arts, ideas & societyOur World in Data

Venezuela's economic collapse turned it into one of the largest sources of migrants in South America

the gist

Net migration figures show that Venezuela went from attracting people to losing large numbers of them, while Peru, Chile and Colombia received many arrivals. Net migration is the number of people arriving minus the number leaving. The shift accelerated as Venezuela's economy shrank sharply, shortages of food and medicine spread, and hyperinflation wiped out savings. Millions left, many walking or travelling by bus across the Andes, and neighbouring countries absorbed a large share of them.

so what

Few movements in the region's recent history have been this large and quick. It has reshaped labour markets, schools and public services across South America and is one of the biggest demographic changes of the century so far.

Our World in Data · CC BY 4.0

Image: Our World in Data, CC BY 4.0