On this International Migrants Day, let us stand together for the rights of every migrant, and make migration dignified and safe for all."
UN Secretary-General António Guterres
Celebrating the Contributions and Opportunities of Migration
International Migrants Day gives us a special opportunity to shine a spotlight on the invaluable contributions of millions of migrants around the world. It's also a day for us to highlight the increasingly complex environment in which migration occurs. Conflicts, climate-related disasters and economic pressures continue to drive millions of people from their homes in search of safety or simply opportunity.
This past year, we saw record levels of internal displacement, rising humanitarian needs across ongoing and new crises, and, tragically, the highest-ever death toll of migrants in transit. Yet, alongside these challenges, are stories of resilience, progress and hope. Where safe and well-managed migration holds extraordinary potential. Migrants play critical roles in labour markets, filling skills gaps, driving innovation and entrepreneurship, and addressing demographic challenges in aging societies. Migrants boost economic growth and provide a lifeline to families and communities back home, driving development.
The evidence is overwhelming that when migration is managed safely and strategically, it can be a powerful force for good. By supporting regular pathways for migration, we can enable opportunities for migrants, better protect their rights, and contribute to greater prosperity in the countries migrants come from and those that host them.
Together, one step at a time, we can continue building a world where migration is safe, orderly, and beneficial – for everyone.
2025 Theme: My Great Story: Cultures and Development
This year’s theme highlights how human mobility drives growth, enriches societies, and helps communities connect, adapt, and support one another. In 2025, this message is more urgent than ever as migration continues to shape economies, communities, and global development.
Migration is a defining force of our century. Remittances to low- and middle-income countries are projected to reach a record USD 685 billion, and migrants are central to addressing labour shortages, driving innovation, and supporting demographic stability. Yet these contributions can only be maximized when migration is safe, orderly, and responsibly governed.
Well-managed migration is a strategic asset: it strengthens resilience, fuels prosperity, and supports social cohesion. From documentation and skills recognition to integration and dignified return, effective systems ensure migrants can find stability, support their families, and build new futures, while helping communities adapt and thrive.
On this International Migrants Day, calls for smarter policies, stronger cooperation, and a renewed commitment to making migration work for all. Because every migrant’s journey is a story of resilience and possibility, and because when migration is managed well, each personal story becomes part of a larger one that enriches cultures, strengthens development, and benefits us all. “My Great Story” is not only a migrant’s story—it is our shared story of building a fairer, more sustainable future through mobility.
