Mumbai: Even as India remains deeply divided over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), according to Pew Research Center (PRC) survey report of 27 countries in 2018, people around the world have shown little appetite for more migration both into and out of their countries. People in Greece, Hungary, Italy and Germany have preferred “No Immigrants” into their countries, while people in countries like Israel, Russia, South Africa and Argentina want fewer immigrants to be allowed into their country.
According to the PRC report 45 percent of Indian’s favored Fewer or None Immigrants into the country, 11 percent remained “Same” (neutral) and only 13 percent of Indian’s favored allowing “More” immigrants into the country. In the same report, 64 percent of Indian’s feel that “Out Migration” is a problem.
Although 89 percent of the people from Greece are out of their country for jobs, in contrast 82 percent people in Greece said to No Immigrants (fewer or none at all), Hungary 72 percent, Italy 71 percent and Germany 58 percent. Whereas, people in countries like Israel 73 percent, Russia 67 percent, South Africa 65 percent and Argentina 61 percent, favored fewer immigrants into their country.
As against this, United Nations Population Division, Department of Economic & Social Affairs (DESA) report of 2015, India with 16 million people living abroad is the biggest contributor when it comes to “Emigrants”. People from Greece 89 percent, Spain 88 percent, Mexico 79 percent, United States of America (USA) 38 percent and Sweden 18 percent feel Out Migration (people going out in search of jobs) is a problem.
On the other hand, the UN DESA report points out that growth in immigrant population in host countries is leading to these countries facing problems in eradicating poverty, combating hunger, malnutrition, health care and education.
The UN report points out that migration due to violence, insecurity and armed conflicts has led Asylum problem in many countries. Over 1 million people from Syria and Iraq are in Lebanon and 4 lakh from Sudan are into Chad. When it comes of large countries – India has 0.4 percent of immigrant population, while China has 0.07 percent.
As per the UN DESA report in 2015 US & Canada have had highest number of immigrants – US 48 million, Saudi Arabia 11 million and Canada 7.6 million. Much of the migration to United Arab Emirates (UAE) 87 percent, Kuwait 73 percent, and Qatar 68 percent has been due to their “Oil Economy”, referred to as Emigrants. In Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman that migration ranged from 34 percent to 51 percent.
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Whereas, the migration to Western Industrialized Democracies is as follows – Austria 17 percent, Sweden 16 percent, US 15 percent, United Kingdom (UK) 13 percent, Spain 13 percent, Germany 12 percent, France 12 percent, Netherlands 12 percent, Belgium 11 percent and Italy 10 percent.
Significant rise in migration to Micro State’s (small countries) is also seen because of taxation and other financial reasons. In Macao the migrant population is 57 percent, Monaco 55 percent and Singapore 46 percent. Migration to newer countries like Australia 28 percent and Canada 21 percent is also a new emerging trend. As against this small countries like Switzerland 29 percent and Luxembourg 46 percent have recorded higher immigrant population.
Migrant workers mostly are reported from countries like Bangladesh, Nepal and Philippines. As against this, migration forced by violence, insecurity and armed conflict has been reported from Syria, Myanmar.
Besides, the 16 million Emigrant Indian’s working in other countries, this is followed by Mexico 12 million, both mostly into US and Canada. While, 8.4 million are immigrants into UK, 4.7 million are Emigrant population. In US while there are 2.9 million are Expatriate population, the Immigrant population is 48 million.
It is interesting to note here that US has largest foreign born population of immigrants – 44.5 million (2017), Saudi Arabia 12.2 million, Germany 12.2 million, Russia 11.7 million. While in percentage terms 29 percent of Australian immigrant population, Israel 24 percent, Canada 22 percent, Sweden 18 percent, US 14 percent, Germany 15 percent, UK 13 percent and Spain 13 percent.
As per the highlights of the 10 key findings of the UN: World Population Prospects for 2019, Nine countries will have more than half the projected population growth from 2019 to 2050. These include – India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, United Republic of Tanzania, Indonesia, Egypt and USA. What is more significant is that, India by 2027 is projected to overtake China as the world’s most populous country.
