10 Feb 2025
The movement of people from one region to another is quite common and is the primary motivation for some people for better living standards. Migration as a social aspect has remained a major influencing factor. In this post, we’ll focus on 10 interesting facts about migration, which aid in dispelling the statistics and illustrate the individual stories found in the figures and the impact of technology on modern-day immigration.
Reverse immigration has existed for centuries, and a globalized world offers more opportunities than ever. Canada, North America, and Western Europe may have remained the major countries most migrants flock to. Still, these are fast becoming countries of the past as people from developing countries, such as economies in South America and Asia, are now leaving their countries in droves; even countries in Africa are witnessing emigration. This brain drain is primarily due to wars, economic opportunities, and climate change affecting people badly.
Typically, people leave developing countries to live and work in developed nations, but the trend is changing. People from countries such as the Philippines, China, and India have started traveling to the Western world for better jobs, education, and even better healthcare facilities.
People tend to leave their countries mainly because they seek better job opportunities. They have higher chances of migrating to countries that offer more stable jobs with better pay scales. This is especially the case in the Middle East region, where the job market for migrant workers in construction, agriculture, and even home care services is increasing significantly.
Trade in technology significantly influences migration. Migrants and their families can use video conferencing and social networks to manage their finances.
As technological integration has enhanced the convenience of making remittances, many migrants have turned to online sources. These websites let migrants send money to their families through online platforms quickly and securely without the need for the conventional online remittance services. Migrants who use these digital methods appreciate the relatively reduced costs and the quick completion of their transactions.
When migrants send money back home or spend money within a new country, they are most likely to use a different currency. Money conversion apps have enabled easy currency conversion and, in turn, have allowed migrants to maximize their purchasing power. These applications can track exchange rates in real-time and charge low transaction fees for overseas transactions.
Remittances are one of the most significant contributors to the economies of many nations, supporting hundreds of millions worldwide. In 2022, the total value of remittances stood at 831 billion US dollars globally.
The advent of online money transfer services has resulted in remittances being completed quickly, at a lower price, and with added guarantees. This has helped to increase the ability of migrants and their families, particularly in areas where there is little or no access to the conventional banking systems, to make remittances.
Migrants are active participants in the economic activities of their host nations and their countries of origin. Many developed economies have sizable migrant workers in agriculture, health care, and construction, among other sectors.
In the United States, for instance, over 17% of the labor force are immigrants and primarily work in low-paying critical sectors. Immigrant workers fill labor shortages in the economy's construction, hospitality, and healthcare sectors.
Migrants are becoming more entrepreneurial by starting businesses that supply the local and immigrant population. It is cited that more immigrants open businesses than native-born Americans and help boost employment and economic activity.
Some skilled migrants are active in technology, healthcare, and finance are instrumental in bridging the talent deficiency in several countries. For example, in the USA, almost a quarter of the STEM people are skilled migrant workers.
Migration is primarily viewed economically, yet migrants are also exposed to cultural diversity and enrichment. One of the most striking examples of cultural exchange is the influence of migrants on global cuisine. Immigrant communities bring their traditional flavors, techniques, and ingredients to new regions, enriching local food cultures. As a result, restaurants worldwide showcase diverse cuisines from countries like Mexico, India, Italy, and Syria, allowing people to experience and appreciate authentic global flavors.
Migrant populations have also enabled the advancement of the arts. Literature, music, and films enjoyed worldwide today have remained a collective effort with active participation from the migrating people. Immigrant artists have remained crucial in developing modern art, music, and literature by offering different views and approaches.
Migration indeed comes with various opportunities as well as the emotional and psychological costs. Migrating to a new country is not always easy, and that’s why many migrants face a great deal of stress, a sense of isolation, and anxiety.
For many migrants, social isolation is a serious problem. Sometimes, immigrants are unable to adjust to new surroundings because of lingual challenges, lack of social support, or different customs, which inevitably makes them feel lonely or experience homesickness.
Aside from settlement patterns, policies and regulations also determine the migration volume. Immigration acts, visa provisions programs, and asylum policies dictate the rights of people to migrate in terms of regions and circumstances.
Each country has its own laws related to immigration and work visas. Nations like Canada, Australia, and Germany have developed a point-based immigration system to attract the talent. Other countries, on the other hand, have more stringent immigration policies, which aim to reduce the number of immigrants that enter the country.
Apart from labor immigration, the two primary sources of global migration are refugees and asylum seekers, fleeing various forms of violence, conflict, or persecution in their home countries. International organizations and national governments seek to assist these needy populations by offering them with humanitarian assistance and granting them asylum.
Climate change is increasingly taking center stage in influencing displacement as it has become the main course of displacement worldwide through multiple facets, such as widespread natural disasters and loss of the availability of natural resources.
In a world where the climate crisis continues to worsen and rapidly degrades the environment, leading to more flooding, drought, and rises in ocean levels, which, as a direct consequence, decreases the mass of habitable land for individuals. According to estimates from the United Nations, the number of people who could be displaced in 2050 due to climate change will peak at 200 million.
Faced with the threat of climate-induced displacement, communities that are at risk are being facilitated across the globe with adaptation strategies. This includes funding for preventive measures for climate change disasters.
Migration has been one of the most potent forces throughout history regarding the political landscape in both host and home countries.
The cross-border movement of people influences political processes within their countries and outside. For example, migration has been associated with election outcomes, policymaking debate, and nation identity formulation.
Often, such migrants have emerged as political participants, demanding better rights and political representation within their host countries. The voices of migrants in migrant-lending countries are taken to the consideration by the Migrant Rights Network, which believes that they ought to participate within the political processes.
Migration is more intricate than the average person would think. The following migration facts demonstrate the phenomenon and context in which it exists within the contemporary society.
Cyclic migration involves a lot of movement. Most migrants who move for employment or education do not stay in their new countries but return after achieving their life goals. It ensures that strong ties exist between the migrants and their home communities.
The global economy would not be the same without the involvement of migrants. Through remittances, investment, and knowledge transfer, migration accelerates growth in economies of both the host and home countries.
Migration is a broad and dynamic phenomenon. The migration facts highlighted in this article raise migratory issues, challenges, and experiences many have faced across the world. In terms of progress, you can see new technological applications that have changed the lives of millions of migrants on the move, such as online payment services, digital apps, and money-exchange services. As migration will remain one of the enduring features of our world, these migration facts will help us understand why migrants matter and why it is essential to focus on technology about migration.
Technology has improved migration, as online apps allow easy-to-manage offshore money transfers, conversion rates, and commutation. These apps will also enable migrants to keep in touch with relatives easily, send and receive payments, and conduct cross-border business activities at reduced costs and quicker speeds.
The funds sent by migrants working abroad back to their families are called remittances. They are instrumental in boosting the economy in the developing context as they assist those families with their daily needs, such as health, education, and even shelter provision. In some countries, remittances have a sizable impact on the economy and constitute a considerable portion of the country's gross domestic product.
Migrants are crucial in the job markets of their countries of origin and the receiving countries. Many migrants perform critical functions in agriculture, health, and building industries. In addition, trained migrants help fill skill gaps in sectors such as information technology and finance, which are essential for growth.
The climate crisis has a more sophisticated effect on migration patterns since the increasing warmth, floods, droughts, and other environmental catastrophes cause people to leave their homes. Due to climate change, the UN expects that effect could rise to about two hundred million by 2050, which shows the critical advantage of developing climate migration strategies.
Governments are equally crucial in shaping migration through regulations and other laws. Immigration law, visa policies, and asylum policies determine who will move and under what conditions. To effectively manage migration, the sending and receiving countries must bear in mind the economic advantages that migration presents and the attendant social and political issues that the migration process entails while incorporating migrants into their new communities, some of which they are moving to.
