Migration is the movement of people from one location to another and widely associated with change
of permanent place of residence. Reasons of Migration are inter-regional and intraregional disparities at
macro level and fundamentally lack of employment opportunities resulting low standard of living
conditions among different socio-economic groups at micro level. . Populations may increase or
decrease as a result of a combination of natural changes (births and deaths) and migration patterns
(emigration and immigration).
This unit addresses the patterns associated with human populations. Populations may increase or
decrease as a result of a combination of natural changes (births and deaths) and migration patterns
(emigration and immigration). Students examine population distributions at different scales—local,
national, regional, and global. Population pyramids demonstrate age-sex structures, revealing the
growth or decline of generations and allowing geographers to predict economic needs based on
reproductive and aging patterns.
Students learn about factors that influence changes in population as well as the long- and short-term
effects of those population changes on a place’s economy, culture, and politics.
Factors of Migration
The important factors which motivate people to move can be classified into five categories. They are
economic factors, demographic factors, socio-cultural factors, political factors and miscellaneous
factors.
Economic Factors
Most of the studies indicate that migration is primarily motivated by economic factors. In developing
countries, low agricultural income, agricultural unemployment and underemployment are considered
basic factors pushing the migrants towards developed area with greater job opportunities. Thus, almost
all studies concur that most of migrants have moved in search of better economic opportunities. The
basic economic factors which motivate migration may be further classified as ‘Push Factors’ and ‘Pull
Factors’.
The push factors are factors that compel a person, due to different reasons, to leave that place and go to
some other place. The common push factors are low productivity, unemployment and
underdevelopment, poor economic conditions, lack of opportunities for advancement, exhaustion of
natural resources and natural calamities. Introduction of capital intensive methods of production into
agricultural sector, and mechanization of certain processes reduce labor requirement in rural areas. The
non-availability of alternative sources of income in rural area is also important factor for migration. The
Pull Factors are factors which attract the migrants to an area. Opportunities for better employment,
higher wages, facilities, better working conditions and attractive amenities are pull factors of an area.
Demographic Factor
The differences in the population growth rates of the different regions of a nation have been found to
be a determinant in the internal migration. Fertility and the natural increase in population are generally
higher in rural areas which drift the population towards the city. 3 Other important demographic factor
in internal migration is marriage because females are used to follow their spouses.
Socio-cultural Factors
Social and cultural factors also an important role in migration. Sometimes family conflicts, the quest for
independence, also cause migration especially, of those in the younger generation. Improved
communication facilities, such as, transportation, impact of television, good network communication,
the cinema, the urban oriented education and resultant change in attitudes and values also promote
migration.
Political Factors
Sometimes even political factors encourage or discourage migration from region to another. After 1948,
most of rural people migrated to urban because of safety in Myanmar. Hence, the political background,
attitudes and individual viewpoint of the people influenced on the migration of people.
Miscellaneous Factors
Other factors such as the presence of relatives and friends in urban areas, desire to receive education
which is available only in urban areas are factors responsible for migration. Closeness of cultural
contacts, cultural diversity, great vitality, individual attitudes are also associated with migration.
