Number of worldwide migrants rises by over three times since 1970, says IOM

The worldwide number of international migrants has increased by more than 3 times, from 84 million in 1970 to 281 million in 2020, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.

"According to the report, the number of international migrants has grown from 84 million globally in 1970 to 281 million in 2020, although when global population growth is factored in, the proportion of international migrants has only inched up from 2.3 per cent to 3.6 per cent of the world's population," the IOM said on Wednesday, commenting on its World Migration Report 2022.

The IOM added that the number of international migrants could be 2 million more last year if the COVID-19 pandemic had not erupted.

"We are witnessing a paradox not seen before in human history ... While billions of people have been effectively grounded by COVID-19, tens of millions of others have been displaced within their own countries," IOM Director General Antonio Vitorino said. ( ANI/Sputnik)

( With inputs from ANI )