The number of international migrants worldwide hit 304 million in 2024, a figure that has doubled since 1990. As people relocate across borders for reasons ranging from work opportunities to conflict and displacement, certain countries have become major destinations for foreign-born populations.
This map, via Visual Capitalist's Kayla Zhu, visualizes the top 20 countries with the highest proportion of international migrants in their populations as of 2024, based on data from the United Nations.
An international migrant is defined as someone living in a country other than their birth country for at least 12 months, regardless of reasons or status.
In 2024, Qatar had the worlds highest share of foreign-born residents, with international migrants making up over three-quarters (76.7%) of its population.
Several Gulf states like Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait ranked at the top of the list, as their economies rely heavily on foreign labor, with migrants making up an overwhelming majority of their workforces.
These countries host higher proportions of international migrants largely due to the kafala systema sponsorship-based labor framework that ties foreign workers to their employersdrawing million of people for low-wage jobs.
Several small European countries such as Monaco, Liechtenstein, and Andorra also have high shares of migrants, largely due to their small populations and roles as financial or tourism hubs.
U.S. is Still Home to the Most Migrants
By total population, the U.S. recorded the highest number of international migrants in 2024 at 52.4 million.
Mexico to the U.S. was the busiest migrant corridor in the world by far in 2024, with over 10 million people born in Mexico now residing in the United States.
Europe hosted more international migrants than any other region with 94 million in 2024, followed by Northern Americawhich includes the U.S., Bermuda, Canada, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelonat 61 million.
These two regions have long been top destinations for immigration over the past few decades.
Poster Comment:
Chart listing exact numbers for 196 nations does not copy. See it at source.