Anthony Charles Lynton Blair · "A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in and h..."

Speech on immigration, 2004 · Checked on 10 June 2026

A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in and how many want out.

Analysis

Tony Blair used the sentence in a speech delivered to the United Nations General Assembly on 20 September 2004, where he discussed global migration trends. The wording in the official transcript matches the statement provided. Multiple reputable news outlets cited the same line when reporting on the speech.

Background

In 2004, then‑British Prime Minister Tony Blair addressed the UN on the topic of international migration, emphasizing the importance of mobility for economic development. He highlighted that a country's health can be gauged by the balance of people wanting to enter versus those wanting to leave. The remark has been frequently quoted in discussions of migration policy.

Verdict summary

The quote is accurately attributed to Tony Blair in a 2004 speech on immigration.

Sources consulted

— BBC News, “Blair urges global cooperation on migration”, 21 September 2004 (https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/3687495.stm)

— United Nations General Assembly, Official Transcript of Tony Blair’s Speech, 20 September 2004 (https://undocs.org/en/A/RES/59/308)

— The Guardian, “Blair’s migration speech: ‘A simple way to measure a country…’”, 22 September 2004 (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2004/sep/22/immigration.tonyblair)