Mombasa: The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in collaboration with GIZ and Statistics Sweden, has launched the second edition of the IGAD Population and Migration Statistics report. This initiative aims to bolster evidence-based governance regarding migration and displacement.
According to Kenya News Agency, the report seeks to generate, harmonize, and employ reliable data to guide regional and national migration policies. It provides extensive statistics and analysis of migration and displacement trends in the IGAD region, which includes Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda from 2010 to 2022.
Key findings reveal the IGAD region's population increased from 207.5 million in 2010 to 283.5 million in 2022, with a nearly equal representation of men (141.8 million) and women (141.7 million). The number of international migrants rose by 65.9 percent over the past decade, reaching 6.8 million in 2022. Forced displacement remains a significant concern, with the region hosting 4.3 million refugees, accounting for one in every six globally.
There was a notable increase in working-age migrants, from 2.7 million in 2013 to 4.3 million in 2022, marking a 56.8 percent rise. This trend was observed across both genders, with labor migration within the region also expanding. The majority of these migrants originated from South Sudan, Somalia, and Sudan, with women and children comprising a large share of the refugee and asylum-seeking populations.
The report highlights the mixed migration flows in the region, destined mainly for Europe through Sudan, Libya, and Egypt; the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries through Djibouti, Northern Somalia, and Yemen; and South Africa through Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, and Malawi.
Economically, remittances play a crucial role for Member States, reaching US$12.3 billion in 2022, up from US$3.3 billion in 2010. Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia were the top remittance-receiving countries.
Speaking at the launch in Mombasa, IGAD Deputy Executive Secretary Mohamed Ware emphasized the importance of accurate, reliable, and timely data for developing evidence-based policies and national development plans. He noted that migration, driven by political instability, economic disparities, environmental shocks, and deep historical and cultural ties, is a defining feature of the IGAD region.
Ware highlighted the need for accurate and harmonized data, stating that without it, policies risk being reactive rather than proactive. He added that well-governed migration, supported by sound evidence, is a driver of sustainable development, social stability, and regional integration.
Rosemary Bowen, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics Acting Director for Population and Social Statistics, noted that migration presents both challenges and opportunities. She highlighted its role as a driver of economic growth, cultural exchange, and regional integration, while also underscoring the governance challenges it presents, particularly in ensuring safe, orderly, and regular migration.