MIGRATION

Key words:
Migration: the movement of people from one place to live in another

Emigration: the movement of people out of a country (exit)

Emigrants are people who leave a country.

Immigration: the movement of people into a country. When people migrate, they emigrate from one
place and immigrate into another.

Immigrants are people who arrive in a country.

Internal migration: the movement of people from one area to another within the boundaries of a
country.

International migration: the movement of people from one country to another country.

Net migration: the number of immigrants-the number of emigrants. If more people come in than go out,
the net migration is a positive figure. If more people leave than come in, it is a negative figure.

Population growth (or decline) is the natural change + net migration.

Refugee: a person residing outside of his or her country of nationality who is unable or unwilling to
return because of a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality or political
affiliation. Note that people have the right to seek refugee status in a foreign country. However, the
country that they seek refugee status in does not necessarily have to take them in.

Asylum seekers: people who have been moved across international borders in search of protection but
who’s claim for refugee status has not yet been determined.

Migration can take many different forms. Migrations are either internal (within the country) or
international (from one country to another). They can be further classified as voluntary (where the
individual decides to move) or involuntary/forced (where there is little choice but to move). Below is
a summary of the different types of migration. (also read Complete Geography pg 17-18 or pg 31-32-
Push and pull factors and voluntary international migration)

DRAW:
DRAW:
A classification of migration

Migration Push and Pull Factors

The reasons that people migrate would be due to push and pull factors. Push factors are things which
encourage people to leave their homes and migrate and they are always negative. Pull factors are things
which draw people to the places they migrate to and they are always positive.
Push factors are conditions that can drive people to leave their homes, they are forceful, and relate to
the country from which a person migrates. Push factors include:
1. Not enough jobs in your country;
2. Low wages in your country;
3. Few opportunities in your country;
4. Poor educational opportunities in your country;
5. Desertification;
6. Famine/drought;
7. Political fear/persecution in your country;
8. Civil war and lawlessness in your country;
9. Poor medical care and health facilities in your country;
10. Loss of wealth;
11. Natural disasters such as cyclones, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions.

Pull factors are conditions that attract people to a certain location to a better standard of living and quality
of life. Examples of push factors include:
1. Job opportunities;
2. Higher wages;
3. Better living conditions;
4. Political and/or religious freedom;
5. Better quality of education;
6. Better medical care;
7. Security;
8. Better standard of living;
9. Friends and family have already moved there;
10. Lower levels of crime and safety from conflict.

Remember to develop each of these points in relation to the question in order to earn full marks.
DRAW:
Summary of Push and Pull Factors
 Push and pull factors can be economic, political, cultural, and environmentally based. The following
table outlines these factors:
DRAW:
Factors which influence Migration
Factors of Migration Push Factors Pull Factors
People think about emigrating People immigrate to places where the
from places that have few job jobs seem to be available. An area
opportunities. Because of that has valuable natural resources,
economic restructuring, job such as petroleum or uranium, may
ECONOMIC
prospects often vary from one attract miners and engineers. A new
country to another and within industry may lure factory workers,
regions of the same country. technicians, and scientists.

Forced international migration Political conditions can also operate as

has historically occurred for two pull factors, especially the lure of
main cultural reasons: slavery and freedom. People are attracted to
political instability. Millions of democratic countries that encourage
people were shipped to other individual choice in education, career,
countries as slaves or as prisoners, and place of residence. After
especially from Africa to the Communists gained control of Eastern
Western Hemisphere. Europe in the late 1940s, many people
in that region were pulled toward the
Wars have also forced large-scale democracies in Western Europe and
migration of ethnic groups in the North America.
CULTURAL
20th and 21st centuries in Europe
and Africa.

Another push factor would be the

fear of prosecution and these
people would be refugees: people
who have been forced to migrate
from their homes and cannot
return for fear of persecution.

Migrants are pushed from their Attractive environments for migrants

homes by adverse physical include mountains, sea-sides, and
conditions. Water-either; too warm climates. Proximity to the
much or too little- poses the most Rocky Mountains lures Americans to
environmental threat. Many the state of Colorado, and the Alps pull
people are forced to move by French people to eastern France.
water-related disasters because England, France, and Florida attract
they live in a vulnerable area, migrants, especially retirees, who
such as a floodplain. A lack of enjoy swimming and lying on the
ENVIRONMENTAL water pushes others from their beach. Regions with warm winters
land. Hundreds of thousands have attract migrants from harsher climates.
been forced to move from the
Sahel region of northern Africa
because of their drought
conditions. The capacity of the
Sahel to sustain human life has
declined because of population
growth and years of low rainfall.
Internal Migration
Internal migration is when people move within a country and it includes:
1. Urban to rural migration is the movement from a town/city to a village. This is referred to as
counter-urbanisation which is a recent process where people are beginning to leave large urban
areas to settle in villages. This is common in MEDCs.

2. Rural to rural migration is the movement from village to village. For example, in Zimbabwe,
resettlement schemes where poor people moved to less crowded and more fertile land which was
allocated to them.

3. Rural to urban migration is the movement from a village to the nearest town/regional
city/capital city.

4. Urban to urban migration is the movement from the nearest town to regional/capital city.

RURAL TO URBAN MIGRATION CASE STUDY: Rural areas and small town's among Calcutta,
India to Calcutta's Bustees (Shanty Towns).

Reasons for migrating:

1. Large population growth in rural areas puts more pressure on the environment.
2. Wages in Calcutta are approximately six times that of rural areas.
3. Sub-division of land passed on makes a subsistence life more difficult and reduces the assets
against which a rural inhabitant could get a loan.
4. Increased mechanisation of agriculture to feed growing population means greater rural
unemployment.
5. A large number of migrants are a consequence of natural disasters such as those faced annually
in the Monsoon season. Many migrants cross from nearby Bangladesh.
6. Indian cities receive approximately six times the investment of their rural counterparts.
7. Better medical and health care. Infant mortality is lower in Indian cities than rural areas.
➔ ACTIVITY: Identify which are Push Factors and which are Pull Factors

Consequences for area they arrive in include:

1. A chance to escape the rigid caste system that is still very strong in rural areas.
2. Higher rates of infant mortality than in the rural areas and small towns.
3. Half a million people sleeping on the streets due to lack of affordable housing.
4. Increased air pollution as the pressures of population create a need for more industry. In
addition, people use wood and charcoal for cooking which can lead to strains on the natural
wooded areas and deforestation.
5. The old water system cannot cope. Leaking pipes allow contamination to enter the water
supply. In Monsoon season, this is particularly bad as sewage infects the water.
6. Increased traffic causes greater air pollution problems. As many as 60% of the population
suffer from breathing problems.
7. Bustees have to occupy the least desirable land. This is often prone to flooding particularly
during monsoon season but also is likely to be located near industry increasing problems with
air pollution but also experiencing toxic chemical discharge.
8. Alternatively the developments could be on steep slopes increasing the chances of landslides.

Consequences for area they leave:

1. If the migrant finds work in the city then it is likely that the village he left will benefit from
money sent home. This is what every migrant dreams of but the situation in reality is usually
very different.
 2. As the pressures of urbanisation increase so government expenditure on urban areas must
increase this leaves the rural areas facing an ever more difficult situation. Lack of investment
on health and welfare will have obvious effects for those left behind.
3. It is the young motivated male that is most likely to leave. This has implications for those left
behind. There will be a predominantly elderly population that will find it ever more difficult to
support themselves.
4. Whilst migration may ease some of the population pressures the high birth rates in rural areas
means the situation is deteriorating. This means a constant loss through migration with the
break up of families.

Consequences for the migrant:

1. Forced to live in squalid conditions in the bustees.
2. Often the only work available would be in the informal sector. Jobs here can include
rummaging amongst rubbish tips to find materials that can be sold for re-cycling.
3. Often feel forced to stay in the cities not wanting to face the failure of going home.

International Migration
This is the movement of people from one country to another. It affects both the population and the
population structure of both the region or country where the migrants are coming from and where the
migrants are moving to.

The reasons for international migration are found under voluntary and involuntary migration.
Many international migrants experience difficulties when they arrive at their new destination due to:
1) Lack of qualifications/skills/education/no experience/they have to do unskilled jobs/work
informally;
2) Many are doing low paying jobs
3) Poor working conditions/dirty jobs/long hours/exploitation by employers
4) Many cannot speak the local language(s)
5) Some are unable to obtain employment/not enough jobs
6) Cannot afford education/healthcare/food/housing
7) Live in poor and crowded conditions/ overcrowding/lack of sanitation
8) Some may have to live far away from their families
9) Discrimination may occur/racism/Xenophobia (South Africa)
10) Some may lack documentation/have to hide from authorities
 11) Trouble adapting to the culture/religion

What are the Impacts of Migration?

International migration has advantages and disadvantages to both the receiving country and the losing
country.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1. Reduces pressure on jobs 1. Loses people in the
2. Loses people of child- bearing age economically active age group
causing a decline in birth rate 2. Loses people most likely to
3. Migrants develop new skills which they have some education and skills
THE
might take home 3. Mainly males move causing a
LOSING
4. Money earned abroad is sent back home division in families leading to
COUNTRY
the spread of HIV/AIDS
4. Left with an elderly population
and thus a high death rate

1. Overcomes labour shortage 1. Pressure on jobs

2. Prepared to do the dirty unskilled jobs 2. Low quality, overcrowded
3. Prepared to work long hours for low housing lacking in basic
salaries amenities (inner city slums)
THE 4. Cultural advantages and links 3. Ethnic groups tend not to
RECEIVING 5. Some highly skilled migrants are integrate
COUNTRY received 4. Racial tension
6. In developing countries, the migrants 5. Language difficulties
could increase the number of skilled 6. Lack of opportunities to
workers. practice their own religion.

Global Migration Patterns

The country with the largest number of immigrants is the United States while Asia, Latin America and
Africa have net-out migration. North America, Europe and Oceania have net-in migration. The three
largest flows of migrants are to Europe from Asia, to North America from Asia and from Latin America.
The Global pattern reflects the importance of migration from less developed countries to more developed
countries. Migrants from countries with relatively low incomes and high natural increase rate tend to
head for wealthier countries where job prospects are higher. The highest percentage of immigrants can
be found in the Middle East, about half of the regions’ total population is an immigrant somewhere else,
due petroleum exporting countries, immigrants are able to migrate there to perform “dirty” and
dangerous jobs on the field as immigrants or guest workers.
-
➔ INTERNATIONAL CASE STUDY 1: Summarise the following case study on Migration from
Syria into Germany and other European Union countries. Ensure that you include place specific
points.
INTERNATIONAL CASE STUDY 2: Mexico to the United States of America

What is the situation?

There is a 2000km border between USA and Mexico and approximately 1 million Mexicans migrate to
the USA every year. Illegal migration is a huge problem for USA and Mexico resulting in the US Border
Patrol guarding the border and trying to prevent illegal immigrants. In 1995 850,000 illegal immigrants
were caught and were deported.

Impacts on Mexico:
The Mexican countryside has a shortage of economically active people. Many men emigrate leaving a
majority of women who have trouble finding marriage partners. Young people tend to migrate leaving
the old and the very young. Legal and illegal immigrants together send some $6 billion a year back to
Mexico. Certain villages such as Santa Ines have lost 2/3 of its inhabitants.

Impacts on the USA:

Illegal migration costs the USA millions of dollars for border patrols and prisons. Mexicans are seen as
a drain on the USA economy. Migrant workers keep wages low which affects Americans. There are
problems in cities due cultural and racial issues. Mexican migrants benefit the US economy by working
for low wages. Mexican culture has enriched the US border states with food, language and music.
PUSH factors
Poor medical facilities – 720 per doctorLow paid jobs – (GNP = $3750)
7% Unemployed
Less economically developed country
Poor standard of living
High crime rates
PULL factors
Excellent medical facilities – 400 per doctorWell paid jobs – (GNP = $24,750)
Adult literacy rates 99% – good education prospects
Many jobs available for low paid workers such as Mexicans
More economically developed country
Good standard of living