Migration to developed countries declines for second year: OECD

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 Organisation 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.

While 2025 marked an overall decline in migration, the number of permanant immigrants settling for the long term was up 12 percent compared with 2019.

Three countries recorded a notable spike in permanent migrants in 2025.

Portugal saw a 139-percent increase to 313,600 individuals, resulting from approvals of a backlog of pending residency permits.

Spain saw a 25-percent increase to 460,500 people, notaby after having broadened its residency policies.

Italy saw a 45-percent increase to 248,800 people, largely attributed to a flux of family and labour migration.

Other countries saw significant declines in permanent migrants.

The United States saw a 14-percent drop, although it still leads OECD countries recording more than 1.2 million permanent migrants in 2025.

Canada saw a 19-percent decrease to 393,800 people, and the United Kingdom a 32 percent decline to 295,800 people.