Migration
Migration is the movement of people from one place to another. People can move long or short distances and might move for a short period of time or might spend the rest of their lives in a new place.
Push and pull factors
Migration can take place over short or long distances and it can be a one-way movement or temporary.
Some people choose to migrate (voluntary) or others may be forced to move (forced).
- Emigration is when people are leaving or exiting a country
- Immigration is when people are moving into a country
Why do people migrate?
- Economic migration - to find work or follow a particular career path.
- Social migration - for a better quality of life or to be closer to family or friends.
- Political migration - to escape political persecution or war.
- Environmental - to escape natural disasters such as flooding.
A refugee is someone who has left their home and does not have a new home to go to. Often refugees do not carry many possessions and have no idea of where they may finally settle.
Push Factors are negative things that make people want to move to a new area e.g war
Pull Factors are positive aspects that attract people to move to a place e.g good employment opportunites
Migration usually happens as a result of a combination of these push and pull factors.
| Push factors | Pull factors |
|---|---|
| Lack of services | Better services |
| Low employment | Higher employment |
| Lack of safety | Safe society |
| High crime | Less crime |
| Crop failure | Fertile land |
| Drought | Lower risk of natural hazards |
| Flooding | Good climate |
| Poverty | More wealth |
| War | Political stability |