Migration to Developed Countries Falls Again: OECD
Migration to developed countries fell for a second year in a row in 2025, according to a report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The 38 OECD states recorded 6.1 million new permanent immigrants last year, down 1.6 per cent from 6.2 million the year before.
The fall comes as many Western governments tighten rules for people arriving from conflict zones and poorer countries. Legal humanitarian migration dropped sharply, down 26 per cent in 2025 compared with 2024. Labour migration, by contrast, rose by 13 per cent.
The report was published in Paris on Thursday. It found that permanent migration remained high by historical standards, running 12 per cent above 2019 levels.
Migration to developed countries falls in US, UK and Canada
The three largest destination countries all recorded falls. Permanent migration to the United States fell 14 per cent, although it still led all OECD countries with more than 1.2 million new permanent migrants.
Canada saw a 19 per cent drop to 393,800 people. The United Kingdom recorded a 32 per cent fall to 295,800 people.
Three countries moved the other way. Portugal saw a 139 per cent increase to 313,600 people, after it approved a backlog of pending residency permits. Spain rose 25 per cent to 460,500 people after broadening its residency policies. Italy increased 45 per cent to 248,800 people, largely through family and labour migration.
India remained the leading country of origin for migration to the OECD in 2024, ahead of China and Colombia, according to the latest figures available.
Asylum applications fall 22 per cent
Asylum applications also fell. The 1.1 million applications recorded in 2025 marked a 22 per cent drop across OECD countries, excluding the United States, compared with the previous year. The figure remained about 10 per cent higher than in 2019.
Men continued to account for most migration flows to OECD countries. Women made up about 46 per cent of new immigrants in 2024, the latest year with full data. The United States and Ireland admitted more women than men, at 54 per cent female immigrants each, followed by Sweden at 53 per cent and Israel, Chile, Australia and New Zealand at 52 per cent each.
The report also looked at the longer term. With the OECD working-age population set to fall by 8 per cent by 2060, migration could help lift long-term productivity in ageing societies, the report said.
“With the OECD working-age population set to decrease by 8pc by 2060, pushing overall growth downwards, reviving productivity growth is key to maintaining living standards,” said Mark Pearson, the OECD’s acting director of Employment, Labour and Social Affairs.
The tightening is visible in the policies of destination countries. Canada has opened a new permanent residency pathway for skilled workers, even as overall numbers fall. The Netherlands has ended permanent asylum residence, another sign of the stricter mood. The UAE has scrapped paperwork for 13 work permits, easing one Gulf route even as Western doors narrow. Closer to home, an airport visa scam in Islamabad showed how fraudsters exploit the demand for overseas travel.
For people hoping to move abroad, the message of the report is mixed. The doors have not closed, but they have narrowed. Permanent migration is still well above pre-pandemic levels, and labour migration is growing. The sharpest cuts have fallen on humanitarian routes and asylum, not on workers.
Frequently asked questions
How much did migration to OECD countries fall?
New permanent migration fell 1.6 per cent in 2025 to 6.1 million people, the second yearly fall in a row. It remained 12 per cent above 2019 levels.
Which countries saw the biggest falls?
The United States fell 14 per cent to more than 1.2 million, Canada fell 19 per cent to 393,800 and the United Kingdom fell 32 per cent to 295,800.
Which countries saw increases?
Portugal rose 139 per cent to 313,600 after clearing a residency backlog, Spain rose 25 per cent to 460,500 and Italy rose 45 per cent to 248,800.
What happened to asylum applications?
They fell 22 per cent to 1.1 million across OECD countries, excluding the United States, but remained about 10 per cent above 2019.
