The International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched in September the World Migration Report 2013: "Migrant Well-Being and Development", which presents for the first time a global picture of the well-being of migrants.

Drawing on the findings of a Gallup World Poll, which surveyed more than 25,000 migrants in over 150 countries, the report takes a fresh look at what life is really like for migrants in the world today, whether they migrate to rich countries in the North, or to poorer countries in the South.

The report investigates how migration offered to respondents a better life; how satisfied migrants are with their lives compared to the local population; how easy it was to find jobs or start a business.

Immigrants' contribution to development

According to the UN Millennium Declaration, improving the well-being of the individual is one of the key aims of development. But development is often measured primarily in terms of economic indicators. Migrants’ contribution to society development also is usually primarily measured in terms of the money that they send back home, rather than how their life is affected by migration.

The IOM report takes a different approach, focusing on six core dimensions of well-being to present a unique picture of the gains and losses associated with migration and the implications for human development. “Contrary to common belief, migration is not just a South-North phenomenon. In fact, less than half of all migrants worldwide move from developing to developed countries.”, said IOM Director General William Lacy Swing. According to the report, adult migrants moving South-North represent only 40% of the global total. About 33% of migrants move between countries in the South, 22% between countries in the North and 5% from the North to the South.

From North to North, the highest gains

Overall, migration improves well-being especially for those who move to the North. Actually it is migrants who move from North to North (between high-income countries) who report the greatest gains. Aside from the North-North context, migrants are less likely to feel satisfied with their lives than the native-born population. In general people migrating North-South tend to make their money going in a relatively cheaper environment, and tend to have fewer social contacts. Those moving from South to North rate their lives as similar to, or slightly worse than, people in their home country. South–South migration between low- or middle-income countries is largely focused on survival, bringing few gains and large efforts for immigrants. Migrants in the South struggle to get adequate housing, are dissatisfied with their health and are quite pessimistic about their future.

The reports also suggests that only a minority of migrants send remittances. Only 8% of adult migrants in the South, and 27% in the North send “financial help” to family in another country. The report destroys the myth of unemployment among migrants, showing that the worldwide unemployment rate for migrants is 13%, as compared to 8% for natives. The World Migration Report 2013 underlines that migrant well-being varies according to location and personal experience, as well as to the different migrant categories, including labour migrants, students, irregular migrants, returned migrants, or migrants stranded due to conflict or environmental disasters. In the opinion of the General Director of IOM, more data are needed on emerging trends, such as North–South migration. This migration from developed countries to less developed countries appears to be a recent migration trend which should be taken into consideration.

Source: http://www.iom.int/cms/en/sites/iom/home/news-and-views/press-briefing-notes/pbn-2013/pbn-listing/rapport-de-loim-etat-de-la-migra.html