The G20 and migration
Last updated on
9 June 2020
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.
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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).
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).
In terms of migration, the G20 countries host approximately 65 per cent of world’s international migrants, including many different types of migrants such as labour migrants, refugees and international students, among others (OECD, 2018). Highly skilled migrants, in particular, play an important role in filling jobs in the technical sector of some G20 countries. In Australia, immigrants account for 45 per cent of all scientists, while in the US, immigrants account for over 35 per cent of recent enrolments in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) fields (Martin-Shields and Munir-Asen, 2018). In Canada, foreign-born STEM workers comprise 44 per cent of all STEM positions (ibid.).
In addition, three G20 countries, namely India, China and Mexico, are among the top 5 remittance-receiving countries (World Bank, 2018). Also noteworthy is that two G20 countries, the US and Mexico, comprise the largest bilateral migration corridor in the world.
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 labor 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 have better, up-to-date international comparable data. G20 leaders committed to continuing the dialogue on issues presented in the report but did not specifically mention migration data (G20 Declaration, 2018).
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 recognize policies and practices related to migration data.
Key trends
Net migration
The population of the G20 increased by more than 7 million from 2015 to 2017 due to net migration, reaching a total of 4.7 billion by the end of 2017 (OECD based on Eurostat and UN DESA data, 2018). The countries with the highest net migration between 2015 and 2017 were the United States (2.7 million), Germany (+2.1 million) and Turkey (+900 000). Only Indonesia, Mexico, India, and China had more emigrants than immigrants during this same period (ibid).
Migrant stocks
While the number of international migrants in the rest of the world grew by 45 per cent, the number in G20 countries grew by 86 per cent or 77 million from 1990-2017 (OECD based on UN DESA and OECD data, 2018).
In 2017, there were an estimated 258 million international migrants worldwide and 65 per cent of these resided in G20 countries (OECD based on UN DESA data, 2018). Half of them resided in four countries alone: the United States, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and the Russian Federation (ibid.). The share of international migrants in the total population of the G20, however, remains small at 3.5 per cent (ibid.). On a country basis, the share of migrants in the total population varies: It was 0.1 and 0.4 per cent in China and India, while in the European Union and the United States, the share was 11 and 15 per cent respectively (ibid.).
Migrant flows (inflows)
In 2017, the overall total migration to G20 countries declined compared to previous years, but the trend varies across countries (OECD based on SICREMI, ADBI, and ILO data, 2018). For example, Germany and the United States saw decreases in inflows in 2017, while countries like France, Japan, South Korea, Italy and Spain saw an increase (ibid.). The United States was the main G20 destination country for new migrants in 2017 with just under 2.5 million new permanent and temporary migrants despite the first decrease of migration flows since 2010 (ibid).
Remittances
Three of the top five remittance-receiving countries are G20 countries: India (~USD 69 billion), China (~USD 64 billion) and Mexico (~USD 31 billion) (World Bank, 2018). It is getting cheaper to send remittances from G20 countries.
As of the first quarter of 2017, the average cost of sending remittances from G20 countries was 7.7 per cent, a 20 per cent decrease since 2011 (OECD, 2017), suggesting G20 cooperation on lowering the costs of sending remittances has an impact. However, these costs still remain above the Sustainable Development Goal 10.7’s target of 3 per cent sought to be attained by 2030.
Refugees and asylum seekers
At the end of 2017, 7 million refugees of the total 25.4 million worldwide resided in G20 countries (OECD based on UNHCR data, 2018). This represented approximately one third of all refugees under UNHCR’s mandate; more than half of these refugees were in Turkey (ibid.). In Turkey, there are 43 refugees per 1,000 inhabitants, the highest among all OECD member countries. Sweden also has a relatively high proportion of refugees with 24 per 1,000, followed by Malta, Austria, Germany and Denmark (ibid.).
Of the 1.7 million asylum applications submitted in 2017 to UNHCR or States in “first instance” procedures, 1.3 million were in G20 countries (OECD based on UNHCR data, 2018). The United States received the most (331,700 cases) new asylum applications in 2017, representing a 27 percent increase from 2016 and nearly double the number in 2015. Applicants from the North of Central America made up 43 percent of all claims in the United States (ibid.). Germany, which received the largest number of asylum applications in 2016 (722,400 claims), saw a 73 percent decrease in 2017 (198,300 claims) (ibid.).
Labour market
Across the G20, foreign-born individuals are slightly more likely to be employed than the native-born, with 68 per cent of the foreign-born employed compared to 64 per cent of the native-born. Foreign-born workers account for 10 per cent of the employed population in G20 countries (OECD based on OECD and Eurostat data, 2018). However, according to available data, one third of migrants in the G20 countries are overqualified for the work they do. They are also more likely to be employed part-time, temporary or in some other form of non-standard employment (ibid.).
International students
In 2015, about 3.6 million international students were enrolled in tertiary education in the G20(OECD based on UNESCO data, 2018). More than two in five students were enrolled in the European Union and one in four in the United States. Overall, the top five G20 destination countries host nearly 60 per cent of international students (ibid.). Main European destinations are the United Kingdom (431,000), France (239,000) and Germany (229,000). Australia (294,000), Canada (172,000), the Russian Federation (226,000) and Japan (132,000) are other important destination countries for international students (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 on international migrant stocks in its UN Global Migration Database (UNGMD). The database provides datasets on the most recent estimates of international migrant stocks at the global, regional and national levels and covers more than 200 countries and territories, including all G20 countries.
In its 2017 World Population Prospects, UN DESA also provides datasets on two migration indicators: the net number of migrants and net migration rate. The datasets contain estimates for 233 countries, including for all G20 countries, and are available biennially covering 1950 to 2015.
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 2000-2014.
In terms of international migrant flow data, UN DESA’s 2015 Revision of 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 half of the G20 because its datasets cover the EU. Data have been compiled annually from 2005 to 2016.
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
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. The datasets on labour migration cover more than 200 countries, including all G20 countries; data are from 2004 to 2016. Datasets are organized into three subtopics: international migrant 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 all G20 countries as they cover 100 countries of destination and more than 200 countries of origin. 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 and 2010-2011.
The Eurostat database covers labour migration-related information for at least half of the G20 countries as it provides comprehensive, harmonized labour force data on the EU28 member states and five other countries. For example, one dataset (migr_emp) provides data on population by sex, age, citizenship, 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 2015- The European Commission’s Eurostat and OECD analyzed data on key integration indicators across the EU and OECD countries, with a focus on third country nationals in the EU and young people with an immigrant background.
- 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 2014. 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 generalized violence cover 2003 to 2016, while data on displacement associated with sudden-onset natural hazard-related disasters cover 2008 to 2016.
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 organization (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 2016.
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 2017; 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 neighbors, 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 cannot always be 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, can be disaggregated by sex, other key migration data cannot.
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
| Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) | |
| 2018 | G20 global displacement and migration trends report 2018. OECD Publishing, Paris. |
| 2017 | G20 global displacement and migration trends report 2017. OECD Publishing, Paris. |
| Beheran, M., Cerrutti, M., Donato K. and Giorgiuli S. | |
| 2018 | Strengthening data on migration to inform policy making. Policy brief. G20 insights, n.p. |
| Khasru, S., K. Mahmud and A. Nahreen | |
| 2017 | The G20 Countries Should Assume Leadership of the Forced Migration Crisis and Mitigate the Deficiencies of the Existing Governance System. Policy brief. G20 insights. |
| Greco, J. | |
| 2017 | Migration in the G20: Thinking ahead without acting the now. The Global Policy Journal, n.p. |
| Garcia Diez, S. and D. O'Donnell | |
| 2017 | G20 in Figures: Summit of the G20 states in Hamburg 2017. Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), Hamburg. |
| Think 20 Germany | |
| 2017 | 20 Solution Proposals for the G20 from the T20 Engagement Group. G20 Insights, n.p. |
| International Organization for Migration (IOM) | |
| 2015 | How the World Views Migration. IOM, Geneva. |
| 2017 |
MigFacts: Migration and the G20. IOM, Berlin.
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| The World Bank | |
| 2014 | Report on the Remittance Agenda of the G20. The World Bank, Washington, D.C. |
| Information on the 2018 G20 Summit in Argentina is available online. | |
