Net migration in Arab World
Arab World: Net migration was 696,991 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Arab World, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in Arab World is 696,991, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 34.2% on the previous year and up 91.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Arab World peaked at 2.68 million in 2022 and was at its lowest, -1.43 million, in 1990.
That places Arab World 7th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Arab World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -78,553 | — |
| 1961 | -145,513 | +85.2% |
| 1962 | -120,111 | -17.5% |
| 1963 | -162,496 | +35.3% |
| 1964 | -160,755 | -1.1% |
| 1965 | -184,588 | +14.8% |
| 1966 | -50,731 | -72.5% |
| 1967 | -31,282 | -38.3% |
| 1968 | 6,095 | -119.5% |
| 1969 | 7,998 | +31.2% |
| 1970 | -44,956 | -662.1% |
| 1971 | -74,130 | +64.9% |
| 1972 | -58,693 | -20.8% |
| 1973 | 142,378 | -342.6% |
| 1974 | -4,921 | -103.5% |
| 1975 | 391,471 | -8055.1% |
| 1976 | 331,843 | -15.2% |
| 1977 | 186,915 | -43.7% |
| 1978 | 720,749 | +285.6% |
| 1979 | 844,834 | +17.2% |
| 1980 | 554,470 | -34.4% |
| 1981 | -11,074 | -102.0% |
| 1982 | 246,342 | -2324.5% |
| 1983 | 197,650 | -19.8% |
| 1984 | 286,793 | +45.1% |
| 1985 | 37,797 | -86.8% |
| 1986 | 218,394 | +477.8% |
| 1987 | 29,819 | -86.3% |
| 1988 | -429,193 | -1539.3% |
| 1989 | -197,544 | -54.0% |
| 1990 | -1.43 million | +625.5% |
| 1991 | -277,703 | -80.6% |
| 1992 | -49,421 | -82.2% |
| 1993 | 830,289 | -1780.0% |
| 1994 | -98,479 | -111.9% |
| 1995 | 52,606 | -153.4% |
| 1996 | -157,055 | -398.5% |
| 1997 | 135,363 | -186.2% |
| 1998 | 184,835 | +36.5% |
| 1999 | 130,302 | -29.5% |
| 2000 | 468,890 | +259.8% |
| 2001 | 349,835 | -25.4% |
| 2002 | 426,252 | +21.8% |
| 2003 | 183,300 | -57.0% |
| 2004 | 453,391 | +147.3% |
| 2005 | 548,882 | +21.1% |
| 2006 | 705,074 | +28.5% |
| 2007 | 1.11 million | +57.2% |
| 2008 | 872,244 | -21.3% |
| 2009 | 504,368 | -42.2% |
| 2010 | 156,222 | -69.0% |
| 2011 | 223,817 | +43.3% |
| 2012 | 577,194 | +157.9% |
| 2013 | 735,533 | +27.4% |
| 2014 | 575,497 | -21.8% |
| 2015 | 364,082 | -36.7% |
| 2016 | 132,220 | -63.7% |
| 2017 | -994,068 | -851.8% |
| 2018 | -591,361 | -40.5% |
| 2019 | -51,896 | -91.2% |
| 2020 | -280,925 | +441.3% |
| 2021 | 471,864 | -268.0% |
| 2022 | 2.68 million | +469.0% |
| 2023 | 482,824 | -82.0% |
| 2024 | 519,176 | +7.5% |
| 2025 | 696,991 | +34.2% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Arab World changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | +8055.1% | -4,921 | 391,471 |
| 1982 | +2324.5% | -11,074 | 246,342 |
| 1993 | +1780.0% | -49,421 | 830,289 |
| 1988 | -1539.3% | 29,819 | -429,193 |
| 2017 | -851.8% | 132,220 | -994,068 |
| 1970 | -662.1% | 7,998 | -44,956 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -91,994 | -184,588 | 7,998 | 10 |
| 1970s | 243,549 | -74,130 | 844,834 | 10 |
| 1980s | 93,345 | -429,193 | 554,470 | 10 |
| 1990s | -68,243 | -1.43 million | 830,289 | 10 |
| 2000s | 562,039 | 183,300 | 1.11 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 112,724 | -994,068 | 735,533 | 10 |
| 2020s | 762,460 | -280,925 | 2.68 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Arab World
- 4 United Kingdom 389,911 compare
- 5 Canada 326,204 compare
- 6 Sudan 291,469 compare
- 7 Malaysia 166,615 compare
- 8 United Arab Emirates 158,634 compare
- 9 South Africa 146,370 compare
- 10 Japan 140,579 compare
More financial sector data for Arab World
- Domestic credit to private sector 53.3% (2017)
- Domestic credit to private sector by banks 54.0% (2025)
- Monetary Sector credit to private sector 51.7% (2017)
- Broad money 80.7% (2017)
- Claims on central government, etc. 15.7% (2018)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per capita 0 units per person (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate -21.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports 10.84 (2024)
- Net migration, annual growth rate 34.25 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Arab World?
- Net migration in Arab World was 696,991 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Arab World?
- The highest recorded value was 2.68 million in 2022.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Arab World?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.43 million in 1990.
- How does Arab World rank for net migration?
- Arab World ranks 7th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Arab World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 91.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Arab World data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.