TOP 17 MIGRATION TYPES (WITH EXAMPLES) - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

There are different types of migration that are classified according to geography, characteristics of the place, causes, freedom, time or age. Migration is a process that has been part of human life since prehistoric times.

It is about the movement of a person or several of them from their place of residence to another. This change of residence must cross a geographical administrative division, either within a country or abroad.

On the other hand, when it comes to migration, displacement cannot be sporadic. This means that the person (s) in question must spend more or less time in the reception place.

Furthermore, these movements must include a significant change in the physical and social environment. Migrations usually occur with the intention of satisfying a need or achieving a specific improvement.

Migrations are a very complex demographic phenomenon that responds to even more complex causes. Due to the global configuration of the modern world, displacements today have new dimensions and characteristics.

Types of migration according to geographic limit

- Internal

Internal migration is the movement of people from one place to another in the interior space of a country, but always with the transfer of an administrative geographical division.

It can be between regions, provinces or municipalities of the country of origin. This type of displacement usually has different causes such as the search for adventure or better job opportunities, among others.

This type of migration plays a key role in the processes of spatial redistribution of the population of a country. And it not only has implications for affected individuals and households, but also for the communities of destination and origin. These displacements bring with them demographic, economic, social and cultural effects.

Example

In the 1960s, around 900,000 Andalusians lived in Catalonia. An exodus that began in the 1920s from Almería due to the decline of the vineyards and mining.

- External or international

External migration, also called international migration, is that which occurs when people cross the borders of the country of origin to settle for a time in another place.

Unlike internal migrations, in external migrations the reasons not only have to do with the objective of seeking a job or a better standard of living, but the reasons extend to a political and social order.

External migrations are considered from two directions, so to speak. When viewed from the point of view of the place of departure, it is called emigration. And when viewed from the point of view of the place of arrival, it is called immigration.

This means that the people on the move are migrants and immigrants at the same time. Although this terminology could also be applied in the concept of internal migration, it is used mostly when talking about migrations that cross the borders of a country.

It is important to bear in mind that when it comes to international migration, movements are subject to administrative control. The issuing country may or may not establish restrictions on emigration. However, it is not commonly done.

This is not the case in the host country, which always sets conditions for immigration. People must comply with a series of requirements established by the destination country for their acceptance into the territory.

When these requirements to stay are met, immigration is said to be legal. But if they do not comply with the requirements and still stay in the destination country, it is called illegal immigration.

Example

At the beginning of the 20th century, the United States opened the doors of its nation to immigrants from all over the world, reaching an average of 1.3 million people a year from Europe and Asia mainly.

According to the characteristics of the place of origin and the place of destination

- Rural - rural

This is the type of migration that occurs when the place of origin and destination are rural territories. In other words, in this case there is not too significant a change in terms of surrounding conditions.

The reasons for this type of displacement are more due to labor issues, be it agricultural, mining or other types of exploitation of natural resources.

Example

It is a type of migration typical of nomadic peoples such as the sarakatsani, a herding people from the southeast of the Balkans. Living off their herds, they move between valleys and valleys in search of pasture for their animals.

- Rural - urban

This is one of the most common displacements. It is about the movement of people from the countryside to the city. In this type of migration, people do experience a significant change in their lifestyle because the dynamics of the cities is completely different from that of the countryside.

This type of displacement is caused by the lack of employment in the place of origin, since in rural areas the sources of work are not too diversified. But people who migrate to the city do so not only to find other work alternatives, but also for health or educational reasons.

Example

The rural exodus is one of the oldest migration processes that exist. Significant is the acceleration that took place during the Industrial Revolution that began in the second half of the 18th century in Great Britain.

- Urban - urban

In this type of displacement, both the place of origin and the destination are urban areas. This migration occurs, in general, towards areas that are more developed and therefore can offer better living conditions.

In this case, the reasons for migration are similar to those for rural-rural and rural-urban migration: better jobs and better education.

Example

Starting in 2008, due in large part to a major crisis, there was an exodus of Spaniards with university qualifications from their cities of origin to countries such as the United Kingdom or Germany.

- Urban - rural

Of the above, this is the least common type of migration. And it is that this migration refers to those people who move from the city to the countryside. However, at present this type of migration has increased for various reasons.

In recent years, ecological tourism has increased, therefore, some rural areas have become places with new sources of employment. There is also the case of people of a certain age, already retired, who want to live in a quieter place. Therefore, they choose to leave the chaos of the city to live in the countryside.

Example

In the Alpurraja of Granada (Spain) there is one of the oldest hippie communes in Europe. In the late 70s, many young people fled the cities and settled in this rural environment to make a living from organic farming and crafts. Currently there are about 250-300 people.

According to time

- Transitory

Transitory migrations are those in which the migrant leaves their place of origin to settle in the place of destination, but only as a transitory stage, generally for labor reasons. In this case, people leave with the intention of returning once their working conditions change.

This type of displacement could be categorized in three ways: seasonal, repeated temporary, or multi-year.

Example

Spanish seasonal workers who travel to France during the grape harvest time.

- Seasonal

There is talk of seasonal migrations when individuals move to engage in collections or other jobs that are only carried out at certain times of the year.

Example

Spanish seasonal workers who travel to France during the grape harvest time.

- Repeated seasons

The repeated temporary are those in which the people who have emigrated have their employment contract renewed.

Example

Pakistani bricklayers in Dubai for the construction that skyscrapers and that are renovated to expand the buildings.

- Multi-year

The multi-year migration does not have such clear specifications. Today this type of migration is the most common expectation that modern migrants have.

They leave their place of origin with the idea of ​​staying only a few years outside the country. However, in many cases this migration, in principle transitory, becomes a definitive one.

Example

Mexican doctors who obtain a scholarship in the United States to specialize, maintaining their residence there for a long time until obtaining a place in a Mexican health center.

- Permanent

Permanent migrations are those in which migrants move from their place of origin to permanently establish a new residence in the place of destination.

In this case, people do not leave with the idea of ​​returning but occasionally, as on vacation, for example.

Sometimes, migrants leave with the idea of ​​emigrating temporarily for several years, to later return to their country.

However, many of these cases turn into permanent migrations. And it is that once established in a place, where you have a stable job and with better living conditions, return is difficult.

Example

Migrations of Europeans to America at the time of colonization. Although they went in search of their fortune, they eventually settled on the continent as a family.

According to the degree of freedom

- Volunteers

Voluntary migrations are those in which the migrant decides voluntarily to leave their place of origin to settle in another.

In this case, there is no type of institutional mediation or obligation. It is basically a free movement, whose actions and consequences are previously considered by the individuals involved.

In these cases, the benefits that can be gained from migration are generally discussed. Among them may be climate improvement, the search for more fertile land, work or wealth, an opportunity for improvement or more tranquility. Another reason for voluntary migration can also be to pursue a dream or an aspiration.

Example

In the United Kingdom, it is very common for them to move to coastal areas in southern Europe such as Malaga (Spain) upon retirement in order to live in more pleasant weather conditions throughout the year.

- Forced

Forced migrations are those in which the migrants do not decide on their own to displacement. In this case, people are forced to leave their place of origin, usually due to ecological, economic or political causes.

When these types of migrations occur, many times people do not have time to analyze the destination or what its benefits will be. It could even be said that it is like an escape.

Examples

The Cuban singer Celia Cruz had to leave her country of origin due to the arrival of the Castro regime to the island in 1959. The artist was not related to Cuban communism and was deported against her will.

According to the causes

- Ecological

Residences after the passage of a hurricane. Source: pixabay.com

When we talk about ecological migrations we are talking about movements that have been influenced by natural disasters.

The effects of catastrophes such as earthquakes, prolonged droughts, floods, tsunamis, cyclones, epidemics, among others, make people have to leave their place of origin to settle in another that provides them with the necessary conditions to live.

Examples

In April 1986 there was a nuclear accident in Pripyat, northern Ukraine. This caused thousands of families in nearby cities to leave their homes to avoid radioactive contamination.

- Economic

This is the main cause of migration. Economic migration occurs, as its name indicates, due to economic problems. In fact, the socio-economic development of a country is directly related to immigration and emigration issues.

Most of the people who migrate to other places do so to seek better living conditions. This type of migration seems to always be of the voluntary type, since people make the decision to go elsewhere.

However, at bottom it is more of a forced process, since the economic conditions of the place of origin force people to look for other options to survive.

Examples

Every year thousands of Africans cross the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain and the rest of Europe to improve their living conditions. Financial difficulties in their countries of origin force them to risk their lives.

- Policies

Political migrations are those that derive from the political crises that occur in some countries. They are usually caused by nationalist intolerance, by political or even religious intransigence, and even by conflictive social situations.

Some people fear persecution or revenge and therefore leave their country to reside in another. Political problems can become so serious that some people lose their lives trying to emigrate.

When migration occurs for this reason, we speak of displaced people, political exiles, isolated people or refugees.

Examples

After the Spanish Civil War and with the arrival of the Franco regime, thousands of families had to flee the country due to their republican ideologies. Their destinations were diverse, from France or Portugal to Mexico or Argentina.

- War

Migrations for reasons of war are related to those for political reasons. This type of displacement is one of the main sources of forced migration.

It is these that have given rise to massive displacements of the population throughout history. People move from their place of origin, fleeing extermination, clashes between armed groups, persecution or the victorious army.

Examples

Since 2011 there has been an armed conflict in Syria, which has caused millions of people to flee their land to Turkey, Greece and Europe.

According to age

- Childish

Children who leave their place of origin to settle in another usually do so with their parents. Although this movement can occur at the same time or later. This means that children can suffer from immigration status twice.

Not only must they get used to a new place, but also if they move after their parents do, they will suffer from a period of time deprived of their presence.

- As adults

This is the type of migration that leads the migration process. Adults are those who, following their criteria and needs, decide to leave their place of origin to settle elsewhere.

The migrants in this group are the ones who have the greatest responsibilities because, in general, they must bear the care and support of others.

- Of elderly

It is not a common type of migration, but it usually occurs for several reasons. The elderly may be forced to leave their place of residence because it has become uninhabited or perhaps to find a quieter place to live.

Your children may also have emigrated previously and they decide to meet again. Migration for older people is different because their adaptation to the new place can be more complicated.

References

1. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. About internal migration. Recovered from cepal.org.
2. Benavides, H. (undated). Internal and international migration. Concepts and measurement. Recovered from migration-ue-alc.eu.
3. Micolta, A. (2005). Theories and concepts associated with the study of international migration. Journal of the Department of Social Work, Faculty of Human Sciences, National University of Colombia.
4. González, D. (2011). Internal migration. Regional Workshop on "Potentialities and applications of census data". Recovered from cepal.org.