The 2024 Bangladesh Migration Snapshot, developed by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), published on Wednesday, presents a comprehensive overview of migration data available from government and UN agencies, as well as development actors in Bangladesh.
Highlights
- International Migration to Bangladesh
- International Migration from Bangladesh
- Return Migration
- Refugees and Asylum Seekers
- Disaster-Induced Displacement
- Internal Migration
- Remittances
Specifically, the data analysis captured the thematic areas of international migration, including sections on international migrants in Bangladesh and international migration from Bangladesh, return migration, refugees and asylum seekers from Bangladesh and hosted in Bangladesh, internal displacement, internal migration and remittances. The report aims to identify critical data gaps and provide actionable insights for policymakers and other stakeholders.
After reviewing the existing datasets on international migration to Bangladesh, it was found that stock data on international migrants in Bangladesh offers a limited breakdown of data by gender, location, age, education and employment status. There is also a lack in the systematic tracking of long-term and short-term migrant categories, and stock estimates differ substantially by agency. In terms of immigration, Bangladesh hosted approximately 2.9 million international migrants in 2024, a significant increase from 1990. The influx of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in 2017 was a major driver, accounting for 43 per cent of the foreign population.
Data on international migration from Bangladesh faces similar data challenges: While international data on the stock of Bangladeshi migrants abroad, and comprehensive data on reasons for migration, as well as types of migration for employment, exist, flow data on emigrants and labour migrants is missing. By 2024, 8.7 million Bangladeshi nationals resided abroad, predominantly in Gulf Cooperation Council countries, with Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Oman being key destinations. Labour migration dominates outflows, reflecting the country’s economic reliance on remittances.
Return destinations in the country reflect divisions of origin, with districts of return for Bangladeshi return migrants varying considerably. While the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics collects data on return migration regularly, a disaggregation by indicators helpful for reintegration and economic planning is missing so far, such as data on type of work before return, education and age of returnees, was not found. More systematic data collection on returning migrants would be recommended. Return migration from GCC countries is significant, with Chattogram and Dhaka as primary destinations.
Data on forced migration is collected and published by UNHCR, with comprehensive data on numbers, countries of origin and destination of refugees and asylum seekers, as well as demographic data on age and gender, whereas data on other factors, such as the education of refugees in and from Bangladesh, is not available. Flow data is also not available. The Rohingya refugee crisis remains a significant issue, with more than 1 million refugees hosted in Cox’s Bazar.
In terms of internal displacement, the main data provider is the IDMC, which publishes data on internal displacement in Bangladesh showing both internal displacement due to natural events, such as cyclones and floods, as well as conflict.
IDMC data includes both stock of internally displaced persons and temporary displacement (flow) data, as well as disaggregation by gender and age, but lacks data on employment status and other socio-demographic indicators.
Data sources on internal migration provide an overview of the main districts of origin and destination, data on migration patterns within districts, as well as a limited understanding of the drivers and impacts of internal migration. Generally, urban centres, especially Dhaka, attract the majority of internal migrants, reflecting ongoing urbanisation. Conversely, rural areas experience notable outflows.
Remittances are a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s economy, nearly doubling between 2010 and 2023, reaching USD 21.9 billion. The GCC region remains the largest source of remittances, followed by the United States and the United Kingdom. Data on remittances is mainly collected and published by the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training and is comprehensive, providing an overview of the country of origin, trends over time, as well as channels and usage. Data gaps in this area include a lack of data on remittance recipients, remittance usage, as well as the underreporting of remittance inflows due to informal channels being used.
To enhance migration management and policy effectiveness, the report suggests strengthening data collection systems to include demographic disaggregation, harmonising migration-related definitions and standards across government agencies, as well as expanding research on undocumented migration and internally displaced persons. This snapshot underscores migration’s dual role as a driver of economic growth and a source of socio-political challenges. Addressing the identified gaps will be crucial for leveraging migration for sustainable development while mitigating associated risks.
