What is migration?
Migration is the movement of people from one place to another to live, either permanently or temporarily. People who leave an area are emigrants; those who arrive are immigrants. Migration may be within a country (internal) or between countries (international).
Key idea
Migration is driven by push factors that make people want to leave a place and pull factors that attract them to a new place. The decision usually results from both acting together.
Push and pull factors
| Push (origin) | Pull (destination) |
|---|---|
| Unemployment, poverty | Jobs, higher wages |
| Few services | Better schools and hospitals |
| War, disaster | Safety and peace |
Types and effects
- Rural–urban migration — moving from villages to towns for work; common in developing countries.
- International migration — moving between countries, e.g. for jobs.
- Forced migration — refugees fleeing war or disaster.
Effects on the destination: more workers, but crowding, pressure on housing and services. Effects on the origin: loss of young workers (brain drain), but money sent home (remittances) and less pressure on land.
Example
In Malaysia, many people have moved from rural areas to cities such as Kuala Lumpur for work, and foreign workers migrate to Malaysia for jobs in plantations, construction and factories.
Remember
- Emigrant = leaves; immigrant = arrives.
- Push = reasons to leave; pull = reasons to move to.
- Rural–urban migration is very common in developing countries.