Migration to 'developed' countries declines for second year: OECD

PARIS: Migration to developed countries dwindled for a second year in a row in 2025, down 1.6 percent compared to the previous year, according to an OECD report published Thursday.

While still experiencing high numbers, the 38 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries recorded 6.1 million new permanent immigrants in 2025, compared to 6.2 million the previous year.

There has been a backlash in many Western countries against the arrival of irregular migrants fleeing conflict, authoritarian rule and economic hardship in their home countries.

Legal humanitarian migration dropped “sharply” by 26 percent in 2025 compared with 2024, the report found. Labour migration increased by 13 percent.