Signal Migration Policy Institute: immigration is only 'half an answer' to population aging

Summary

The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) published a report on 2026-08-10 examining the role immigration can play in addressing population aging. The report finds that immigration alone is insufficient to stabilize worker-to-retiree ratios, estimating that migration-driven population growth needed to offset rising old-age dependency ratios across more than 100 OECD countries would require total population to increase 75% by 2050. MPI recommends aligning immigration policy with retirement-age extensions, productivity investment, family-friendly policies and pension reform as part of an integrated demographic strategy. The report cites China's births falling to their lowest level since 1949 as evidence of the severity of global population aging. It also flags a new policy challenge: immigrants themselves age, and destination countries face a growing population of immigrant retirees, some without legal status, reaching retirement age without pensions or health care.