Politics
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has reported that the number of people migrating to developed countries declined for the second consecutive year.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has reported that the number of people migrating to developed countries declined for the second consecutive year. According to the French news agency AFP, an OECD report released on Thursday said immigration to developed countries fell by 1.6 per cent in 2025 compared with 2024. The report found that the 38 OECD member countries received 6.1 million new permanent immigrants in 2025, down from 6.2 million the previous year. Many Western countries have seen growing public opposition to the arrival of immigrants fleeing conflicts, authoritarian rule and economic hardship in their home countries.
The report also found a significant 26 per cent decline in legal and humanitarian migration in 2025 compared with the previous year. However, migration for employment purposes increased by 13 per cent. Although overall immigration declined in 2025, the number of people settling permanently in OECD countries remained 12 per cent higher than in 2019. The report highlighted significant increases in permanent immigration in three European countries in 2025: Portugal, Spain and Italy. In Portugal, the number of immigrants rose by 139 per cent to 313,600, partly due to the processing of pending residence permit applications. Spain recorded a 25 per cent increase, bringing the total to 460,500, following the relaxation of its residency policies. In Italy, immigration increased by 45 per cent to 248,800, driven by growth in family-based and labour migration. Meanwhile, several other countries recorded substantial declines in permanent immigration. The United States saw a 14 per cent decrease. Nevertheless, it remained the leading OECD destination for permanent immigrants, receiving 1.2 million in 2025. Canada recorded a 19 per cent decline, with the number falling to 393,800, while the United Kingdom saw a 32 per cent drop to 295,800.
