Year
|
Migrants
millions
|
World
pop
billions
|
Migrants
world pop
|
Countries grouped
by per capita GDP($)
|
Ratios
|
|||
Low
|
middle
|
high
|
High-low
|
High-middle
|
||||
1975
|
85
|
4.1
|
2.1%
|
150
|
750
|
6,200
|
41
|
8
|
1985
|
105
|
4.8
|
2.2%
|
270
|
1,290
|
11,810
|
44
|
9
|
1990
|
154
|
5.3
|
2.9%
|
350
|
2,220
|
19,590
|
56
|
9
|
1995
|
164
|
5.7
|
2.9%
|
430
|
2,390
|
24,930
|
58
|
10
|
2000
|
175
|
6.1
|
2.9%
|
420
|
1,970
|
27,510
|
66
|
14
|
However, most migrants are young people looking for work. The world’s labour force was 3 billion in 2000, and is growing much faster in developing than in developed countries. For example, between 2001 and 2010, the labor force in developing countries is projected to grow four times faster than the labor force in developed or high income countries. Since many high income country social welfare systems are based on contributions from workers, immigration could help to stabilize high-income labor forces.