The 10 countries where most immigrants come from today are representative of a global community, where borders do not get in the way of achieving your dream. People immigrate for a number of reasons, with one of the main reasons being the availability of opportunities which do not exist in their own countries.
These opportunities can be in the form of employment and education, which are two of the primary reasons regarding a person leaving their home country. After all, there has to be a compelling and convincing reason to make a person give up his hometown, family, and friends and move to a place with a different culture.
Of course, there is a far more sinister reason which has been the backbone of mass migrations, mainly from the Arab countries, and from those countries, most prominently from Syria. And the reason is terrorism. While a few decades ago, terrorism would be a one-off incident and the people were not so easily radicalized, the world has altered rapidly since, and the birth of ISIS is part of that. The brutal terrorism and violence ISIS has inflicted on the country and beyond has resulted in people being forced to flee, leaving everything behind, which has often included a stable job, a roof over their house and a steady life in exchange for security.
However, the influx of refugees, especially in European countries, has been controversial, to say the least. While I am a Muslim, I will lay some blame on some of the refugees in this case, who were responsible for the sexual assault on women during the 2015/2016 New Year’s Eve parades, which in turn led to the public turning against the government’s policy of asylum. Further, instead of simply settling, often refugees want to impose their laws and customs, which I am strictly against. When you move to a country, they have accepted you and you are supposed to embrace their way of living–not impose your own.
It is important to note that there is a significant difference between migrants and refugees. While all refugees are migrants, all migrants are not refugees. Refugees are forced to leave everything behind in order to gain security while migrants make the conscious decision to leave for a better life and better opportunities.
Unsurprisingly, the United States is home to the largest migrant population in the world, as people come in search of fulfilling their dreams. To learn more, you can visit the 10 Most Successful Immigrants in America and Their Companies. However, our focus was on the countries from which people migrate, which is a question few people ask. For this, we consulted the United Nation’s Migration Report 2015, which has data on a global level regarding anything and everything you want to know about migration. If you are curious about the 10 countries where most immigrants come from today, then this is the article for you.
8. United Kingdom
Diaspora population in 2015: 5 million
The UK is one of the best places to live in, which is why it has always had a high number of immigrants. So why do people leave the country? Well according to the Telegraph, the biggest reason is job opportunities, with better jobs available in other countries, while another major factor is European citizens in the UK leaving to go back to their own countries.
8. Syria
Diaspora population in 2015: 5 million
We have already discussed why people are leaving Syria, one of the countries on our list of countries where most immigrants come from today, and it does not look like the situation will improve soon.
8. Philippines
Diaspora population in 2015: 5 million
Since the Philippines is a developing country, better opportunities in both education and employment are available elsewhere, as well as better healthcare.
6. Ukraine
Diaspora population in 2015: 6 million
Poverty and political instability have been prevalent in the nation, highlighted by Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and most Ukrainians move to Poland to combat these issues. Let’s se what’s next ono ur list of countries where most immigrants come from today.
6. Pakistan
Diaspora population in 2015: 6 million
Poverty is rampant in the country, and there is a dearth of jobs due to overpopulation, which has resulted in many Pakistanis moving abroad to earn a stable living, thus giving it a place in the list of 10 countries where most immigrants come from.
5. Bangladesh
Diaspora population in 2015: 7 million
Unemployment is rampant in the country, which illegal immigration often being the only available method, which in turn has resulted in many Bangladeshis dying during their attempted immigration.
4. China
Diaspora population in 2015: 10 million
With around 1.46 billion people in China, next in line on our list of countries where most immigrants come from today, it is not surprising to see the country on this list, and its 10 million emigrants, don’t seem that many. But, when compared to other countries, China is definitely one of the 10 countries where most immigrants come from.
3. Russia
Diaspora population in 2015: 11 million
One of the primary reasons why Russians have left the country is due to the strict laws in the country such as the crackdown on the LGBT community and additional persecution from the government.
2. Mexico
Diaspora population in 2015: 12 million
Most Mexicans typically leave the country for a better opportunity elsewhere, while many also want to move for security, especially from the drug wars that have ravaged the country.
1. India
Diaspora population in 2015: 16 million
The second largest country in the world may have one of the fastest growing economies in the world, but is still dealing with a host of issues which include crime, health, sanitation, and unemployment, with many citizens moving elsewhere, which is why it tops the list of 10 countries where most immigrants come from today.