Bangladesh

Most immigrants to Bangladesh arrive from neighboring Asian nations due to shared borders, historical ties, and growing regional trade. People from nearby countries like Myanmar, Malaysia, and China make up the vast majority of arrivals. Today, well over a million people from Myanmar live in Bangladesh, alongside several hundred thousand individuals seeking economic opportunities from across East and Southeast Asia.

For many decades, migration remained relatively stable as regional traders and workers moved steadily across borders. This pattern shifted dramatically when severe conflict and persecution in Myanmar triggered a massive humanitarian crisis, forcing hundreds of thousands of refugees to suddenly seek safety in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, recent infrastructure booms and foreign investment have increasingly drawn skilled professionals from rapidly developing economies like China and Malaysia.

Most emigrants from Bangladesh settle in the Middle East or neighboring India, driven by deep historical ties and vital economic opportunities. Well over three million Bangladeshi workers currently live in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, drawn by the massive demand for labor in rapidly expanding Gulf economies. Meanwhile, shared cultural roots maintain a huge diaspora in India, and established community networks continuously attract skilled professionals to the United Kingdom and the United States.

For decades, India was the primary destination for Bangladeshis moving steadily across the border for family, safety, and regional trade. This pattern shifted dramatically as infrastructure booms in the Middle East transformed countries like Saudi Arabia into the top destination for workers seeking higher wages to support families back home. In recent years, growing global connectivity has also accelerated migration further abroad, with hundreds of thousands of people now pursuing advanced education and specialized careers across North America and Europe.