Where Are People Fleeing? Net Migration vs Wealth
Net migration reveals which countries people are voting for with their feet. Wealthy nations with strong economies tend to attract immigrants, while poorer or conflict-affected nations see mass emigration. But the picture is more nuanced than simple wealth: oil-rich Gulf states have extreme immigration driven by labor demand, while some middle-income countries experience brain drain as educated workers leave for better opportunities abroad.
GDP Per Capita (USD) vs Net Migration (per 1,000)
Correlation (r)
0.124
Weak positive
Countries
213
with both indicators
Avg GDP Per Capita
$23k
global average
Avg Net Migration
+121.5/1k
global average
Key Insight
The pattern is clear: almost every country with GDP/capita above $30,000 has positive net migration. Below $5,000, most countries lose people. The biggest outliers are Gulf states (extreme immigration despite moderate GDP) and conflict zones (extreme emigration regardless of wealth).
Regional Averages
| Region | Countries | Avg GDP Per Capita | Avg Net Migration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | 54 | $3k | -7042.1/1k |
| Asia | 48 | $17k | -49451.3/1k |
| Europe | 47 | $51k | +31587.2/1k |
| Americas | 45 | $25k | +25657.8/1k |
| Oceania | 19 | $17k | +7400.5/1k |