Question 1

What is net migration and how is it calculated?

Accepted Answer

Net migration is the net number of immigrants arriving in a country minus the number of emigrants departing per year. It is measured in people per year, and across the 216 countries covered in 2024, the global world value is exactly 0. This is because every person leaving one country is counted as an arrival in another.

Question 2

Which country has the highest and lowest net migration in 2024?

Accepted Answer

In 2024, the United States has the highest net migration in the world, gaining 1,286,132 people per year. Conversely, Pakistan has the lowest net migration, experiencing a net loss of 1,401,173 people. These figures highlight the extreme ends of population movement across the 216 countries tracked.

Question 3

How does the global net migration total trend over time?

Accepted Answer

The total global net migration always remains at exactly 0 people per year, including in our 2024 data. This is because every person who emigrates from one nation is counted as an immigrant to another among the 216 countries covered. Therefore, global trends focus on the shifting distribution of people between countries rather than a worldwide net increase or decrease.

Question 4

Why is Pakistan's net migration so low compared to other countries?

Accepted Answer

Pakistan has the lowest net migration globally in 2024, with a massive net outflow of 1,401,173 people per year. This high rate of emigration is generally driven by economic challenges, inflation, and citizens seeking better employment opportunities abroad. In contrast, destination countries like the United States attract these global migrants, leading to their high positive net migration.

Question 5

Does a negative net migration mean a country's total population is shrinking?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily, because a country's total population change also depends on its natural increase, which is total births minus deaths. For example, even though Pakistan has a net migration of -1,401,173 people per year in 2024, a high domestic birth rate may offset these departures. Net migration only measures the movement of people across borders, not the overall population growth.

Question 6

How does the United States compare to the rest of the world in attracting migrants?

Accepted Answer

The United States leads the 216 tracked countries by a significant margin, recording a net migration of 1,286,132 people in 2024. This means the U.S. takes in over a million more people than it loses to emigration annually, making it the top global destination for migrants. This massive influx strongly contrasts with countries experiencing heavy outflows, such as Pakistan at the very bottom of the index.

net-migration