Asia and the Pacific is home to over 42 million international migrants
Source: DESA1
Regional standing in global migration
Origin
Where migrants come from
Destination
Where migrants go to
Country-to-country corridors (Asia-Pacific and rest of the world)
Demographics
What percentage of the population are migrants?
While Australia had the largest presence of migrants in the region (7 million), Macao SAR, China had the highest number of migrants – as a share of the total population (30.1%) as of mid-2020.
Source: DESA 1
Age and sex breakdown of migrants in the Asia-Pacific region
The share of male (50.4%) and female (49.6%) migrants in the region was roughly balanced as of mid-2020. Migrants in the region aged 20-64 years old constituted 72.3%, while migrants aged 19 or below represented 14.7% of the total number of migrants.
Source: DESA 1
Remittances
By the end of 2023, the Asia-Pacific region accounted for 17.1% of all annual remittance outflows worldwide, but 39.1% of annual remittance inflows worldwide.
Outflow
Inflow
Source: World Bank/KNOMAD
In 2023, remittances to the Asia-Pacific region amounted to USD 335 billion and outflow amounted to USD 90 billion.
Source: World Bank/KNOMAD
Type of migration
Labour Migration
Labour Migration data is available on specific country pages.
Who are refugees and asylum seekers?
An asylum seeker is “a person who seeks safety from persecution or serious harm in a country other than his or her own and awaits a decision on the application for refugee status under relevant international and national instruments. In case of a negative decision, the person must leave the country and may be expelled, as may any non-national in an irregular or unlawful situation, unless permission to stay is provided on humanitarian or other related grounds.”
A refugee is “a person who, owing to a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinions, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country (Art. 1(A)(2), Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, Art. 1 A(2), 1951 as modified by the 1967 Protocol).”
Source: IOM
Source: UNHCR
Who are internally displaced persons (IDPs)?
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) refer to “persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights or natural or human-made disasters, and who have not crossed an internationally recognized State border”.
Source: IOM
Total number of internally displaced people A snapshot of all people living in internal displacement at the end of the year
Total number of internal displacements The number of forced movements of people within the borders of their country recorded during a year. (Figures may include individuals who have been displaced more than once.)
Source: IDMC
Policy
Percentage of Asia–Pacific countries reporting measures to facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration by policy domain
61% of Asia-Pacific governments with available data* reported having policies to promote Migrant Rights.
*Based on the 23 Asia–Pacific countries that reported data on SDG Indicator 10.7.2 as of 31 October 2021
Source: DESA & IOM
Which countries have ratified the most Core International Human Rights Treaties?
What does ratification mean?
When a State ratifies one of the international human rights treaties, it assumes a legal obligation to implement the rights recognized in that treaty. Through ratification, States undertake to put in place domestic measures and legislation compatible with their treaty obligations.
With 17 out of 18 International Core Human Rights Treaties ratified and their associated optional protocols, Mongolia has the highest number of ratified treaties in the Asia-Pacific region.
Source: OHCHR 2
Disclaimers
- 1) Only country data are shown on the map whereas data for countries, territories or areas are shown in the chart. Data presented follow data provider’s classification in the original dataset and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IOM concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries.
- 2) This map is for illustration purposes. The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by IOM. Dotted line represents approximately the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan. The final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not yet been agreed upon by the parties.