Some 304 million people, a figure that represents almost 4% of the world’s population, live outside the country in which they were born, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in a statement published this Thursday, coinciding with International Migrants Day.
The IOM highlighted the contribution of migrants in essential sectors such as health, construction, agriculture and technology, “providing vital assistance in countries with aging populations.”
They also support the economy of their countries by sending remittances to their families. In 2024 these figures will reach 905 billion dollars, the IOM noted.
Remittances, Venezuelan migrants…
The organization clarified that the majority of these remittances go to low- and middle-income countries to cover food, education and health expenses, exceeding “in many cases” the value of foreign aid and investment flows.
Today, we commemorate International Migrants Day. Share your story. pic.twitter.com/i6PY1lfc08
— IOM_RD (@IOM_RD) December 18, 2025
In another report, and taking Venezuelan migration for example, the IOM said that it has become a key factor in economic growth in the region.
“Migrants not only consume and pay taxes—they contribute around 1.2% of tax revenue in the countries analyzed—but they also undertake businesses, create jobs, strengthen the local economy and sectors such as gastronomy, tourism and technology,” the organization notes, cited by cnn.
Criminalized migration
The IOM recalled the risk that crossing borders continues to pose, especially when regular routes are limited, notes a report from EFE.
“These journeys can involve dangerous sea and desert journeys, exploitation and limited access to assistance and protection,” he warned.
The Mediterranean Sea, he stressed, remains one of the deadliest migratory routes, with more than 33,000 deaths since 2014.
In addition, the IOM recalled that within the countries there are 83.4 million internally displaced people due to conflicts, violence and disasters.
