Human Migration: Causes, Types, and Effects

Where Do We Live?

The population is distributed unevenly over the Earth. It is concentrated in sites that have favorable physical characteristics: Areas with abundant water, temperate climates, valleys, plains, and mineral and energy resources. Factors related to tradition, economy, and politics also play a role: the antiquity of populated areas, economic activity, and government.

Large Population Concentrations

Over 90% of the world's inhabitants live in the Northern Hemisphere, where there are three major population centers:

• East and South Asia: Home to more than half of the world's population, including the two most populous countries on Earth: China and India.
• Europe: Contains more than 10% of the world's population. Two of the most densely populated countries are Monaco and Malta.
• Northeast and the coasts of the United States: The third most populous area, with 300 million inhabitants. The population lives around the lakes and the main coastal cities, because of economic dynamism.

There are also smaller population centers.

Migrations

Migrations are movements of population that involve a change of residence.

• Emigration: Refers to the movement of people *out* of their place of residence. A person leaving their place of residence is an *emigrant*.
• Immigration: Refers to people arriving in a new territory. A person arriving from outside is called an *immigrant*.

Causes of Migration

Migrations can be caused by:

• Economic reasons
• Political reasons
• Natural disasters

Types of Migration

• Based on character: Forced or voluntary.
• Based on duration: Temporary or definitive.
• Based on location: Internal (domestic) or external (international).

Current Migration

The human race has always migrated, but migration movements have increased extraordinarily in the past two centuries, both within countries and between countries.

Internal or National Migration

Internal migration patterns differ between developed and underdeveloped countries.

• Underdeveloped countries: People often move from the countryside to cities, a phenomenon known as rural exodus.
• Developed countries: Migration occurs between cities, or for work or study reasons. Retirees may move from cities to quieter places with milder climates.

Internal migration can cause regional imbalances. The population concentrates in areas with more economic activity, while other territories become depopulated. This leads to an aging of the population in emigration areas, such as rural regions.

External or International Migration

Three main migration flows can be distinguished:

1. From less developed countries (LDCs) to developed countries.
2. Between developed countries.
3. Between less developed countries.

The majority of migrants come from less developed countries, and more than 60% settle in richer countries. Europe is the primary destination region, while the United States is home to the largest number of immigrants (20% of its population).

Immigration Policy and Illegal Immigration

Governments set quotas and immigration laws to determine who can legally stay in the country and under what conditions they can obtain nationality. People who do not meet the established criteria are considered illegal immigrants and may be deported. Illegal immigrants often cannot obtain employment contracts and are hired regardless of legality, sometimes under conditions of exploitation. In many countries, they lack basic rights.

Effects of Migration

• Benefits for countries of origin: Reduced pressure on employment, as older people often emigrate; money entering the country (remittances sent by immigrants to their families); and improved quality of life for the remaining population.
• Problems for countries of origin: Broken families, altered population structure, and the emigration of highly skilled individuals to more developed countries (brain drain).
• Benefits for destination countries: Increased young population, contributing to a positive birth rate (especially in aging countries); economic growth through migrants' labor; increased tax revenue to pay for pensions and social services; and cultural enrichment.
• Problems for destination countries: A massive influx of immigrants in a short time can strain health, education, and other services; immigrants may live in ghettos or slums in large cities; conflicts can arise due to resistance from some immigrants to integrate into the host society; and xenophobic or racist behavior may occur among some people in the recipient country.