The year 2025 has witnessed a significant shift in the way migration is viewed and politicized across the world.
The convergence of several factors, such as large-scale armed conflicts, accelerating climate impacts and economic pressures, has made migration one of the key issues on the global agenda.
In the past, migration was mostly analyzed from a humanitarian perspective. But in 2025, migration debates heavily entered geopolitics, the racial and religious demographic and even the US’ national security strategy. So, migration is no longer just an episodic crisis that needs to be managed for a short time; instead, it will impact global governance and shape the political and economic landscape well into 2026 and beyond.
Armed conflict played a significant role in migration in 2025. The wars in Gaza, Sudan, Yemen and Ukraine collectively displaced tens of millions of people, destabilized regional markets and amplified the strategic calculations of neighboring states. Prolonged bombardment, infrastructure collapse and restrictions on humanitarian access created some of the most severe internal displacement crises of the decade, forcing families to move repeatedly in search of safety, temporary shelter or caloric survival.
Sudan is experiencing the fastest-growing displacement crisis in the world, with mass violence and famine conditions forcing populations out of their homes. Yemen’s protracted conflict has eroded essential services. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to sit at the center of Europe’s largest displacement crisis since the Second World War, with millions of refugees dispersed across the continent and millions more displaced internally. These conflicts have together reshaped the humanitarian, economic and political systems on a global scale.
The second issue that was a major driver of migration in 2025 was climate change. Across South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Latin America, climate-linked floods, rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns uprooted communities that were already vulnerable to insecurity and poverty. What has made this year distinct from preceding years is not only the magnitude of climate-related displacement but the frequency of repeated internal movements.
In many cases, people were not simply fleeing from one point to another, they were moving repeatedly within short time frames. This cyclical movement introduced a new challenge to humanitarian systems, which were designed to deal with discrete emergencies rather than recurring climate shocks. It also created a new challenge to legal systems, which are not adequately equipped to protect people who have been displaced by environmental issues rather than conflicts.
This is partially why the international community this year confronted severe funding shortfalls that limited their capacity to respond effectively. As humanitarian budgets shrank, essential services such as food assistance, shelter provision, medical care and sanitation support have had to be reduced. This increases the likelihood of secondary displacement and deepens the protracted nature of crises. Instead of being proactive, humanitarian organizations are now mostly in a reactive position, unable to keep pace with global displacement.
This year has also witnessed sweeping policy transformations in Europe that have redefined the meaning of migration governance. A series of national and regional measures have reshaped border regimes, asylum procedures and return policies. Several European states have tightened asylum rules, expanded the list of designated “safe countries of origin,” accelerated border procedures and adopted new frameworks intended to increase deportations and discourage irregular arrivals.
Nevertheless, at the same time, many of these same countries introduced reforms to attract skilled labor and regularize long-term residents in order to address domestic labor shortages in aging economies. This dual strategy seems to prioritize economic and security issues rather than humanitarian obligations.
The shifting policy environment in Europe also appears to frame migration not as a social or humanitarian issue but as a security concern intertwined with border protection, counterterrorism and regional stability. In addition, migration control has become a bargaining tool in domestic politics and international relations.
From an economic perspective, migration in 2025 produced complex effects. In many host countries, refugees and labor migrants contributed to key sectors experiencing workforce shortages, such as healthcare, eldercare, agriculture and logistics. Yet, at the same time, rapid and large-scale arrivals strained some public services, fueled political tensions and strengthened far-right narratives around identity and security.
Demographically, this year has also reaffirmed the significance of migration for countries facing aging populations, declining fertility and shrinking workforces.
Looking to the future, the transformation and structural forces that defined 2025 when it comes to global migration are unlikely to change. The issue of migration will continue to influence diplomatic relationships, national security strategies, labor market planning and demographic futures. This is why countries that develop coherent, effective and forward-looking policies that respect rights will be better positioned to navigate the next year and even the coming decade.
This year should be considered a major one when it comes to global migration, as it has revealed that this issue is not peripheral but that it shapes economic systems, political identities and international relations. As we enter 2026, policymakers, scholars and global institutions must recognize that the era of viewing migration as a temporary emergency has passed. Migration is now a major and structural driver of global change amid a rapidly shifting international landscape.
BY: Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian American political scientist.
Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect The Times Union‘ point of view
