World Migration Report 2026
- Context: World Migration Report 2026 was released by the International Organization for Migration
- Around 304 million people were living outside their country of birth as of mid-2024
- Mexico–United States remains the world’s largest migration corridor with around 11 million migrants
India-Related Migration Corridors
- India–United Arab Emirates corridor is the fifth-largest migration corridor in the world
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- Corridor mainly consists of migrant workers employed in Gulf countries
- More than 8 million international migrants live in the UAE, with Indians forming the largest nationality group
- India–United States corridor ranks sixth globally. It is the second-largest migration corridor involving North America after Mexico–US.
- Indian migrants in the US mainly include highly skilled workers and international students
- Bangladesh–India corridor ranked 11th globally.
- India–Saudi Arabia corridor also figures among the top 20 migration corridors
Gender Dimensions of Migration
- Gulf countries such as UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have a significantly higher proportion of male immigrants
- India has a higher share of female immigrants than male immigrants
- India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar and Indonesia have a larger share of male emigrants
- Male-dominated migration patterns are mainly linked to labour demand in: Construction, Manufacturing, Agriculture sectors in Gulf and Southeast Asian countries.
Significance
- Highlights India’s growing role in global migration patterns
- Reflects importance of labour mobility and skilled migration in India’s economy
- Demonstrates the economic and strategic influence of the Indian diaspora worldwide
