Migration is as natural to humans as eating, sleeping, and making babies. From the dawn of our species, we’ve moved from place to place, searching for better opportunities, safety, and new beginnings. Migration isn’t something that only some people do; it isn’t something that only people from less developed countries do; it is something that all humans do throughout their lives. We often use the terms associated with migration, like immigration, as something separate or different than moving. Any time a human moves across town, state, or a country’s border, that is migration. Understanding why people migrate and the different types of migration help us comprehend the complexities of global population dynamics.

Immigration vs Emigration

They sound almost identical when spoken, but they mean different things. Immigration is the term for foreign-born residents moving into a new country, while emigration is the term for native-born residents leaving to reside in a new country. Basically, depending on perspective, someone can be both an immigrant and an emigrant at the same time. I was born in the United States. If I decide to leave the United States to live in Canada, I will be an immigrant to Canada and Canadians, as well as an emigrant to the United States.

This distinction can become really important when analyzing things like graphs or other data. If you were asked a question about data relating to emigration but gave an answer that pertained to immigration–you might get it wrong. Here’s an easy way to remember:

Push Factors and Pull Factors

To help us understand human migration and how humans behave when migrating, we categorize the causes of migration as push factors, and the factors that help people choose their new locations as pull factors. We further categorize these factors into four categories: economic, social, political, and environmental.

Economic Push Factors

The most common reason people migrate today is for economic reasons. Economic push factors can include the following:

• high rates of unemployment
• high taxes
• less economic opportunities, fewer jobs and/or types of work available
• high cost of housing and expenses like food, water, utilities
• low wages
• few goods/services available

Economic Pull Factors

The economic pull factors are generally the reverse or opposite of the push factors and include:

• low unemployment
• higher wages and higher paying jobs
• more affordable housing
• better access to goods and services

Political Push Factors

Political push factors are factors surrounding the role of government and or government services and can include:

• political instability
• war and violence
• fear of violence or danger due to lack of law enforcement protection
• government corruption
• government persecution

Political Pull Factors

Just like the economic push & pull factors, political pull factors are generally the opposite of push factors:

• stable and efficient government
• less to low government corruption
• protection of freedoms and civil rights
• equal protection and application of laws
• religious freedom

Social & Cultural Push Factors

• lack of social mobility and or social inequity
• discrimination due to race, gender, identity
• cultural discrimination

Social & Cultural Pull Factors

• Better access to social service and education
• More accepting communities and tolerance
• Similar cultures
• family reunification

Environmental Push Factors

• natural disasters: fire, drought, flood
• unfavorable weather or climate
• land contamination or forms of persistent pollution
• Noise pollution

Environmental Pull Factors

• safe distances from disasters, or locations were disasters are less common
• nice weather or favorable climate
• clean air and green spaces
• away from large freeways and industrial centers

Intervening Obstacles

When people migrate, it is common that they may face obstacles. There are human intervening obstacles, like economic, social, and political obstacles, and there are environmental obstacles.

These obstacles can prevent someone from migrating or simply make the process more complicated or challenging. The obstacle doesn’t have to be substantial enough to end the migration process.

Economic Obstacles

Moving often requires substantial financial expenses. This can include transportation costs, lodging and food while traveling, costs associated with renting moving equipment, etc. Depending on the form of transportation. A migrant may be prevented from beginning a migration because a lack of funds, and or they can also run out of funds during the migration and get stuck for a period of time or be required to return.

Political Obstacles

Migrants attempting to enter countries with strict immigration policies, or security measures at a border might prevent or stop someone from entering their destination country. Forms of political instability, violence or war, or complex bureaucratic processes, including long processing wait times can also create obstacles for migrants.

Environmental Obstacles

Geographic barriers like mountains, deserts, bodies of water, rough terrain can create obstacles that may prevent a migrant from completing their migration. Harsh weather conditions and other environmental disasters can also make it difficult to travel safely.

Social/Cultural Obstacles

Barriers like language differences and social norms can make it difficult to travel. These differences, along with social isolation of being in an unfamiliar area without the support of social networks, might prove too much of a barrier and cause someone to return.

Intervening Opportunities

Intervening opportunities are similar to obstacles, but opportunities are positive things that might happen along the way. Intervening opportunities follow the same categories. An economic opportunity might be that a migrant finds an unexpected work opportunity that causes an extended or permanent stay. A migrant might find the immigration laws more favorable in a country they had intended to travel through, or maybe they meet that special someone they’ve always dreamt about and decide to remain happy ever after with their lovey-dovey-soulmate!

Forced Migration

Migrations that involve someone’s free will, meaning they have made the choice to leave in search of better opportunities are considered voluntary migrants. Forced migrants lack choice and free-will. The most obvious type of forced migration involved human trafficking and slavery. Forms of migration as a result of war, disaster, and political persecution is also considered forced migration.

The distinction is important because there is a separate process for forced migrations that is typically quicker. Currently, all forms of economic migration, even if migrants are escaping serious poverty, are considered voluntary in the United States. The U.S. does not recognize climate refugees as a form of forced migration either.

Refugees

Individuals who flee their country due to fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Refugees seek safety in other countries because their lives are at risk.

Asylum Seekers

People who seek international protection but whose claims for refugee status have not yet been determined. Asylum seekers apply for protection in a country and await a decision on their status.

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

Individuals who are forced to leave their homes but remain within their country’s borders. IDPs are often displaced by conflict, natural disasters, or other crises.

Types of Migrations & Trends

Internal/Intraregional Migration

This type of migration involves moving within a country or a specific region. For example, people may move from rural areas to urban centers in search of better opportunities, transforming both the rural and urban landscapes.

International/Transnational Migration

Movement across international borders, where individuals move from one country to another for various reasons, including employment, education, and family reunification. This type of migration can significantly impact both the origin and destination countries.

Guest Workers

Individuals who migrate temporarily to another country for work. Guest workers often take on jobs that the local population is unwilling or unable to do, contributing to the economy of the host country while supporting their families back home.

Step Migration

A series of shorter, less extreme migrations from a person’s place of origin to their final destination. For example, a migrant might move from a rural area to a small town, then to a larger city, and finally to another country. Each step brings new challenges and opportunities.

Chain Migration

Migration of people to a specific location because relatives or members of the same nationality previously migrated there. This creates a chain of migration as each new arrival encourages others to follow, building strong, supportive communities in the new country.

Transhumance

The seasonal migration of livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures. This type of migration is common in areas with significant differences in seasonal climates and is vital for maintaining livestock and agricultural practices.

Gravity Model of Migration

Individuals who migrate are typically attracted to larger urban areas. Larger urban centers hold more gravitational pull than smaller urban centers. Large cities are typically well known locations around the world, so these often become the first step before eventually settling down in a permanent location.

Youth & Age

Younger individuals are much more likely to become migrants than older individuals. The older an individual becomes, the less likely they are to migrate.

Gender Patterns

If traveling on their own or with children, women typically migrate within a country, and more men become international migrants. These are traditional trends that may be in the beginning stages of changing due to expanded education and economic opportunities for women around the world.