1. 59 per cent are in high-income countries
NUMBER OF MIGRANTS
Worldwide: 191 million in 2005
Of which
In high-income developed: 91 million
In high-income developing: 21 million
Consequently:
59 per cent are in high-income countries
United Nations Population Division, 2007

2. ASYMMETRIC GROWTH BY INCOME GROUP
Millions
The link between economic development and international migration is even clearer when we look at changes over time is presented in yellow, 2005 in orange.
From 1990 to 2005, the number of international migrants in high-income developed countries increased by 34 million. As the graph shows, this group recorded the highest increase from 1990 to 2005.
In the high-income developing countries, the number of international migrants increased by 7 million or 50 per cent from 1990 to 2005.
In all other groups, the number of international migrants increased very little or decreased.
Conclusion: almost the entire increase in the global number of international migrants since 1990 was recorded in the high-income developed countries.
United Nations Population Division, 2007

3. MIGRANT STOCK IS ALMOST EQUALLY DIVIDED INTO THREE TYPES
53 million
North
North
62 million
14 million
61 million
International migrants are also not equally distributed according to origin. As the previous chart, this chart shows everyone who ever moved to another country. “North” means developed countries and “South” means the developing countries.
The largest group of international migrants, 62 million, are from the South but are living in the North. This population is represented by the blue arrow.
61 million international migrants, are from the South and are also living in the South. These migrants are represented by the yellow arrow.
There is also a large number of international migrants, 53 million, who are from the North and also living in the North. These migrants are represented by the grey arrow.
As the pink arrow shows, only 14 million international migrants are from the North but living in the South.
Two important conclusions can be drawn. First, the North attracts most international migrants. This confirms our earlier findings. Second, and more surprisingly, international migration within the South, with its much bigger population, is not higher than migration from the South to the North.
South
South
United Nations Population Division, 2007

4. United Nations Population Division, 2007
MIGRANTS CONSTITUTE HIGH PROPORTIONS OF THE POPULATION IN FEW COUNTRIES (MIGRANTS AS PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION, 2005)
United Nations Population Division, 2007