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Journalism of Courage
Top 10 countries with the highest migrant populations in 2025: Migration has been a defining feature of human history, and in an increasingly globalised world, international migration continues to rise. According to the latest estimates by the United Nations, the number of international migrants nearly doubled since 1990, reaching 304 million in 2024.
Europe recorded the largest growth in international migrants among the eight global regions, with 94 million migrants in 2024. Countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Italy remain among the most popular destinations.
North America followed, hosting the second-largest number of international migrants – 61 million – with the United States alone accounting for 52.4 million, the highest number hosted by any country worldwide.
In the Gulf, countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates continue to rely heavily on foreign labour, with migrants forming the majority of their workforce. Qatar stood out, with over 76.7 per cent of its population in 2024 made up of foreign-born residents.
| Rank | Country | No. of International Migrants (in Millions) |
| 1 | United States | 52.4 M |
| 2 | Germany | 16.8 M |
| 3 | Saudi Arabia | 13.7 M |
| 4 | United Kingdom | 11.8 M |
| 5 | France | 9.2 M |
| 6 | Spain | 8.9 M |
| 7 | Canada | 8.8 M |
| 8 | United Arab Emirates | 8.2 M |
| 9 | Australia | 8.1 M |
| 10 | Russian Federation | 7.6 M |
Source: United Nations (2025)
Note: International migrants are defined as individuals living in a country other than their birth country for about 12 months, irrespective of reasons or status
India’s overall international migrant population has witnessed a consistent decline over the last three decades, from 1990 to 2024.
In 1990, international migrants constituted 0.8 per cent of India’s population, and by 2010, this percentage had fallen to 0.5 per cent.
Last year, the share of international migrants declined further to only 0.3 per cent, thereby highlighting a persistent downward trend.
