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

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%.