International Migration

Track international migration trends and their impact on economic and social development

Migration contributes to sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific

Migration in Asia and the Pacific shapes economies, societies and cultures. The region is home to over 40 per cent of the world's international migrants and is influenced by global trends such as demographic changes, urbanization, climate change and digital innovation. South-South migration is predominant with 70 per cent of migrants moving within the region, especially within subregions.

Migration drives development, sustains industries and empowers communities. However, many challenges, including climate change, rising inequalities, human rights abuses and vulnerabilities, persist and affect migrants and their families.

The Asia-Pacific Migration Report 2024 highlights how better governance and cooperation can unlock the potential of migration, supporting poverty reduction, addressing labour shortages and building climate resilience.
Consult the database of labour migrant outflows to see how many labour migrants leave their country every year.

Mandates

Adopted and endorsed in 2018, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) represents the first comprehensive framework through which Member States committed to a holistic 360-degree approach to migration. Prepared under the auspices of the United Nations, the GCM outlines 23 objectives to address all aspects of international migration in a holistic way.

Through General Assembly resolution 73/195, Member States committed to a State-led, intergovernmental process for follow-up and review of the GCM. Recognizing that most migration is regional in nature, they invited the United Nations regional economic commissions, inter alia, to review the implementation of the GCM within their respective regions, beginning in 2020, alternating with discussions at the global level at a four-year interval, to inform the International Migration Review Forum, with the participation of all relevant stakeholders.

The First Asia-Pacific Regional Review of the Global Compact for Migration took place in 2021, followed by the Second Asia-Pacific Regional Review took place in February 2025. The Asia-Pacific Migration Report 2024 informed the Second Regional Review.

In General Assembly resolution 76/266, Member States expressed their appreciation for the review process and reiterated the importance of continuing reviews at all levels.

Report

Asia-Pacific Migration Report 2024: Assessing Implementation of the Global Compact for Migration

01 December 2024

The Report highlights how better governance and cooperation can unlock the potential of migration, support poverty reduction, address labour shortages and build climate resilience.

Explore More

Videos

Migration data in North and Central Asia - issue, impacts and solutions

In North and Central Asia, different people migrate for various reasons, significantly contributing to societies and economies in countries of origin and destination. Migration statistics are key to understanding all aspects of migration and to devising beneficial migration policies. Let’s discuss with the migration expert Olga Chudinovskikh what data gaps exist, what impacts this is having, and how to move forward.

Global Compact for Migration: A Regional Review for Asia and the Pacific 2021

This video explores the aims, activities and progress of the Global Compact for Migration and its regional review in 2021. The Global Compact seeks to protect the rights of migrants and ensure safe, orderly and regular migration.

Working Together for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration in the Asia-Pacific Region

The video presented describes the benefits of migration, the associated challenges and how the Global Compact for Migration aims to ensure that migration is safe, orderly and regular.

Asia-Pacific Regional Review of the Global Compact for Migration 2021

This short video explains the issues that migrants face across the Asia-Pacific region and the role of the Global Compact for Migration and 2021 regional review in this area.