Human migration involves the movement of people from one place of residence to another, whether across international borders or within a single country. It generally refers to a change in usual residence, with varying intentions of settling temporarily or permanently in a new location.
Migration by Geographic Range
Migration can be broadly categorized by the geographic distance covered and the administrative boundaries crossed. The two primary categories are internal migration and international migration.
Internal migration refers to the movement of people within the borders of a single country. This type of movement often occurs for reasons such as seeking better job opportunities or improved living conditions. Examples include rural-to-urban migration, where individuals move from villages to cities. People also engage in inter-state migration, moving between different states or provinces within the same nation, or intra-state migration, involving movement within a smaller region like a city or county.
International migration, in contrast, involves people crossing national borders to reside in another country. This form of migration includes both emigration and immigration. Emigration is the act of leaving one’s own country to settle in another, while immigration is the act of entering a new country with the intention of residing there. These terms describe two sides of the same movement; for instance, a person leaving their home country is an emigrant from that country and an immigrant to their new country of residence.
Migration by Choice and Circumstance
The degree of voluntariness involved in the decision to move provides another important way to classify human migration. Migration can be either voluntary, based on personal choice, or forced, due to circumstances beyond an individual’s control.
Voluntary migration occurs when individuals choose to move of their own free will, often driven by a desire for improved economic opportunities, social conditions, or environmental factors. People may migrate for economic reasons, such as seeking better employment or higher wages. Family reunification is another common motivator, where individuals move to join relatives already settled elsewhere. Lifestyle choices, such as moving for a preferred climate or a better quality of life, and educational pursuits, like studying abroad, are also reasons for voluntary movement.
Forced migration involves movement where individuals are compelled to leave their homes, often due to threats to their lives or livelihoods. This can arise from conflict, persecution, or natural disasters. Specific categories of forced migrants include:
- Refugees: Individuals who have fled their country due to persecution, war, or violence and are unable to return home.
- Asylum seekers: Individuals seeking international protection whose claims for refugee status have not yet been determined.
- Internally displaced persons (IDPs): Those forced to flee their homes but who remain within their own country’s borders, often due to conflict or natural disasters.
- Human trafficking victims: Individuals moved by deception or coercion for exploitation purposes.
Migration by Duration and Purpose
Migration can also be distinguished by the intended duration of the movement and the specific objective driving it. The types include temporary, permanent, daily/commuter, and environmental migration.
Temporary migration involves movement for a limited period, with the intention of returning to the original place of residence. This can include seasonal migration, such as agricultural workers moving for specific harvests, or contract labor migration, where individuals work abroad for a defined period. Student migration for educational purposes also falls into this category.
Permanent migration, in contrast, is characterized by the intent to establish a new, long-term residence in the destination location. This type of migration often involves individuals seeking to integrate fully into their new society, contributing to its economy and culture. Examples include settler migration, where people move to establish new communities, or family-based migration, where the new residence is intended to be indefinite.
Daily or commuter migration describes regular, short-distance movement between a person’s home and their workplace or school. This type of movement is common in metropolitan areas, where people live in one part of a city or its surrounding areas and travel to another for daily activities. Cross-border commuting is a specific form where individuals regularly travel across an international border for work or study.
Environmental migration is driven by changes in the natural environment or by natural disasters. This can involve movement due to sudden-onset events like floods, tsunamis, or earthquakes, or slow-onset changes such as desertification, rising sea levels, or long-term drought. While often involuntary, environmental migration can be temporary or permanent, and people may move within their own country or across international borders in response to these environmental pressures.