Thanks to war, political conditions, and economic hardship, mass migration has become a significant occurrence in many regions of the world.
The US recorded a net gain of about 1.2 million migrants in 2025, according to the World Bank Group. But when evaluating each country’s net migration rate as a share of its population, the US ranks 25th in the world.
The World Bank Group gathered data on the total number of people who entered or left each country’s population in 2025, including both citizens and noncitizens, from UN Population Division figures.
Using World Bank Group data and the United Nations Population Fund’s 2025 estimates, Business Insider calculated net migration as a share of each country’s population to better compare rates between nations. We didn’t include countries with populations under 100,000, as well as territories and autonomous regions such as Hong Kong.
We then identified the countries with the 15 highest positive net migration rates per capita, and the 15 highest negative rates.
Many countries at the top can attribute high net migration rates to economic development and state incentives to increase immigration. Some Middle Eastern countries, for example, are attracting migrants, especially high-income individuals, because of their rapid economic development.
At the other end of the list, economic reasons were often the biggest motivators for people departing a country. Organizations such as The Borgen Project, an antipoverty nonprofit, and the migration organization The Prague Process frequently cite economic struggles and employment as factors in Eastern European emigration.
Refugees from war also contributed to countries’ net migration rates. Some war-afflicted countries saw spikes in net migration as people returned home, while other countries that previously took in refugees recorded declines in net migration for the same reason.
See the 15 countries with the biggest migration gains per capita in 2025, and the 15 with the biggest losses.
1. Ukraine’s net migration gain in 2025 was equivalent to 4.4% of its population.
Ukraine saw a net migration gain of roughly 1.7 million people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 39 million.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported that many people displaced by the Russia-Ukraine war have returned to their homes, likely contributing to Ukraine’s net migration gain.
2. Oman’s net migration gain was equivalent to 2.1% of its population.
Oman saw a net migration gain of roughly 114,000 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 5.5 million.
Economic factors, such as a new 10-year residency program launched by Oman’s Ministry of Commerce in September 2025, provide incentives for investors to move to the country, per Invest Oman.
3. Syria’s net migration gain was equivalent to 1.6% of its population.
Syria saw a net migration gain of roughly 422,000 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 25.6 million.
Many Syrians are returning home after the fall of the Assad regime in 2024, contributing to the significant net migration numbers, according to the UN Refugee Agency.
4. The United Arab Emirates’ net migration gain was equivalent to 1.4% of its population in 2025.
The UAE saw a net migration gain of roughly 159,000 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 11.4 million.
Many wealthy individuals are moving to the UAE for economic opportunities, but according to NYU Abu Dhabi researcher Anju Mary Paul, the country is an attractive destination for lower-income migrants as well. In a series of studies, Paul found that many migrants moved to the UAE for the country’s lifestyle, religious tolerance, and other factors.
5. Seychelles’ net migration gain was equivalent to 1.2% of its population in 2025.
Seychelles saw a net migration gain of roughly 1,600 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 130,000.
While the islands off the eastern coast of Africa are a popular tourist destination, Seychelles also attracts migrants for employment and investment reasons, according to IOM.
6. Qatar’s net migration gain was equivalent to 1.2% of its population in 2025.
Qatar saw a net migration gain of roughly 36,000 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 3.1 million.
Like the UAE, Qatar is attracting a lot of wealthy individuals. The Qatar Financial Centre predicted the Persian Gulf country will soon be among the top 10 countries in the world for high-net-worth individuals looking to move.
7. Bahrain’s net migration gain was equivalent to 1.1% of its population in 2025.
Bahrain saw a net migration gain of roughly 18,000 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 1.6 million people.
A high number of foreign migrants work in Bahrain, making up about half of the country’s population, Al Jazeera reported.
8. Malta’s net migration gain was equivalent to 0.9% of its population in 2025.
Malta saw a net migration gain of roughly 5,200 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 550,000.
Malta also employs a high number of migrant workers, per The Borgen Project.
9. Kuwait’s net migration gain was equivalent to 0.9% of its population in 2025.
Kuwait saw a net migration gain of roughly 43,000 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 5 million.
The majority of Kuwait’s workforce is made up of foreign migrants, and migrant workers face restrictive conditions under the country’s visa sponsorship system, Human Rights Watch reported.
10. Canada’s net migration gain was equivalent to 0.8% of its population in 2025.
Canada saw a net migration gain of roughly 326,000 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 40 million.
Canada’s government has long sought to increase immigration to the country, developing plans to seek out refugees and increase the number of permanent Canadian residents, though it has recently lowered immigration targets, per Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.
11. Luxembourg’s net migration gain was equivalent to 0.8% of its population in 2025.
Luxembourg saw a net migration gain of roughly 5,200 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 680,000.
While Luxembourg’s birth rate remains low, the high net migration rate continues to be the country’s biggest factor in population growth, RTL Today reported. The majority of new arrivals to the country come from Portugal and France.
12. Iceland’s net migration gain was equivalent to 0.7% of its population in 2025.
Iceland saw a net migration gain of roughly 2,700 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 400,000.
According to IOM, Iceland welcomes immigrants “as a valuable source of tourism, work force and an addition to the gene pool.”
13. Ireland’s net migration gain was equivalent to 0.7% of its population in 2025.
Ireland saw a net migration gain of roughly 35,000 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 5.3 million.
Ireland has taken in a significant number of Ukrainian refugees since the war started. Per the BBC, “Between March and December 2022 almost 68,000 people arrived in Ireland from Ukraine under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive.”
In 2026, Ireland’s government is seeking ways to facilitate the refugees’ return to Ukraine, including potential financial support, The Irish Times reported.
14. The Netherlands’ net migration gain was equivalent to 0.6% of its population in 2025.
The Netherlands saw a net migration gain of roughly 105,000 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 18.4 million.
While migration from the rest of Europe to the Netherlands is down, the country takes in a high influx from Asia, particularly from Syria and Iraq, per Statistics Netherlands.
15. Cyprus’ net migration gain was equivalent to 0.6% of its population in 2025.
Cyprus had a net migration gain of roughly 7,700 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 1.4 million.
The Migration Partnership Facility cites the island nation’s close proximity to the Middle East as a key factor in its high net migration.
173. St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ net migration loss was equivalent to 0.7% of its population in 2025.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines saw a net migration loss of roughly 700 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 100,000.
While the net migration rate in the country still remains in the negative, it has been slowing and inching towards a positive rate since the 1970s.
174. Poland’s net migration loss was equivalent to 0.9% of its population in 2025.
Poland saw a net migration loss of roughly 331,000 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 38.1 million.
Per The Prague Process, the main incentives for people to leave include employment opportunities, better pay, and better social benefits in other countries.
175. Lithuania’s net migration loss was equivalent to 0.9% of its population in 2025.
Lithuania saw a net migration loss of roughly 24,600 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 2.8 million.
A Vilnius University report found that unemployment and income inequality in Lithuania were among the biggest factors for people leaving.
176. Albania’s net migration loss was equivalent to 0.9% of its population in 2025.
Albania saw a net migration loss of roughly 24,200 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 2.8 million.
Most emigrants’ motives for leaving the country are similar to those in Lithuania, per the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, including a “lack of prospects in Albania.”
177. Armenia’s net migration loss was equivalent to 1% of its population in 2025.
Armenia saw a net migration loss of roughly 29,000 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 3 million.
Per the Prague Process, Armenian migrant workers most commonly seek work in nearby Russia on a temporary basis.
178. Moldova’s net migration loss was equivalent to 1% of its population in 2025.
Moldova saw a net migration loss of roughly 30,000 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 3 million.
As in other Eastern European countries, economic factors are the main driver of emigration. The majority of Moldovan emigrants have indicated they’d return to their home country if economic conditions improved, according to the Eurasian Research Institute.
179. Estonia’s net migration loss was equivalent to 1% of its population in 2025.
Estonia saw a net migration loss of roughly 13,300 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 1.3 million.
Estonia had seen a positive net migration rate from the mid-2010s through 2024. One factor in the recent decline is that the Baltic country saw a spike in 2022 from Ukrainian refugees, but now many are returning home.
Per Visit Ukraine Today, Estonia accepted 89,000 refugees at the beginning of the war, and 25,000 remain in the country today.
180. Micronesia’s net migration loss was equivalent to 1% of its population in 2025.
Micronesia saw a net migration loss of roughly 1,100 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 110,000.
Micronesia, consisting of hundreds of small islands in Oceania, faces an “almost complete lack of economic development,” per IOM, leading to heavy migration.
On average, roughly a third of people born on the islands live outside of the country.
181. Czechia’s net migration loss was equivalent to 1.1% of its population in 2025.
Czechia saw a net migration loss of roughly 112,200 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 10.6 million.
While the World Bank Group found a net migration loss, this differs from preliminary data from the Czech Statistical Office. In the first quarter of 2025, Czechia did report negative net migration, citing a high number of people whose residence permits and international protection had expired. However, Czechia reported positive net migration for 2025 overall.
The estimates from the World Bank Group and the Czech government may differ due to different methods, definitions, or timeframes.
182. Kosovo’s net migration loss was equivalent to 1.1% of its population in 2025.
Kosovo saw a net migration loss of roughly 18,400 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 1.7 million people.
The rate of emigration from Kosovo has slowed in recent years, but still outweighs the rate of immigration to the country.
183. Nepal’s net migration loss was equivalent to 1.2% of its population in 2025.
Nepal saw a net migration loss of roughly 360,000 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 29.6 million.
An increasing number of young people in Nepal are emigrating for education and work opportunities, per the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.
184. Samoa’s net migration loss was equivalent to 1.3% of its population in 2025.
Samoa saw a net migration loss of roughly 2,800 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 220,000.
Samoa has seen a negative net migration rate for every year of the World Bank Group’s data, dating back to 1960. Emigration rates are high in Samoa among individuals aged 15-24, The Borgen Project reported, citing a 2022 report from the Samoa Bureau of Statistics.
185. Montenegro’s net migration loss was equivalent to 1.5% of its population in 2025.
Montenegro saw a net migration loss of roughly 9,300 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 630,000.
Per the Prague Process, family reunification is the main motive for 24% of emigrants, second only to economic factors, the primary reason cited by 49% of emigrants.
186. Tonga’s net migration loss was equivalent to 2.2% of its population in 2025.
Tonga saw a net migration loss of roughly 2,200 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 100,000.
Per the Borgen Project, about half of Tongans live abroad as of 2017.
187. Jordan’s net migration loss was equivalent to 2.6% of its population in 2025.
Jordan saw a net migration loss of roughly 300,000 people in 2025. The country’s estimated population is approximately 11.5 million.
The New Arab reported economic factors, anxiety among Jordan’s youth, and a decline of public freedoms as contributing to the desire to emigrate from the country.
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