Immigration

Immigration is the international movement of people to a destination country. These people are not usual residents of that country. They also do not possess nationality there. Most immigrants move to settle as permanent residents.

This is different from short-term stays. Tourists and commuters do not count as immigrants. Some people move for seasonal labor, which is sometimes included in the definition. Understanding immigration helps us study how people and economies change.

There are different ways to describe this movement. The term immigration was coined in the 17th century. It originally referred to population movements between emerging nation states that were not caused by war. We use different words depending on our perspective. From the view of the destination country, the people are immigrants. From the view of the country they leave, they are called emigrants or outmigrants.

This distinction tracks the direction of the journey.

One specific type of mover is the economic migrant. These individuals travel to find employment. They seek an improved quality of life and better access to resources. An economic migrant is distinct from a refugee. A refugee is someone fleeing persecution. Many countries have strict visa restrictions. These laws prohibit people from entering to work without a valid work visa. If a person violates these laws, they can be refused entry.

Global migration numbers have grown significantly. There are 244 million international migrants worldwide. This represents a 41% increase since the year 2000.

The United States hosts the largest number of migrants. It holds 19% of the world's total. Other major host countries include Germany and Russia, which each have 12 million migrants. Saudi Arabia hosts 10 million people. The United Kingdom has 9 million, and the United Arab Emirates has 8 million.

One third of all international migrants live in just 20 countries.

Migration also creates large flows of money. In 2009, remittances totaled $420 billion. Remittances are funds sent by migrants back to their home countries. Of that total, $317 billion went to developing countries. This movement of money can be a tool for poverty reduction. Economists suggest that reducing barriers to labor mobility could help the world economy. Some studies estimate that removing migration barriers could increase global GDP by 67 to 147 percent. This would happen if many workers moved from developing to developed nations.

Immigration affects many different social systems. In the United States, research shows immigration can increase high school completion rates. A one percent increase in the immigrant share of the population can raise the probability of native students finishing school by 0.3 percentage points. However, the impact on schools can vary. In Italy, some studies linked immigrant students to small negative effects on math scores in specific classes. These effects were mostly seen in classes with high concentrations of immigrants.

In healthcare, migrants generally have better health than the general population. In the United Kingdom, immigration has been linked to changes in hospital waiting times.

There are also complex social and economic challenges. Immigration can increase local rents and house prices. It can also put stress on housing and education. Some research suggests that large increases in certain populations can affect social capital. This refers to the trust and connections within a community. Some studies show that people from autocratic cultures may have different levels of trust in new countries. However, research also shows that contact between different groups can help improve these social connections over the long term.

Despite these challenges, many immigrants work toward assimilation into their new homes.