Legal Migration to Wealthy Nations Declines Amid Stricter Global Policies
OECD data reveals a 1.6 percent drop in permanent migration as regional trends diverge.
1Global Migration Growth Stalls
Legal migration to developed nations declined for the second consecutive year in 2025. Data from the OECD shows a 1.6 percent decrease, with 6.1 million new permanent immigrants recorded compared to 6.2 million in 2024. This shift follows years of growth, reflecting a broader trend of governments tightening entry requirements for international arrivals.
2Diverging Regional Migration Patterns
While overall numbers fell, regional trends show significant variation across member states. Southern European countries experienced sharp increases in permanent arrivals, whereas North American nations saw substantial declines. Without the contributions of Portugal, Italy, and Spain, the total OECD-wide immigration figure would have dropped by a much steeper 8.2 percent margin.
3Southern Europe Sees Surge
Portugal recorded a 139 percent increase to 313,600 individuals, largely due to clearing a backlog of pending residency permits. Spain saw a 25 percent rise to 460,500 people after broadening its residency policies, while Italy experienced a 45 percent increase to 248,800 people, driven by a steady influx of family and labour migration.
4North American Declines Recorded
The United States saw a 14 percent drop, though it remains the leader among OECD countries with over 1.2 million permanent migrants. Canada reported a 19 percent decrease to 393,800 people, a shift attributed to drastic policy changes aimed at addressing the national housing crisis and limiting both permanent and temporary immigration levels.
5United Kingdom Policy Shifts
The United Kingdom experienced a 32 percent decline in permanent migration, totaling 295,800 people in 2025. This reduction is directly linked to post-Brexit changes implemented within the immigration system. These new regulations were specifically designed to cut the total number of arrivals entering the country for long-term residency or work purposes.
6Humanitarian and Labour Trends
Legal humanitarian migration dropped sharply by 26 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year. Conversely, labour migration increased by 13 percent, indicating a shift in priorities for many host nations. Asylum applications also fell by 10 percent, with the largest groups of applicants originating from Ukraine, the DRC, and Afghanistan.
7France Migration Composition Data
France received 334,000 new long-term or permanent immigrants in 2025, marking an 8.9 percent increase. This total included 21 percent benefitting from free mobility, 16 percent labour migrants, and 32 percent family members. Additionally, 109,000 permits were issued for tertiary-level international students, alongside 35,000 temporary or seasonal work permits for foreign nationals.
8Long-term Immigration Context
Despite the recent two-year decline, the number of permanent immigrants settling for the long term remains 12 percent higher than in 2019. This suggests that while current policies are restricting immediate inflows, the total volume of permanent settlement remains elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels, reflecting complex, ongoing shifts in global migration dynamics.