Evolution of migration and sustainable development studies in Southeast Asia: a bibliometric analysis from 2004 to 2024

Purpose This research offers an all-rounded bibliometric overview of migration and sustainable development studies in Southeast Asia from 2004 to 2024 through publication performance, citation performance, authorship patterns, institutional contributions and theme evolution. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a bibliometric approach with examination of 378 documents from 301 sources, consisting of journals, books and conference proceedings during 2004–2024. This examines trends in annual publication, citation counts, geographic and institutional distribution, patterns of collaboration and the themes of the majority of the articles. Findings The average number of citations per paper was 16.2 and the annual growth was 9.06%. Its authors are from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and include partnerships with the USA, UK and Australia. Top institutions were Mahidol University, the University of Washington and Kasetsart University. There was a shift of thematic emphasis from economic growth toward sustainability and migration. Research limitations/implications The paper identifies limitations around world geography and the strength of research in the field of migration and development studies. Additional work is needed in underrepresented areas and methodological progress is needed. Practical implications This perspective has important implications for researchers, institutions and policies in migration and sustainable development in Southeast Asia and for the need to collaborate internationally. Social implications This is illustrative of the increasing interdisciplinarity of migration and sustainability research, with policy and social change implications in Southeast Asia and beyond. Originality/value This paper is a bibliometric analysis of migration and sustainable development in Southeast Asia, focusing on the trends and gaps in such literature and the implications thereof for future research and policy.