# 2025 migration trends: Flows increase in Southern Europe but fall in North America

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/2025-migration-trends-flows-increase-in-southern-europe-but-fall-in-north-america/
- Published: 2026-11-12T14:02:28+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-13T00:49:34+00:00
- Original publisher: Le Monde (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/11/12/2025-migration-trends-flows-increase-in-southern-europe-but-fall-in-north-america_6778840_4.html
- Topics: Americas, Europe, UK, World

## Key points

- OECD permanent immigration fell 1.6% in 2025.
- Southern European flows rose, led by Portugal.
- The US, Canada and UK saw declines.

## Summary

The OECD reported that permanent immigration to its member countries fell for a second consecutive year in 2025, reaching six million arrivals, down 1.6% from 2024. The overall decline masks sharp regional differences: flows rose in Southern Europe, while the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom recorded substantial falls.

Immigration to European OECD countries increased by 4.7% to just over three million, with Portugal up 139%, Italy 46% and Spain 25%; Portugal’s rise largely reflected a backlog of residence applications being processed. The United States remained the largest destination, with 1.2 million new immigrants despite a 14% fall; Canada’s permanent immigration fell 19% and the UK’s 32%. Family reunification remained the leading reason for permanent migration, accounting for 45% of entries, while labour migration rose 13% and refugee admissions fell 26%.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.