Migration and Its Impact on Cities

The report examines how migration affects urban centers, highlighting that while migrants contribute significantly to global GDP, they place immense pressure on housing, health, and education services. Through case studies of 22 cities across six continents, it identifies common challenges—such as the proliferation of slums and language barriers—and proposes solutions involving public-private partnerships, digital identity tools, and inclusive urban planning.

• Migration is a massive global phenomenon with an estimated 244 million international migrants and 763 million internal migrants, meaning migrants constitute approximately one-seventh of the world's population.
• Migrants provide a substantial economic contribution, accounting for an estimated $6.4 trillion to $6.9 trillion, or 9.4%, of the global gross domestic product in 2015.
• Housing is the most critical challenge for cities affected by migration, with 20 out of 22 contributing cities citing the need for more affordable and social housing. In Paris, wait times for social housing can exceed 10 years.
• Language barriers are a primary obstacle to integration and employment, cited by eight cities including Boston, Berlin, and Amsterdam. In Boston, 45% of the foreign-born population speaks English as a second language.
• Internal migration is a significantly larger phenomenon than international migration, yet it receives far less political and planning attention.
• In Dubai, 91% of the population are expatriates, and the city manages a 'floating population' of 1.1 million people who work in the city but reside in other emirates due to high housing costs.
• New York City implemented IDNYC, a municipal identification program to reduce barriers for undocumented immigrants in accessing city services, hospitals, and bank accounts.
• In Amman, the influx of migrants between 2011 and 2015 had an annual fiscal impact exceeding $2.5 billion, representing 6% of Jordan's GDP and 25% of the city government's annual revenues.
• The report argues that the private sector can mitigate the burden on city governments by providing innovative housing, funding large-scale transport projects, and promoting multicultural workforces.

APA

World Economic Forum (2017). Migration and Its Impact on Cities. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/Migration_Impact_Cities_report_2017_low.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Migration and Its Impact on Cities. 2017. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/Migration_Impact_Cities_report_2017_low.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Migration and Its Impact on Cities |date=October 2017 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/Migration_Impact_Cities_report_2017_low.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2017migration, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Migration and Its Impact on Cities}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2017}, month = oct, url = {http://www3.weforum.org/docs/Migration_Impact_Cities_report_2017_low.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }