The global landscape of migration is ever-evolving, shaped by a myriad of security, socioeconomic, political, and environmental factors. Global migration is the movement of people across international borders for various reasons, such as economic opportunities, escape from conflict or persecution, pursuit of education, family reunification, and environmental factors. Migration is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon carrying certain significant social, economic, and political implications. As we delve deeper into the recent trends in global migration, it is crucial to highlight the distinctive position that South Asia holds in this dynamic narrative. South Asia, home to diverse cultures, economies, and societies, has played a pivotal role in the ebb and flow of international migration. This brief seeks to unravel the multifaceted dimensions of South Asia’s migration trends, shedding light on the forces propelling its people across borders, the impact on both sending and receiving nations, and the evolving patterns in the face of contemporary global challenges. By examining where South Asia stands in the broader context of global migration, this brief aims to discern the unique dynamics, challenges, and opportunities that characterize this vital region on the migratory map. The first section of the brief will reflect on a few global trends in migration and the second section of the brief will discuss the South Asian narrative.
Recent Trends in Global Migration
Syria to Europe
Due to the Syrian conflict, there is now a significant migratory corridor as many Syrians seek safety in European nations. This has brought to light more general problems with forced migration and asylum. In 2023, the number of asylum seekers in European countries will rise above one million, a level not seen since 1.16 million cases were recorded in 2016. Syrians and Afghans continue to make up the two largest categories of asylum applicants, filing 100,000 and 86,000 applications, respectively, between January and September 2023, as they have for several years. Since all the causes of displacement—such as war, armed conflict, instability, and authoritarianism with its accompanying persecution and repression—are growing. There are no signs of a trend reversal in the current situation, many people from this region will continue to make the dangerous, and sometimes deadly journey in search of a better life.
Mexico to the United States
With a long history of people traveling from Mexico to the United States in quest of greater economic opportunities and higher living standards, this is one of the most important migration corridors. More foreigners immigrate to the United States than to any other nation. An escalating migration crisis is wreaking havoc on the US and Mexico’s shared border, prompting promises to tighten down on smugglers of migrants. US officials said that up to 10,000 people migrants were crossing the border each day in December 2023. In both the fiscal years 2022 and 2023, there were more than two million persons detained along the southern border of the United States. According to government statistics, in December 2023 there were close to 250,000 interactions between the U.S. Border Patrol and migrants entering the country from Mexico. In order to wait for a decision regarding their legal status in the United States or their ability to travel to another country without being detained there, migrants are placed under arrest in the country, if only temporarily. This escalating migration crisis is wreaking havoc on the US and Mexico’s shared border, prompting promises to tighten down on smugglers of migrants.
North Africa to Europe
International migrants are particularly prevalent in Europe and Asia. The movement of people across the Mediterranean Sea from North African nations (including Libya, Tunisia, and Morocco) to those in Southern Europe is a dangerous migration route. The increase in irregular migration from North Africa to Europe is especially seen in the Central Mediterranean route, which links Italy with northern African nations, primarily Libya and Tunisia. The most recent wave of entries is being felt in Italy, where 136,000 migrants arrived in the country in the 12 months between June 2022 and May 2023. This year has also seen a noteworthy increase in the number of migrants from several African nations, namely from Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya. Between January and September, a total of 213,896 African migrants arrived in Europe via three Mediterranean routes; this is a 105% increase over the previous year and a 60% increase over the same period in 2022. Given the economic reasons for the present spike in arrivals, it is hardly shocking that the upsurge began a few months after the pandemic destroyed all expectations for tourism revenue in 2020. Evil turmoil is sweeping certain African countries.
South Asia to the Middle East
A considerable number of South Asian nations, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India, migrate to the Gulf region in search of work. Labor migration is the main factor driving this corridor. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain are home to the vast majority of South Asian migrants. The world’s largest inflows of international remittances have come from this migration corridor, which has been a prominent one for the previous few decades and has only gotten bigger over time. Remittance flows to South Asia increased by over 12 percent in 2022 and reached $176 billion. Many South Asians seek employment in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries due to the subregion’s high unemployment rate and cheap wages. These Gulf nations are home to a sizable immigrant population, primarily from Bangladesh and India. With the greatest number of foreign emigrants in the world, India leads the world in receiving international remittances, with USD 83 billion in 2020. Remittances from Bangladesh and Pakistan rank among the top receivers worldwide as well.
Where Does South Asia Stand?
Migration is a common response to local economic shocks and conflicts, including the weather-related calamities that continue to ravage South Asia at an alarming rate. Migration is a significant livelihood option in South Asia. One important issue is the disparities in wages across the nations. Due to the disparity in development across the regions, South Asia is the epicenter of almost all migration. The main pull factors are economic opportunity, demand for workers, tourism, high wages, affordable health services, educational opportunities, and social influence. On the other hand, the push factors are lack of employment, discrimination, poor socioeconomic conditions, lack of decent job opportunities, wage disparity, poverty, high population growth, political instability, lack of security, and environmental concerns such as climate change, disaster, and drought. Now we will have a look at the types of migration prevalent in South Asia.
Labor Migration
People relocate abroad in search of work, frequently in sectors where there is a labor shortage. Most of these migrants are labor migrants, primarily going abroad to work in low- and semi-skilled occupations. However, as migration patterns have changed throughout time, a large number of migrants have left their home countries in search of better futures, representing a wide range of demographics, and educational backgrounds. Of the 38 million South Asians throughout the world, the bulk are thought to be labor migrants. Only Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan sent between 46,000 and 71,000 laborers annually between the 2012–17 period. Nearly 15 million South Asians currently reside in the GCC countries of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Kuwait, which are the most popular migration destinations from the region. As previously stated, a significant portion of these migrants arrive in these nations as unskilled or semi-skilled laborers. These workers have been the backbone of Gulf economies for many years, having a lasting impact on both their economies and society. Since 2010, India has been the world’s top recipient of remittances and the top country of origin for migrants.
Climate Migration
There is growing recognition that forced displacement is frequently caused by and related to climate change. It should come as no surprise that approximately 700 million people in the region have experienced at least one climate-related calamity in the past ten years. India and Pakistan are two of the top ten most climate change-vulnerable nations, according to the Global Climate Risk Index. The majority of the domestic migration in South Asia caused by climate change is from rural to urban regions. Asian Development Bank research finds that decisions to migrate to major Indian cities are increasingly being influenced by floods and the loss of agricultural land including cross-border migration.
Due to population constraints and unemployment, South Asian cities are becoming less appealing destinations for the displaced, making climate refugees from rural areas more likely to relocate abroad. Storms in recent years have forced people to flee the Sundarbans Islands. Given that important job industries including farming, fishing, betel leaf growing, and tourism have been badly harmed by damaging weather occurrences, more flights may be in store in the near future. In addition to posing a threat to regional stability, intensifying climate migration in South Asia is also a humanitarian emergency. Increasing rural-urban migration will put more strain on already overcrowded cities to provide jobs, housing, and food.
Internal Displacement
Most internal displacements in South Asia are caused by disasters. In 2022, there were around 35,000 displacements due to conflict and violence, a 95% drop from 2021 which was primarily marred by the Afghan conflict. The majority of the conflict displacement in the region had historically been caused by lulls in the combat in Afghanistan. As of the end of the year, 8.8 million people were internally displaced throughout South Asia, with 5.5 million of those cases being related to conflict and violence and 3.3 million to natural disasters, according to the report. In 2022, floods caused 90% of the region’s disaster displacements, and natural disasters in South Asia resulted in the displacement of about 12.5 million people.
Rohingya Crisis
The escalating conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine state has raised concerns over a looming refugee and displacement crisis in the South Asian region. This unrest has resulted in casualties among civilians and raised serious concerns about national security and the potential impact on the almost one million Rohingyas who are staying in Bangladesh. When the Rohingya influx, one of the largest displacement crises, in the current world, began on 25 August 2017, an average of approximately 14,500 people arrived daily in September. In response to these incidents, the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) has intensified its border surveillance and security measures. Despite the volatile atmosphere, there has been no recent reported influx of displaced persons from Myanmar into Bangladesh. Despite efforts to patrol and secure its borders, Bangladesh faces continuous challenges, with more than 200 Rohingyas prevented from entering the country in recent weeks, indicating the potential for a new wave of refugees due to the ongoing conflict in Myanmar.
Following recent conflicts, an armed group of Rohingyas infiltrated Rohingya camps in Bangladesh with weapons. Local authorities and residents detained these people and handed them over to law enforcement. A case has been filed by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) against these 23 Myanmar armed nationals under the Arms Act. The protracted crisis, which is significantly more severe than previous incidents of displacement, has been met with stalled diplomatic efforts and a lack of guarantees for the Rohingyas’ safe return and citizenship. International condemnation of Myanmar’s military actions has yet to result in a shift in stance, putting Bangladesh in a difficult position as it attempts to manage the crisis and explore options for negotiation and resolution. Bangladesh, which has been deeply affected by the crisis, remains committed to finding a diplomatic solution.
The Bangladesh Perspective
Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Bangladesh is estimated to have 13 million internal migrants by the year 2050 and over 7.1 million Bangladeshis were displaced by climate change in 2022. On the other hand, The number of Bangladeshi labor migrants moving overseas increased by 13% (over 1.3 million) in 2023 compared to 2022, and in 2023 the remittance inflow increased by only 2.88% (from $21.28 billion to $21.92 billion) compared to the previous year. From these numbers, it is quite clear that for Bangladesh migration comes with both challenges and blessings. While grappling with climate migration will require the country to redouble its efforts to minimize the suffering of the climate-induced displaced populations and safeguard their rights. On the other hand, labor migration provides Bangladesh with an excellent opportunity to boost its economy, all the country needs to do is harness this field.
Issues of labor rights, the protection of vulnerable migrant populations, and the need for comprehensive policies to manage migration effectively are some challenges this region faces because of migration. Additionally, South Asia faces the task of balancing the benefits of emigration with the potential brain drain, as skilled individuals seek opportunities beyond their home countries. For migrants, the future hinges on the ability of national governments and the international community to work collectively to improve the policy ecosystem in which cross-border migration happens.
The exploration of recent trends in global migration unveils South Asia as a dynamic factor across borders. As the region grapples with its unique set of challenges and opportunities, it becomes evident that South Asia’s stance in the global migration landscape is significant. The labor migration corridors from South Asia to the Middle East, the impacts of internal displacement due to conflicts, and the continuous flux of skilled professionals seeking opportunities abroad underscore the diverse facets of migration from this region. The diaspora communities, serving as cultural bridges and economic lifelines, further emphasize South Asia’s enduring connections with countries across the world. In an increasingly interconnected world, understanding and addressing South Asia’s migration trends are essential for fostering sustainable development, social cohesion, and global cooperation.
– Tahia Afra Jannati is a Research Intern at the KRF Center for Bangladesh and Global Affairs (CBGA).