Migration Trends in South America

South American Migration Report No. 1 - 2017

MIGRATION TRENDS IN SOUTH AMERICA

South America is a region of origin, destination and transit of international migrants. Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, population movement in South America has demonstrated variations in direction, intensity and composition. Simultaneous flows of emigrants, immigrants and refugees or refuge seekers have been observed within South America.

Currently, the following traits stand out for migratory patterns in the region:

Intensiﬁcation of Growth and diversiﬁcation Persistency of intra-regional of countries of origin extra-regional emigration crossborder migration and the destination of extra-regional immigration

IMMIGRANTS / EMIGRANTS IN SOUTH AMERICA - 2015*

COLOMBIA VENEZUELA** Immigration Emigration Immigration Emigration 133,134 2,638,852 1,404,448 606,344 South America has 0.3 5.3 4.5 1.9 over 5 million immigrants. BRAZIL Immigration Emigration ECUADOR 713,568 1,544,024 Immigration Emigration 0.3 0.7 387,513 1,101,923 2.4 6.7

PERU The regional average Immigration Emigration 90,881 1,409,676 for immigration stands 0.3 4.5 at 2.1 per cent of the total population.

BOLIVIA** Immigration Emigration PARAGUAY 142,989 799,605 Immigration Emigration 1.3 7.4 156,462 845,373 2.4 12 CHILE South America has Immigration Emigration over 10 million 469,436 612,409 URUGUAY 2.7 3.4 Immigration Emigration emigrants. 71,799 346,976 2.1 10.1

ARGENTINA Immigration Emigration 2,086,302 940,273 4.8 2.2 The regional average for emigration stands Percentage of Total Population at 5.4 per cent of the *Source: Developed by the authors based on data from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social A airs (2015). Trends in International Migrant Stock: The 2015 revision (United Nations database, POP/D- total population. B/MIG/Stock/Rev.2015) ** Due to space limitations, we will refer to the Plurinational State of Bolivia as ‘Bolivia’ and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela as ‘Venezuela’.

1 IOM OIM IMMIGRATION

The intra-regional migrant population is higher than the extra-regional migrant population. This is partly due to the death of members of the massive European immigration of the twentieth century and growing regional flows. More- over, there has been a growing dynamism in the arrival of new migrant groups from non-South American countries.

Argentina and Venezuela have the greatest number of foreign-born nationals: over 2 million and almost 1.5 million, respectively. Almost 5 per cent of the population of Argentina and Venezuela were born in another country, representing the region’s highest percentages. Brazil, Colombia and Peru have the lowest percentage (0.3%).

Recent Trends TOTAL NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS IN SOUTH AMERICA - 2015* Chile reported signiﬁcant growth of its ARGENTINA 2,086,302 foreign-born population between 2010 and 2015, VENEZUELA 1,404,448 rising by 27 per cent (369,436 to 469,436). The BRAZIL 713,568 rate in Ecuador and Brazil rose by 20 per cent. CHILE 469,436 ECUADOR 387,513 PARAGUAY 156,462 Since 2009, the migration trend in Uruguay has BOLIVIA 142,989 been reversed due to the return of nationals and COLOMBIA 133,134 the growth of non-traditional Latin American PERU 90,881 immigration (Peru, Chile, Dominican Republic and URUGUAY 71,977 Venezuela). In 2015, the number of recently 0 500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 2,500,000 arrived immigrants (arrived in the last 5 years) was

* Source: Developed by the authors based on data from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social 16,664. A airs (2015). Trends in International Migrant Stock: The 2015 revision (United Nations database, POP/DB/MIG/Stock/Rev.2015)

A - INTRA-REGIONAL MIGRATION

EVOLUTION OF THE NUMBER OF SOUTH AMERICAN MIGRANTS IN THE REGION 11% Intensification of South American migrants within the region 3,986,756 3,566,510

2010 2015

Approximately 70 per cent of immigration in South America is intra-regional

REGIONAL MIGRANTS AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL IMMIGRANTS BY COUNTRY - 2015 *

PARAGUAY 87.4 ARGENTINA 81.4 VENEZUELA 78 CHILE 76.5 BOLIVIA 65.7 ECUADOR 61.8 COLOMBIA 56.3 URUGUAY 52.9 PERU 47.8 BRAZIL 29

0 20 40 60 80 100

* Source: Developed by the authors based on data from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social A airs (2015). Trends in International Migrant Stock: The 2015 revision (United Nations database, POP/DB/MIG/Stock/Rev.2015).

2005 2015 2 IOM OIM Immigration by country

Argentina continues to have the largest population of intra-regional migrants, followed by Venezuela.

EVOLUTION OF THE NUMBER OF SOUTH AMERICAN MIGRANTS IN SOUTH AMERICA (THOUSANDS) ARGENTINA 16%

CHILE BRAZIL 1,462 1,698 18% BOLIVIA 20% 16%

1.698 172 207 302 359 1.462 81 94 2010 2015 2010 2015 2010 2015 2010 2015 EVOLUTION OF THE NUMBER OF SOUTH AMERICAN MIGRANTS IN SOUTH AMERICA (THOUSANDS) 1200 1,096 1,034 1000

800 2010

600 2015

400 224 239 200 140139 70 75 40 43 38 38 0 COLOMBIA ECUADOR PARAGUAY PERU URUGUAY VENEZUELA

A range of factors explain the increase in intra-regional mobility: restrictive policies on entry and access to residence in developed nations; the economic crises in the United States and Europe; greater employment opportunities and more beneﬁcial regulatory frameworks in the region.

Intra-regional migration has been favored by the approval of new regulatory and institutional frameworks at the national level, and regional integration agreements (mainly the Southern Common Market [MERCOSUR] and the Andean Commu- nity of Nations), which have facilitated intra-regional mobility. The Agreement on Residence for Nationals of the States Parties of MERCOSUR and Associated States represents a fundamental tool for access to legal residence in South America.

Since 2010, the number of permits has highlighted the persistence of border migration as well as the increase of non-border movements: The countries whose nationals received the highest numbers of permanent residency permits in Argentina between 2011 and 2015 were Paraguay and Bolivia with 280,030 and 161,262, respectively.1

In Chile, a total of 46,352 Peruvians were granted permanent residency between 2010 and 2014, which made them the largest group to be granted such status.2

Most permits issued by Colombia between 2011 and 2016 were to Venezuelans (nearly 50,000).3

Recent increased ﬂows of Colombians and Venezuelans to the most southern countries of the region (Argentina, Chile and Uruguay).

3 IOM OIM B – NON-SOUTH AMERICAN IMMIGRATION

Multiple countries of origin of recent migrations in South America

Growth in the number of non-South Higher level of vulnerability with respect South America is both a transit region American migrants. to regional migrants due, for instance, to (mostly for those heading to the United diculty of migration regularization. States) and ﬁnal destination.

Caribbean Migration to the South

D R

Dominican emigrants have historically moved The number of Dominicans who have moved to Chile and Argentina over the last decade has increased. This dates back to the 1990s in Argentina and to Venezuela. Over the past few years, the mid-2000s in Chile. Between 2005 and 2015, almost 35,000 residency permits destination country list has grown to include were issued, a third of which were for permanent residency. The year-on-year other South American nations, particularly the variation for 2014-2015 for such residency rose by 120 per cent in Argentina southernmost countries of the continent. and 150 per cent in Chile.4

PERMANENT RESIDENCY

CHILE ARGENTINA

1.600 1,587 1.400 1,159 1.200 1,068 of permanent residency 972 70% 1.000 864 895 907 permits issued in Chile between 719 800 739 2005 and 2015 were granted to 595 600 425 460 women. 30% 70% 400 283 231 265 200 55 119 265 119 27 19 30 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

H Brazil is the main destination for Haitians in South America.

Natural disasters have added to Haiti's already Between 2010 and 2016, almost 70,000 residency permits were granted. precarious economic situation, which has There has been a marked increase in the number of residency permits encouraged emigration to various destina- granted since 2012, when Brazil set up a system of humanitarian visas. tions in South America. More than 40,000 were issued in Port-au-Prince.

In Argentina and Chile, almost 3,000 permanent residency permits were granted between 2010 and 2015. This represents an increase of 600 per cent in Argentina and 2,500 per cent in Chile.5 C In Colombia, 21,173 residency permits issued There has been a growing presence of Cubans in South between 2010 and 2016. America in recent years. Cuban nationals both pass through 12,000 countries in the region and reside in them. Over 50,000 10,487 residency permits were granted to Cuban nationals in South 10,000 America. 8,000 6,000 4,595 4,160 Ecuador and Brazil issued over 14,608 and 7,218 4,000 2,000 residency permits, respectively, between 2011 and 2014. 311 657 99 864 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 4 IOM OIM North-South Migration Processes with low but increasing population impact in which the component of nationals of the region with dual citizenship among new arrivals (return migration) stands out. E United States of America: In 2015, there were 118,598 Increase in Spanish migration to Latin America after Americans living in South America. Between 2000 and 2015, a the 2008 crisis. For example, Ecuador doubled its positive variation of 68 per cent was recorded. Brazil and Ecua- migrant stock between 2005 and 2015. dor have the largest number of Americans in the region.

28,068 7,473 30,000 BRAZIL 8,000 25,443 26,802 7,096 7,000 25,000 ECUADOR 6,000 20,000 5,000 3,658 13,981 4,000 15,000 3,071 3,000 11,011 13,758 10,000 2,000 2000 2005 2000 2010 2015 2010 2015 South-South Migration

While South-South migration is not a new phenomenon in the region, during the first decade of the twenty-first century there was a significant increase in migration from Africa and Asia, within a context of increasingly restrictive policies in Europe and North America, along with visa liberalization in some South American countries.6

New nationalities within African immi- South America as a region of transit Mixed ﬂows composed of refugee gration to the region. and destination. seekers, economic migrants and irregular migrants, etc.

Although not important in quantitative terms, in some countries African immigrants are highly visible and vulnerable (difficult access to regularization of immigration status, language barriers, cultural barriers, etc.).

There has been a long tradition of migration from Asia (particularly China, Japan and the Republic of Korea). At present, Chinese and Korean migration continues to be dynamic, with variable growth in some countries. This can be observed in the rise in the number of residency permits granted.

Over the course of one decade (2004-2014), Argen- The granting of residency permits to Chinese tina, Brazil and Chile granted nearly 50,000 perma- citizens in Colombia and Peru has grown in nent residency permits to Chinese citizens.7 recent years.9

Noticeable male profile as 72 per In Chile, 58 per cent of cent of residency permits granted permanent residency permits in Colombia correspond to men were granted to men and 42 per and 28 per cent to women.10 cent to women.8 CHINA BANGLADESH

Syrian Arab Republic: Historic flows to South America were identified in the mid-twentieth century, heading to Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador and Paraguay, among others. However, in recent years the number of Syrians in the region has increased due to the special circumstances caused by the conflict, thus deserving of international protection. In fact, some countries have granted humanitarian visas and set up resettlement programs. For example: Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.

A growing diversiﬁcation of origin has been noted: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Nepal among others, although of very low population impact in quantitative terms.

5 IOM OIM EMIGRATION

Currently, emigration takes in all countries to a greater or lesser extent. In recent years, the reasons for emigration of South Americans are, almost exclusively, related to work, fueled by political and economic crises. Between 2010 and 2015, the absolute number of emigrants rose by 10 per cent (9,331,357 to 10,845,455), although this repre- sented a fall in relation to the end of the twentieth century and beginning of the twenty ﬁrst.

In absolute terms, Colombia is the South American In relative terms, Paraguay is the country with the great- country with the largest population living abroad, est proportional number of emigrants (12 %). standing at more than 2.5 million people.

TOTAL NUMBER OF SOUTH AMERICAN EMIGRANTS 2015 PERCENTAGE OF EMIGRATION AGAINST TOTAL POPULATION 2015

URUGUAY 346,976 BRAZIL 0.7 VENEZUELA 606,344 VENEZUELA 1.9 CHILE 612,409 ARGENTINA 2.2

BOLIVIA 799,606 CHILE 3.4 PARAGUAY 845,373 PERU 4.5 ARGENTINA 940,273 COLOMBIA 5.3

ECUADOR 1,101,923 ECUADOR 6.7 PERU 1,409,676 BOLIVIA 7.4 BRAZIL 1,544,024 URUGUAY 10.1 COLOMBIA 2,638,852 PARAGUAY 12 0 500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 2,500.000 0 2 4 6 8 10 12

*Source: Developed by the authors based on data from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social A airs (2015). Trends in International Migrant Stock: The 2015 revision (United Nations database, POP/DB/MIG/Stock/Rev.2015).

Extra-Regional Emigration

The United States of America, Europe (mainly Spain and Italy) and, to a lesser extent, Canada and Japan are the main destinations for South American migrants.

The United States and Spain account for nearly half of the region's total migrants (around 5 million)

SPAIN 1.8 MILLION

CANADA 237 THOUSAND

ITALY 500 THOUSAND

USA 2.8 MILLON JAPAN 233 THOUSAND

*Source: Developed by the authors based on data from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social A airs (2015). Trends in International Migrant Stock: The 2015 revision (United Nations database, POP/DB/MIG/Stock/Rev.2015).

6 IOM OIM Emigration by country

Today, the United States is the main host of South American migrants with almost 3 million (2,820,681). Colombia, Peru and Ecuador are the most numerous population groups totaling more than 1.5 million. Nearly a quarter of that number corresponds to those born in Colombia (690,750).

Spain is the second most popular destination in terms of the quantitative importance of South American emigration. Currently, there are almost 2 million (1,879,728) who were born in South America living there.

EVOLUTION OF THE SOUTH AMERICAN POPULATION IN SPAIN AND THE UNITED STATES (2010-2015) The dynamics of the ﬁve-year period between 2010-2015 show a fall in the total stock of South American migrants in the United States (-15 %) and Spain (-12 %).

1,400,000 SPAIN In the United States, Paraguayan, Venezuelan 1,200,000 USA and Brazilian populations grew. Paraguayans almost tripled their number (from 10,023 to 1,000,000 28,642); Venezuelans grew by 18 per cent (215,023 to 255,520) and Brazilians by 2,000 800,000 emigrants to stand at 361,374. 600,000 In the case of Spain, only Venezuelans increased 400,000 in number among the population born in South America. In 2016, there were 180,289 Venezue- 200,000 lans registered in Spain, of which 65 per cent (117,300) had Spanish nationality, a situation linked 0 with previous Spanish emigration to Venezuela. 2010 2015 2010 2015 2010 2015 2010 2015 2010 2015 2010 2015 2010 2015 2010 2015 2010 2015 2010 2015 ARGENTINA BOLIVIA BRAZIL CHILE COLOMBIA ECUADOR PARAGUAY PERU URUGUAY VENEZUELA

Source: Developed by the authors based on data from the US Census Bureau and Spanish Municipal Register (Spanish Statistical Oce-INE).

OTHER DESTINATIONS11

E C Between 2010 and 2015, the total stock of South Americans Canada reported a signiﬁcant rise of 20 per cent (196,977 to grew by 8 per cent (2,968,373 to 3,231,326), driven by the 237,203) between 2010 and 2015, driven by emigration from growth of the Venezuelan population in Spain, Italy and Portu- Colombia (70,000). gal; Brazilians going to Portugal and the UK; and Peruvians Mexico (70,281) and Panama (69,916), with around 70,000 heading to Italy, France, the Netherlands and Germany. South Americans in each of their territories, particularly Colombians and Venezuelans .

A A Japan and China host the largest number of South American South Africa stands out as having the largest group of South emigrants (321,514), predominantly from Brazil and Peru. In Americans (7,633), led by Brazilians (3,151) and Argentineans Israel there are more than 60,000 South Americans (63,614), (2,419). led by Argentineans with almost two-thirds of the total (39,343).

7 IOM OIM Return Migration

With varying degrees of intensity, the return of South Americans to their places of origin is structured in relation to the destination countries of emigration. Thus, among the main countries of return is the United States in the cases of Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay; and Spain in the cases of Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay. According to the 2010 Census Round, the percentage of return of migrant stocks living abroad was 7 per cent in Ecuador, 5.5 per cent in Uruguay and 4.5 per cent in Brazil.

MAIN COUNTRIES OF RETURN (CENSUS ROUND 2010)12

SPAIN USA

JAPAN PARAGUAY

ITALY ARGENTINA

ECUADOR BRAZIL URUGUAY

In Peru, three countries account for 59.8 per cent of the total number of migrants who returned from abroad between 2000 and 2016. A total of 8.1 per cent of all returnees left the country in 2007.13

107,745

45,208 31,413

CHILE USA SPAIN

References: 1- National Directorate for Migration Argentina. 9- Developed by the authors based on data from Migration Colombia and 2- Foreigners and Migration Department Chile. National Superintendence of Migration of Peru. 3- Migration Colombia. 10- Migration Colombia. 4- Developed by the authors based on data from National Directorate for 11- Developed by the authors based on data from the United Nations Migration Argentina and Foreigners and Migration Department Chile. Department of Economic and Social A airs (2015). Trends in International 5- National Directorate for Migration Argentina and Foreigners and Migration Migrant Stock: The 2015 revision (United Nations database, POP/DB/MIG Department Chile. /Stock/Rev.2015). 6- IOM (2013) Migration Notebook No. 5: Extra-continental Migrants in 12- Developed by the authors based on data from: ECLAC/IOM (2016) New South America: Case studies. migration trends and dynamics in Latin America and the Caribbean, Jorge 7- Developed by the authors based on data from National Directorate for Martínez Pizarro and Cristián Orrego Rivera. Migration Argentina, Foreigners and Migration Department Chile, and 13- National Institute of Statistics and Informatics-National Superintendence of SINCRE Brazil. Migrations of Peru – IOM Peru (2016); Statistics for International Emigration 8- Developed by the authors based on data from Foreigners and Migration of Peruvians and Immigration of Foreigners, 1990 - 2015. Lima: INEI-IOM. Department Chile.

This publication is part of a systematic series of reports on migration produced by the Migration Analysis Unit of the IOM Regional O ce for South America. Follow us: www.facebook.com/OIMSuramerica www.youtube.com/OIMSuramerica

@OIMSuramerica Contact: [email protected] www.robuenosaires.iom.int 8 IOM OIM