ICMPD’s Migration Outlook presents a brief analysis of migration and policy trends and provides an outlook on developments and events to watch out for this year.
ICMPD Migration Outlook 2025
In 2025, the political world and the world of migration will continue to experience high levels of volatility. This will be marked by systemic rivalry between the world’s great powers, a polynodal international order, greater state fragility, an increasing number of violent conflicts, rising terrorism, the weaponisation of energy and food insecurity. Below are the ten key migration issues to look out for in 2025 that can shape international migration.
- Global displacement growing at a fast pace.
- European migration trends fraught with uncertainty.
- A world becoming more restrictive towards migration.
- Global impact of the second Trump Presidency.
- The search for “innovative solutions” to irregular migration.
- A European Union focusing on return.
- The unwritten future of Syrian displacement.
- The need to prepare for different outcomes of the war in Ukraine.
- A reinforced debate on the transition of temporary protection.
- The quietly growing role of labour migration.
In addition, there are also in-depth issues of the outlook by ICMPD region. They are prepared within the Regional Coordination Offices and build on unique local expertise.
The findings, projections, and analyses presented in this report are based on the most recent data and trends available at the time of publication. However, migration dynamics are inherently complex and subject to a range of uncertainties and contingencies, including unforeseen political, economic, environmental, and social developments. As such, the views expressed in this report may not fully reflect future conditions or outcomes. Readers are encouraged to interpret the findings with an understanding of these inherent limitations.