What is migration in geography?
Migration is the movement of people who change their usual place of residence within a country or across a border.
Definition and processes
Core concept Internal migration occurs within a country; international migration crosses a national border. Work, family, education, safety or environmental pressure can matter, with different circumstances for each person. How it is studied Flows during a period differ from the stock of people living elsewhere on a date. Definitions, census methods and residence duration affect comparisons.
Applications and caveats
Why it matters Migration changes labor, service demand and social networks in sending and receiving areas. Planning should consider rights and local capacity. Common misunderstandings Refugee, asylum seeker and migrant are distinct legal or statistical terms. A short tourist visit usually does not change usual residence.