Migration Flows Bounced Back in 2021

Following a record decline in 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis, migration flows to the countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) increased by 22% in 2021. Data suggests that the increase in migration flows continued in 2022 as well. Family migration increased by 40% in 2021 and remained the largest category of inflow. Migration within free movement areas was less affected by the pandemic, decreasing by 17% in 2020.

This trend persisted in 2021, with an estimated 2% decrease, largely due to Brexit. Free mobility within the 27 EU countries slightly recovered, with an estimated 4% increase. Labour migration to OECD countries saw a strong rebound, rising by 45% in 2021. After four consecutive years of decline, permanent humanitarian migration increased slightly by 4% in 2021. The number of new asylum applications to OECD countries increased by 28% in 2021, surpassing one million. Nicaragua, Afghanistan, and Syria were the main countries of origin.

More information: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/30fe16d2-en/index.html?itemId=/content/publication/30fe16d2-en