Net migration in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Net migration was -1.21 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Least developed countries, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in Least developed countries is -1.21 million, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 30.5% on the previous year and up 40.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Least developed countries peaked at 811,035 in 1993 and was at its lowest, -3.08 million, in 2007.
That places Least developed countries 36th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -164,999 | — |
| 1961 | -113,839 | -31.0% |
| 1962 | -143,856 | +26.4% |
| 1963 | -150,367 | +4.5% |
| 1964 | -102,727 | -31.7% |
| 1965 | -79,342 | -22.8% |
| 1966 | -123,551 | +55.7% |
| 1967 | -67,251 | -45.6% |
| 1968 | -91,026 | +35.4% |
| 1969 | -182,623 | +100.6% |
| 1970 | -340,369 | +86.4% |
| 1971 | -43,748 | -87.1% |
| 1972 | -525,975 | +1102.3% |
| 1973 | -90,137 | -82.9% |
| 1974 | -453,101 | +402.7% |
| 1975 | -615,672 | +35.9% |
| 1976 | -823,465 | +33.8% |
| 1977 | -1.22 million | +47.8% |
| 1978 | -182,888 | -85.0% |
| 1979 | -1.04 million | +469.4% |
| 1980 | -2.94 million | +182.2% |
| 1981 | -2.21 million | -24.9% |
| 1982 | -546,018 | -75.3% |
| 1983 | -346,322 | -36.6% |
| 1984 | -280,358 | -19.0% |
| 1985 | -610,033 | +117.6% |
| 1986 | -838,590 | +37.5% |
| 1987 | -919,325 | +9.6% |
| 1988 | -1.18 million | +28.6% |
| 1989 | -1.00 million | -15.2% |
| 1990 | -1.71 million | +70.2% |
| 1991 | -790,978 | -53.6% |
| 1992 | 789,035 | -199.8% |
| 1993 | 811,035 | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 529,507 | -34.7% |
| 1995 | -8,572 | -101.6% |
| 1996 | -669,964 | +7715.7% |
| 1997 | -661,682 | -1.2% |
| 1998 | -771,026 | +16.5% |
| 1999 | -1.33 million | +73.0% |
| 2000 | -2.38 million | +78.2% |
| 2001 | -1.83 million | -23.1% |
| 2002 | -901,462 | -50.6% |
| 2003 | -1.76 million | +95.5% |
| 2004 | -2.28 million | +29.3% |
| 2005 | -1.78 million | -21.7% |
| 2006 | -2.25 million | +26.2% |
| 2007 | -3.08 million | +37.0% |
| 2008 | -1.97 million | -36.0% |
| 2009 | -2.28 million | +15.4% |
| 2010 | -2.27 million | -0.2% |
| 2011 | -1.71 million | -24.9% |
| 2012 | -1.85 million | +8.7% |
| 2013 | -1.65 million | -11.0% |
| 2014 | -1.83 million | +11.1% |
| 2015 | -2.05 million | +11.8% |
| 2016 | -1.45 million | -29.3% |
| 2017 | -1.68 million | +15.9% |
| 2018 | -1.50 million | -10.8% |
| 2019 | -1.24 million | -17.0% |
| 2020 | -856,829 | -31.2% |
| 2021 | -1.86 million | +117.3% |
| 2022 | -2.15 million | +15.7% |
| 2023 | -1.85 million | -13.9% |
| 2024 | -1.75 million | -5.7% |
| 2025 | -1.21 million | -30.5% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Least developed countries 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | -7715.7% | -8,572 | -669,964 |
| 1972 | -1102.3% | -43,748 | -525,975 |
| 1979 | -469.4% | -182,888 | -1.04 million |
| 1974 | -402.7% | -90,137 | -453,101 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -121,958 | -182,623 | -67,251 | 10 |
| 1970s | -533,420 | -1.22 million | -43,748 | 10 |
| 1980s | -1.09 million | -2.94 million | -280,358 | 10 |
| 1990s | -381,210 | -1.71 million | 811,035 | 10 |
| 2000s | -2.05 million | -3.08 million | -901,462 | 10 |
| 2010s | -1.72 million | -2.27 million | -1.24 million | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.62 million | -2.15 million | -856,829 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
More financial sector data for Least developed countries
- Broad money 45.0% (2023)
- Total reserves in months of imports, annual growth rate -4.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Net migration, annual growth rate 30.52 % change on previous year (2025)
- Domestic credit to private sector 31.2% (2024)
- Claims on central government, etc. 12.1% (2024)
- Monetary Sector credit to private sector 31.1% (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports 5.77 (2025)
- Domestic credit to private sector by banks 30.8% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Least developed countries?
- Net migration in Least developed countries was -1.21 million in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 811,035 in 1993.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.08 million in 2007.
- How does Least developed countries rank for net migration?
- Least developed countries ranks 36th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.
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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.