updated on
6 May 2021
The G20 countries are at the centre of not only global economic governance but also global migration governance. They play a leading role as their policy responses to migration challenges and opportunities affect migrants, countries of origin, transit and destination, and the world economy.
Data on G20 countries show the extent to which migration affects the G20’s demographic and socioeconomic spheres, but data limitations hamper more robust research that could allow policymakers to fully harness the economic potential of migration and formulate policies to promote safe, orderly and regular migration. In light of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, G20 leadership on more comprehensive, timely, and comparable migration data is essential.
As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses globally, the G20 has started addressing part of the needs of the migrant groups most affected by the pandemic by i) extending work and residency permits; ii) implementing policies to address migrant worker shortages; iii) addressing vulnerability by ensuring access to COVID-19 treatment; and iv) facilitating return migration.
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Definition
The Group of 20, also known as the G20, comprises the world's 20 leading industrialized nations and emerging economies. As shown in the infographic above, G20 members include the European Union (EU) and 19 other countries.
In terms of economies and population, the G20 countries together account for approximately 85 per cent of the global economic output, 75 per cent of international trade, 80 per cent of global investment, and 66 per cent of the world's population (IMF, 2018).
While G20 leaders have mentioned migration since the 2004 G20 Summit in Berlin, Germany, leaders have only consistently and explicitly included migration in its formal declarations and action plans since 2015. The inclusion of migration in the G20 has evolved from a narrow focus on specific topics such as remittances and labour migration to a broader focus on migration governance and other migration topics.
Any mentions of migration data are fewer, more recent and not specific. In 2017, leaders referred to the importance of collecting migration data when they called for monitoring displacement and migration and asked the OECD, in cooperation with ILO, IOM and UNHCR, to provide annual updates on migration trends and policy challenges (G20 Declaration, 2017). In 2018, OECD presented a report on migration trends and policy challenges, which referred to the need to have better, up-to-date international comparable data. In 2018 and 2019, G20 leaders committed to continuing the dialogue on issues presented in the report (especially concerning displacement and humanitarian needs), but did not specifically mention migration data (G20 Declaration, 2018; 2019).
While the G20 has recognized certain policies to harness migration’s potential, such as policy practices to integrate regular migrants and refugees into the labour market, it has yet to formally recognise policies and practices related to migration data.
Key trends
Net migration
The population of the G20 was estimated at 4.9 billion as of mid-year 2020, accounting for nearly 63 per cent of the world’s population (UN DESA, 2020). Globally, five G20 countries – the United States of America, Germany, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Canada – were projected to have the highest, positive net migration between 2015 and 2020. During the same time period, India and China were projected to have the lowest, negative net migration among all G20 countries (UN DESA, 2019).
Migrant stocks
While the number of international migrants worldwide grew by 83.4 per cent, the number in G20 countries grew by 99 per cent or 89.6 million from mid-1990 to mid-2020 (UN DESA, 2020). As of mid-2020, there were an estimated 281 million international migrants worldwide and 64 per cent of these resided in G20 countries (UN DESA, 2020). More than half of them (100.8 million) resided in five countries alone: the United States, Germany, Saudi Arabia, the Russian Federation, and the United Kingdom (ibid.). On a country basis, the share of migrants in the total population varies: it was 0.1 per cent in China and Indonesia and 0.4 per cent in India, while in Saudi Arabia and Australia, the share was 38.6 and 30.1 per cent respectively (ibid.).
Migrant flows (inflows)
In 2019, the latest available data indicate a considerable increase in overall migration flows to G20 countries. More than 12.5 million new temporary and permanent immigrants entered the G20 nations in 2019, a 10 per cent increase compared to the previous year (OECD et al., 2020a). The United States and Saudi Arabia each received around 2 million new migrants in 2019, ranking as the two main destination countries in the Group. Countries such as Brazil, the Russian Federation and Turkey also witnessed a sharp increase in migration flows: +50 percent, +33 per cent and +23 per cent, respectively (ibid.).
Increased migration inflows to Spain (+18 per cent) and the United Kingdom (+14 per cent) propelled total migration to the EU in 2019, excluding intra EU movements, to a new record of 3.4 million (+9%) (ibid.). Contrary to trends in other EU countries, new permanent and temporary migration inflows to Germany decreased in 2019 (-3%) for the second year in a row, totaling 1.3 million (ibid).
With regard to the first six months of 2020, the figures show a drastic drop in migration flows to G20 countries due to travel restrictions and the temporarily closed borders in the period of March-June 2020 (ibid.). As a result, the number of new permits declined on average by 45 per cent in G20 OECD countries and by over 50 per cent in Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United States and Australia (ibid.).
Remittances
In April 2020, Ratha et al. projected a decline in remittance flows to low and middle-income countries (LMICs) by about 20 per cent, given the unprecedented disruption of the economic activity and global mobility due to the outbreak of COVID-19 (2020a). A couple of months into the pandemic, however, its impact on remittances appeared to be both milder than previously forecasted and to have different impacts on certain countries and regions. This prompted Ratha et al. to adjust their projected decline to 7.2 per cent in 2020 and to 7.5 per cent in 2021 (2020b).
Although a general drop in remittances has been observed in many countries, a few of them defied the negative forecasts – with some even registering increases in remittance inflows. For example, Mexico recorded 1.5 times more inflows in March 2020 (the month in which the pandemic was declared) than in February 2020 (Mexico Central Bank, 2020). Pakistan and Bangladesh were also some of the countries that stood out as exceptions to the decline in remittances. Whilst the depreciation of Mexico’s peso against US dollar was the main driver of the “surge” in remittances to Mexico, in Bangladesh and Pakistan, the rise could be partly attributed to the “Haj effect” – migrants sending home the money they would have used for pilgrimage to Mecca had it not been for the reduction of Haj visas issued due to COVID-19 (Ratha et. al., 2020b).
For more information on the situation of remittances amid COVID-19, see our Remittances page and our new migration data relevant for the COVID-19 pandemic thematic page.
Refugees and asylum seekers
By mid-2020, 7.6 million refugees of the total 26.3 million worldwide resided in G20 countries (OECD et al., 2020a). This represented approximately 37 per cent of all refugees under UNHCR’s mandate; about half of these refugees were in Turkey (ibid.). Turkey continued to host the world’s largest population in need of international protection, reaching a total of 4 million refugees and asylum-seekers, including 3.6 million Syrian refugees (ibid.). 1 in 23 inhabitants in Turkey were refugees, making it the G20 country with the highest share of refugees.Sweden also has a relatively high share of refugees with 1 per 40, followed by Malta (1 in 49), Austria (1 in 65) and Germany (1 in 75) (ibid.).
During the first half of 2020, there were an estimated 586,100 new claims for asylum lodged globally – 32 per cent less than in the same period in 2019 (OECD et al., 2020a). The United States received the highest number (155,100) of new asylum applications by mid-2020,. Of all claims in the United States, nearly 3 out of 7 came from the north of Central America (ibid.). Germany was the third largest recipient of asylum applications in 2019 (142,500 claims) and received 49,000 claims in the first half of 2020(ibid.).
Labour market
Migrant workers are amongst the most vulnerable workers and have experienced the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic more than their native-born counterparts (OECD, et.al.). Available data show that even though unemployment rates have increased for both native-born and foreign-born workers, the rates are higher for the latter (ibid.). The sharpest increases in unemployment for immigrants were in Canada, Spain and the United States (ibid.). In Spain, for instance, unemployment increased by almost 9 percentage points for immigrants, whereas it declined by about 3 percentage points for the native-born (ibid.).
International students
In 2018, about 3.9 million international students were enrolled in tertiary education in the G20 countries (OECD et al., 2020). More than three in seven of these students were enrolled in the European Union and one in four in the United States. Overall, the top five G20 destination countries hosted nearly 62 per cent of international students (ibid.). Main European destinations are the United Kingdom (452,000), France (230,000) and Germany (312,000). Australia (445,000), Canada (225,000), the Russian Federation (262,000) and Japan (183,000) are other important destination countries for international students (ibid.).
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic created more obstacles for international students regarding their enrolment in higher education institutions abroad and their travels to begin studies (OECD et al., 2020a). Although international students benefitted from exceptions to travel bans, many universities had to either postpone the beginning of their semesters or close for certain periods. The academic year of 2020/2021 will likely be the first to experience a drop in the number of international students after years of constant increase (ibid.). G20 countries are nonetheless putting exceptional measures in place to prevent the expiry of visas and permits in order to give students more time to finish their studies(ibid.).
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Data sources
Comprehensive datasets covering all aspects of migration in every G20 member do not exist. What exists instead are disparate datasets covering selected migration topics for some or most of the G20, and in few cases, all of the G20:
1. International migrant stocks and flows, and net migration: UN DESA, OECD and Eurostat
The United Nations Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) compiles data and provides estimates on international migrant stocks from 1990 to 2020. These estimates are available by age, sex, country of origin and destination and cover 232 countries and territories, including all G20 countries.
In its 2019 World Population Prospects, UN DESA also provides datasets on two migration indicators: the net number of migrants and the net migration rate. The datasets contain estimates for 235 countries or areas, including for all G20 countries, and are available biennially with estimates and projections for the years 1950 to 2100.
OECD’s International Migration Database contains data on international migrant stocks and flows for the 34 OECD Member States, which include at least half of the G20 countries. The datasets on stocks and flows cover the years 2000 to 2019.
In terms of international migrant flow data, UN DESA’s 2015 International Migration Flows compiles the most current flow data available from 45 countries of destination, including some G20 countries.
Eurostat also provides flow data on the EU, which is part of the G20. Data have been compiled annually from 2005 to 2019.
Regional datasets which include information on migrant stocks and other key migration information from G20 countries also exist. For example, in Latin America, the Continuous Reporting System on International Migration in the Americas (SICREMI, its acronym in Spanish) collects data from diverse sources, such as censuses, surveys, and administrative records. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) also collects migration stock data and other migration data in its International Migration in Latin America (IMILA) database.
Read the stocks and flows pages for more details on datasets.
2. Labour migrants: ILO, UN SD, OECD and Eurostat
The International Labour Organization (ILO) maintains the ILOSTAT – ILO database of labour statistics (ILOSTAT), a collection of datasets on key indicators of the labour market, such as labour migration. . Datasets are organised into three subtopics: international migrant worker stocks, nationals abroad, and international migrant flow. ILO also publishes the Labour Force Surveys (LFSs) of approximately 200 countries and territories, including for most G20 countries. The UN Statistics Division collects, compiles and disseminates official demographic and social statistics on a number of topics, including employment.
OECD’s Databases on Immigrants in OECD Countries (DIOC) and Immigrants in OECD and non-OECD countries (DIOC-E) together provide labour migration-related data for 100 countries of destination and more than 200 countries of origin and cover most G20 countries. The datasets are based on population censuses, include data on labour market status, occupations and sectors of activity, and cover the years 2000-2001, 2005-2006, 2010-2011 and 2015-2016.
The Eurostat database provides comprehensive, harmonised labour force data on the EU member states and five other countries. For example, two datasets provide data on population by sex, age, citizenship and labour status and sex, age, country of birth and labour status.
Other datasets with a regional or national scope exist. Read more on the labour migration page.
3. Remittances and remittance prices: The World Bank
On an annual basis, the World Bank publishes datasets on global remittance inflows and outflows, as well as a matrix on bilateral remittances. Its annual remittances datasets cover over 200 countries and territories, including all G20 countries, and are based on the IMF Balance of Payments Statistics database and data releases from central banks, national statistical agencies, and World Bank country desks.
The World Bank also releases Remittance Prices Worldwide (RPW), a dataset on the cost of sending and receiving small amounts of money from one country to another. Data cover 365 country corridors worldwide, from 48 remittance sending countries to 105 receiving countries, including all G20 countries.
Key publications on remittance statistics for most or all of the G20 are on the remittances page.
4. Integration: OECD, Eurostat and IOM
As OECD’s DIOC and DIOC-E databases include data on labour market status, occupation, and educational attainment, they are also sources for data on migrant integration.
OECD, Eurostat and IOM provide statistics on integration for most of the G20 in key reports:
- • Indicators of Immigrant Integration 2018- The European Commission’s Eurostat and OECD analysed data on key integration indicators across the EU and OECD countries, with a focus on gender, youth with a migrant background and third-country nationals.
- • Indicators of Immigrant Integration: Eurostat examined survey data on migrants’ employment, education, social inclusion and civic participation to compare integration across EU countries.
- • IOM’s 2013 World Migration Report presents Gallup World Poll data on migrants’ well-being in over 150 countries, and provides information on migrant integration in low-income countries, an understudied area.
The Migration Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) measures migrant integration policies in more than half of the G20 as it covers EU Member States and other G20 countries.
5. Forced migration (forced displacement): UNHCR, IDMC and UNICEF
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)’s Statistics Database provides data on forcibly displaced persons from 1951 to mid-2020. Data cover approximately 200 countries and territories, including all G20 members.
The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) compiles and disseminates data on worldwide internal displacement due to conflict, violence and disasters in its Global Internal Displacement Database. Data cover approximately 200 countries and territories, including all G20 countries if data are relevant and available. Internal displacement data associated with conflict and generalised violence as well as disasters cover 2003 to 2019.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) provides datasets on child migrants and refugees per country and region in its UNICEF Global Databases. The datasets cover approximately 200 countries and territories, including all G20 countries.
Other sources can be found on the forced displacement page, but cover few G20 countries.
6. International students: UNESCO and OECD
The Institute for Statistics (UIS) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organisation (UNESCO) provides the most comprehensive datasets to date. UNESCO datasets on international students cover approximately 240 countries, including all G20 countries; data are from 1999 to 2018.
OECD provides various Education at a Glance datasets on international students that cover some, but not all, G20 countries. The datasets are generally from 2013 to 2018 and older datasets are archived.
More datasets are available on the international students page but cover selected G20 countries.
7. Gallup: Public opinion on migration
The World Values Survey (WVS) is a nationally representative survey conducted in almost 100 countries, including the majority of the G20 countries. Among the survey questions are questions on whether people would like or not like to have immigrants/foreign workers as neighbours, or whether when jobs are scarce, employers should give priority to native-born people over immigrants. The most current WVS Wave 6 (2010-2014) data are available. The WVS-7 survey will end in December 2019.
The Gallup World Poll is a global comparable survey implemented annually in more than 160 countries, including all G20 countries, and covering public opinion on many topics, including migration. The dataset on migration is not publicly available, but IOM GMDAC’s How the World Views Migration report presents, among other results, G20 poll results on two migration questions: (1) How they feel about migration levels and (2) what their perceptions on job competition between immigrants and native workers are. Gallup also publishes the migrant acceptance index, which provides information on people's acceptance of migrants in 139 countries, including all G20 countries.
Other sources are available but cover only some G20 countries—mostly EU ones. See the public opinion page.
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Data strength & limitations
Existing migration data sources that cover most — if not, all — G20 countries show that migration significantly affects different policy areas. These data sources, however, have limitations that hinder more robust research and are also applicable to migration data sources more generally:
Migration data are found across disparate sources: Comprehensive migration research on G20 countries requires finding and searching among many databases for given migration topics and harmonizing and reconciling data, definitions and/or methodologies. In addition, depending on the migration topic, only a few databases contain data on all G20 countries.
Different concepts, definitions and methodologies make comparisons and aggregations difficult: For example, statistical data sources such as censuses define the term "migrant" differently; some countries define "migrant" by country of birth; others by nationality.
Outdated data: Some migration data are more recent than others. Censuses — while a traditional and universal source of migration data — are conducted infrequently, only every 10 years or so.
Data are not always disaggregated by certain variables such as sex or migratory status: Although some migration data on G20 countries, such as data on the stock of international migrants, are disaggregated by sex, other key migration data are not.
Incomplete, duplicated, or unreliable data: For example, data on smuggling, trafficking, and irregular migration are often incomplete because the clandestine nature of these activities makes these data hard to count. Data on migrant deaths are at risk of duplication if different interviewees report the same death(s) and these are recorded separately.
Further reading
