IOM conducts research designed to guide and inform migration policy and practice. The organization provides a unique space for consultation between researchers and policy makers. Research results are disseminated through numerous publications worldwide. 

IOM's research activities world-wide encompass several migration management topics, including migration trends and data, international migration law, migration and development, health and migration, counter-trafficking, labour migration, trade, remittances, irregular migration, integration, and return migration. 

IOM's Migration Research Division has the institutional responsibility for overseeing the conduct and management of applied research.

*New report launched* on 27 June 2017 on"Migration in the 2030 Agenda." A description of the report can be viewed here.