KEY POINTS

• IOM defines diasporas as migrants or descendants of migrants whose identity and senses of belonging, either real or symbolic, have been shaped by their migration experience and background (see Figure 1). • At least 280,5 million people – around 3 per cent of the global population - live in a country other than their country of origin.

• More than 70 percent of countries participating in the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) globally have established diaspora or emigration institutions.

• One in three MGI countries globally engages its diaspora in agenda setting and implementation of development policy.

• Two thirds of countries globally accepted dual citizenship. • Migrants are estimated to generate 9.4 percent of the global GDP. • Migrants often retain connections to their families and friends back home, send them part of their income or savings through remittances, share knowledge and skills acquired in migration and engage in trade, entrepreneurship and investment. Migrant children often retain ties to their parents’ countries of origin, as well. Senses of belonging of migrant descendants, however, can become weaker over time. • Worldwide, there are more than 200.000 diaspora and migrant organizations. • The Global Compact for Migration and the Dublin Declaration recognize diasporas as development and humanitarian partners.