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| Does migration change life for the better for people from poor countries? | Does migration change life for the better for people from poor countries? |
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| The global migration debate has overlooked the experiences of millions of people who move between developing countries, according to a new report that says policymakers are too focused on immigrants in rich countries and the money they send home to their families. | |
| The 2013 World Migration Report, released on Friday by the International Organisation of Migration (IOM), draws on data from the Gallup World Poll to present, for the first time, a global picture of the gains and losses associated with migration from the perspective of migrants themselves. | The 2013 World Migration Report, released on Friday by the International Organisation of Migration (IOM), draws on data from the Gallup World Poll to present, for the first time, a global picture of the gains and losses associated with migration from the perspective of migrants themselves. |
| Migrants moving between developing countries have become a "blind spot" for policymakers, with the focus on immigration in rich countries skewing the debate, warns the report. | Migrants moving between developing countries have become a "blind spot" for policymakers, with the focus on immigration in rich countries skewing the debate, warns the report. |
| "Whereas the migration and policy debate tends to be overwhelmingly focused on the situation of migrants in the North, it is migrants in the South who would appear to be most vulnerable and in need of attention," it argues. | "Whereas the migration and policy debate tends to be overwhelmingly focused on the situation of migrants in the North, it is migrants in the South who would appear to be most vulnerable and in need of attention," it argues. |
| The report collated data collected by Gallup about the experiences of 25,000 migrants and 441,000 non-migrants in 150 countries. Respondents were asked what they have gained and lost through migration, how satisfied they are with their lives, whether they find it more difficult to find jobs or start a business, and whether they are likelier to report health problems. | The report collated data collected by Gallup about the experiences of 25,000 migrants and 441,000 non-migrants in 150 countries. Respondents were asked what they have gained and lost through migration, how satisfied they are with their lives, whether they find it more difficult to find jobs or start a business, and whether they are likelier to report health problems. |
| The findings suggested the greatest gains in wellbeing come from migration to rich countries. Migrants moving from one rich country to another – the UK to Canada, for instance – reported the highest levels of life satisfaction, financial security, personal safety, and health. | The findings suggested the greatest gains in wellbeing come from migration to rich countries. Migrants moving from one rich country to another – the UK to Canada, for instance – reported the highest levels of life satisfaction, financial security, personal safety, and health. |
| In contrast, migrants who moved between developing countries – Indonesia to Malaysia, for example – seemed to fare similarly or worse, according to the report. They were also identified as the group least likely to feel optimistic about their lives. | In contrast, migrants who moved between developing countries – Indonesia to Malaysia, for example – seemed to fare similarly or worse, according to the report. They were also identified as the group least likely to feel optimistic about their lives. |
| Nearly 30% reported having struggled to afford shelter in the previous year; 23% said they had money or property stolen. | Nearly 30% reported having struggled to afford shelter in the previous year; 23% said they had money or property stolen. |
| Moreover, health outcomes within this group were found to be poorer than they would have been had migrants remained at home. | Moreover, health outcomes within this group were found to be poorer than they would have been had migrants remained at home. |
| The report also looked at the experiences of the small but growing number of people who move from rich countries to developing countries, including those migrating from the US to Mexico, Germany to Turkey, and Portugal to Brazil. These people generally find themselves relatively better off financially but with fewer social contacts, said the report, which noted that they were less likely to have someone they could count on for help. | The report also looked at the experiences of the small but growing number of people who move from rich countries to developing countries, including those migrating from the US to Mexico, Germany to Turkey, and Portugal to Brazil. These people generally find themselves relatively better off financially but with fewer social contacts, said the report, which noted that they were less likely to have someone they could count on for help. |
| The data suggests that the majority of international migrants are male, except in the case of movement between rich countries, where the majority of migrants are female. | The data suggests that the majority of international migrants are male, except in the case of movement between rich countries, where the majority of migrants are female. |
| All migrants – particularly newcomers – are more likely to experience sadness, according to the data. | All migrants – particularly newcomers – are more likely to experience sadness, according to the data. |
| The report comes amid a growing debate on how the benefits of migration can best be "harnessed" for development and calls for discussions to go beyond the focus on remittances, which are thought to be worth more than $500bn worldwide or more than three times global aid flows. | The report comes amid a growing debate on how the benefits of migration can best be "harnessed" for development and calls for discussions to go beyond the focus on remittances, which are thought to be worth more than $500bn worldwide or more than three times global aid flows. |
| "Has migration made the migrant better off?" should be a central question, argues the report, which calls for an examination of how migration more broadly affects human development. | "Has migration made the migrant better off?" should be a central question, argues the report, which calls for an examination of how migration more broadly affects human development. |
| According to Gallup data only 8% of adult migrants in developing countries, and 27% in rich countries, reported sending "financial help" to family in another country. | According to Gallup data only 8% of adult migrants in developing countries, and 27% in rich countries, reported sending "financial help" to family in another country. |
| The UN general assembly will hold a special high-level dialogue on international migration and development in New York this October, which will feed into ongoing discussions about what should succeed the millennium development goals when they expire in 2015. | The UN general assembly will hold a special high-level dialogue on international migration and development in New York this October, which will feed into ongoing discussions about what should succeed the millennium development goals when they expire in 2015. |
| Figures released earlier this week suggest the number of international migrants reached 232 million in 2013, up from 175 million in 2000 and 154 million in 1990. | Figures released earlier this week suggest the number of international migrants reached 232 million in 2013, up from 175 million in 2000 and 154 million in 1990. |
| An estimated 82.3 million migrants from developing countries were living in other developing countries in 2013, with an almost equal number living in rich countries. The number of people from rich countries living in developing countries was estimated at 13.7 million. | An estimated 82.3 million migrants from developing countries were living in other developing countries in 2013, with an almost equal number living in rich countries. The number of people from rich countries living in developing countries was estimated at 13.7 million. |
| Migrants from developing countries to rich countries represented 40% of the total surveyed by Gallup, followed by migrants between developing countries (33%), between rich countries (22%), and from rich countries to developing countries (5%). | Migrants from developing countries to rich countries represented 40% of the total surveyed by Gallup, followed by migrants between developing countries (33%), between rich countries (22%), and from rich countries to developing countries (5%). |
| The report suggested the development of an ongoing "global migration barometer" survey to monitor the wellbeing of the growing number of people who have crossed borders to live and work. "Existing international migration data currently tell us very little about the wellbeing of migrants, and whether human development outcomes for migrants are improving or not," it says. | The report suggested the development of an ongoing "global migration barometer" survey to monitor the wellbeing of the growing number of people who have crossed borders to live and work. "Existing international migration data currently tell us very little about the wellbeing of migrants, and whether human development outcomes for migrants are improving or not," it says. |
| The Gallup poll did not collect data specifically about certain vulnerable groups of migrants, such as victims of trafficking, stranded migrants, and undocumented migrants. | The Gallup poll did not collect data specifically about certain vulnerable groups of migrants, such as victims of trafficking, stranded migrants, and undocumented migrants. |
| • This article was amended on 19 September 2013. The original referred to the report as a UN publication. The IOM is not a UN agency. This has been corrected. | |
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