Background: Migration worldwide

More than 190 million people live in a different country than their native country. Behind these naked figures are the stories of people's lives. The lives of women and men, children, young people and older people.

The worldwide migration movements are diverse and complex and it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between the different types. The spectrum of migration ranges from migrant labourers, refugees escaping from war, persecution and violence or natural disasters, family members travelling with their families or joining them later, quota refugees, female seasonal workers travelling to and from between their home country and their place of work. Migrant women can be women returning to their home countries or spouses in binational marriages. The issue of migration also includes stateless persons, people without residence papers, work slaves and victims of slave trade. In the host countries, the legal positions of people with a background of migration are very different as well as their access to education, the labour market and the social systems, and thus their chances of participation and equal rights in the country.

Seen with glasses of immigration, the main focus of attention is on the highly developed industrial nations in Europe and North America. But when the ratio between foreigners and the total population is compared, a totally different picture emerges. Here, first place goes to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Jordan, Israel and Singapore.

Seen with glasses of emigration, the focus shifts to Africa, Asia, Latin America as well as the latest trouble spots in the world. The reason behind many migration processes is the big divide between rich and poor countries, something which is particularly apparent in Asia. While the emigration of skilled personnel means increasing productivity for the destination countries, the countries of origin run the risk of losing creative and innovative people and are threatened with serious labour supply crises, for example in the medical sector. On the other hand, many countries are benefiting from enormous contributions made by their citizens abroad. In 2005, migrants transferred $232 billion to their home countries, of which $167 billion went to developing countries. This sum is higher than the worldwide expenditure for development cooperation.