Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Key words:
Migration: the movement of people from one place to live in another
Immigration: the movement of people into a country. When people migrate, they emigrate from one
place and immigrate into another.
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.
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
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z8g334j/revision/3
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z8g334j/revision/4)
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:
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. Better 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
Forced international migration has Political conditions can also operate as pull
historically occurred for two main factors, especially the lure of freedom.
cultural reasons: slavery and political People are attracted to democratic
instability. Millions of people were countries that encourage individual choice
shipped to other countries as slaves or in education, career, and place of residence.
as prisoners, especially from Africa to After Communists gained control of
the Western Hemisphere. Eastern Europe in the late 1940s, many
people in that region were pulled toward
Wars have also forced large-scale the democracies in Western Europe and
CULTURAL migration of ethnic groups in the 20th North America.
and 21st centuries in Europe and
Africa.
Migrants are pushed from their homes Attractive environments for migrants
by adverse physical conditions. include mountains, sea-sides, and warm
climates. Proximity to the Rocky
Water when either; too much or too Mountains lures Americans to the state of
little poses the most environmental Colorado, and the Alps pull French people
threat. Many people are forced to to eastern France. England, France, and
move by water-related disasters Florida attract migrants, especially retirees,
because they live in a vulnerable area, who enjoy swimming and lying on the
such as a floodplain. beach. Regions with warm winters attract
migrants from harsher/more extreme
ENVIRONMENTAL
A lack of water pushes others from climates.
their land. Hundreds of thousands
have 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.
The following 4 diagrams are additional information for your personal notes/reference
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:
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
THE 1. Reduces pressure on jobs 1. Loses people in the economically
LOSING 2. Loses people of child- bearing age active age group
COUNTRY causing a decline in birth rate 2. Loses people most likely to have
3. Migrants develop new skills which some and/or higher levels of
they might take home education and skills (Brain drain)
4. Money earned abroad is sent back which can hinder the development
home. of the country
5. Migration can ease the pressure on 3. Mainly males move causing a
the environment as seen in Italy division in families, leading to the
where migration to the North has spread of HIV/AIDS through
eased the pressure on the increased sexual activity. The
environment in the South. movement of mostly males can also
Alternatively it can leave the leave behind a population of women
environment under used or wasted. of whom a large percentage will not
This would be true of built have the chance to marry and
environments. Inner city areas in potentially not have children.
Northern cities (UK) are often 4. Left with an elderly population and
abandoned as people move out thus a high death rate.
5. As more people move away from a
community the culture will
inevitably become diluted.
THE 1. Overcomes labour shortage 1. Large numbers of migrants can put
RECEIVING 2. Immigrants are prepared to do the tremendous pressure on the
COUNTRY dirty unskilled jobs which the locals economies of the destination areas.
do not want to do This is particularly true of rural to
3. Immigrants are prepared to work urban migration in LEDCs
long hours for low salaries (this can 2. Pressure on jobs
lead to exploitation of the 3. Low quality, overcrowded housing
immigrants) lacking in basic amenities (inner
4. Cultural exposure and diversity are city slums)
brought in and beneficial links may 4. Ethnic groups tend not to integrate
be established well and this can lead to tension and
5. Some highly skilled immigrants are incidents of violence between
received which can help in the immigrants and indigenous
development of the area population.
6. In developing countries, the 5. Racial tension which can also result
immigrants could increase the in tensions and incidents of
number of skilled workers. violence.
7. In an under populated country the 6. Language difficulties for the
increase in population can lead to a immigrants
better use of resources and therefore 7. Lack of opportunities for the
improved quality of life. immigrants to practice their own
religion.
8. Migration generally increases the
pressure on the environment as
more space is needed for housing,
resources for industry, roads.
Migration to Amazonia (Brazil) has
accelerated the destruction of the
rainforests.
➔ ACTIVITY: Can you identify which of the impacts from the table are economic, cultural,
environmental? Write them in pencil under the table.
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.
The terms asylum-seeker and refugee are often confused: an asylum-seeker is someone who says he or
she is a refugee, but whose claim has not yet been definitively evaluated.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in 2020 there were
26.4 million refugees and 4.1 million asylum-seekers world-wide.
National asylum systems are there to decide which asylum-seekers actually qualify for international
protection. Those judged through proper procedures not to be refugees, nor to be in need of any other
form of international protection, can be sent back to their home countries.
The efficiency of the asylum system is key. If the asylum system is both fast and fair, then people who
know they are not refugees have little incentive to make a claim in the first place, thereby benefitting
both the host country and the refugees for whom the system is intended.
During mass movements of refugees (usually as a result of conflicts or general violence as opposed to
individual persecution), there is not - and never will be - a capacity to conduct individual asylum
interviews for everyone who has crossed the border. Nor is it usually necessary, since in such
circumstances it is generally evident why they have fled. As a result, such groups are often declared
"prima facie" refugees.
CASE STUDY EXAMPLES:
RURAL TO URBAN MIGRATION CASE STUDY: Rural areas and small town's among Calcutta,
India to Calcutta's Bustees (Shanty Towns).
➔ ACTIVITY: Identify which are Push Factors and which are Pull Factors
Impacts on Mexico:
1. The Mexican countryside has a shortage of economically active people. Many men emigrate
leaving a majority of women who have trouble finding marriage partners.
2. Young people tend to migrate leaving the old and the very young and certain villages such as
Santa Ines have lost 2/3 of its inhabitants.
3. Legal and illegal immigrants together send some $6 billion a year back to Mexico which helps
to boost the country’s economy.
4. Many people find living in rural Mexico a struggle because they have to survive with very little
money. Farmland is often overworked, and farms are small.
5. It is estimated that 10,000 people try to smuggle themselves over the border every week. One in
three get caught and those that do are likely to continue trying to cross the border at least twice
a year.
PUSH factors
1. There are poor medical facilities in Mexico where the number of practicing doctors has steadily
increased over the past two decades, reaching 2.44 per thousand inhabitants in 2018 (1.89 per
1000 in 2006).
2. Low paid jobs
3. 4.43% Unemployed in 2020
4. Less economically developed country
5. Poor standard of living
6. High crime rates
PULL factors
1. Excellent medical facilities
2. Well paid jobs
3. Adult literacy rates 99% – good education prospects
4. Many jobs available for low paid workers such as Mexicans
5. More economically developed country
6. Good standard of living