Countries with high living standards should prepare for a massive influx of migrants from developing countries in the coming years, unless the latter experience significant growth in their national economies and create the necessary number of new jobs. World Bank CEO Ajay Banga warned about this in a speech at the meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of the Group of Twenty (G20) countries in Cape Town.
“About 1.2 billion young people will enter the labor market in developing countries in the next 10-15 years“, he said. “During the specified period, these countries will create 420 million jobs. Hundreds of millions of young people will remain unemployed. This will contribute to increased instability, crime and mass migration.“
Banga stressed that international efforts are needed to accelerate economic growth in developing countries, which will also help solve the problem of illegal migration to rich countries around the world.
According to a report published in December 2024 by the African service Afrobarometer, 47% of residents of 24 African countries want to leave their homeland in search of a better life. Compared to a similar survey conducted by Afrobarometer specialists six years ago, the number of people wishing to migrate to Africa has increased by 9%. Africans indicate the United States (31% of respondents) and the European Union (29%) as priority destinations for migration.