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More people than ever around the world are living abroad, and the United States remains the most popular destination, according to new UN data released on Wednesday.

The UN Population Division reported that 232 million people, or 3.2 percent of the world's population, were living outside their homeland in 2013 - a significant increase from the 175 million in 2000 and 154 million in 1990.

"Migration broadens the opportunities available to individuals and is a crucial means of broadening access to resources and reducing poverty," Undersecretary General for Economic and Social Affairs Wu Hongbo said. Nearly two-thirds of all international migrants live in Europe and Asia, with Europe hosting 72 million and Asia 71 million in 2013, the UN report said.

The new estimates show that developed economies in the north are home to 136 million international migrants, compared with 96 million in the developing south.

Between 1990 and 2013, the north gained a larger number of international migrants than the south. But since 2000, growth in the south has been more rapid than in the north.

Nonetheless, international migration remains highly concentrated, with half of all international migrants living in 10 countries this year.

The US hosts the largest number, 45.8 million, and it gained the largest number of international migrants between 1990 and 2013, nearly 23 million, which is equal to 1 million additional migrants per year, the report said.

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