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International migration facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

International migration is when people move from their home country to live in another country. They usually stay there for a certain amount of time. People migrate for many reasons. Some look for better job opportunities in a new country. Others move to be with family members who have already migrated. Sometimes, people leave their homes because of difficult situations in their own countries. Education is another common reason. Students might go abroad to study, often returning home after they finish their courses.

Types of Migrants

People who move between countries can be grouped in different ways. Here are some common types of international migrants:

  • Temporary workers: People who move for a job that lasts a specific time.
  • Undocumented migrants: People who live in a country without official permission.
  • Skilled workers: People with special skills or business people who move for work.
  • Refugees: People who have to leave their country because they are in danger.
  • Asylum seekers: People who ask for protection in another country because they fear for their safety at home.
  • Forced migrants: People who are made to move, often due to conflict or disaster.
  • Family members: People who move to join their family in another country.
  • Return migrants: People who move back to their home country after living abroad.
  • Long-term workers: People who move for jobs that don't require special skills and plan to stay for a long time.

Migrants can also be divided into two main groups: permanent and temporary. Permanent migrants plan to live in a new country for good. They might even become citizens of that country. Temporary migrants only plan to stay for a limited time. This could be until a study program ends or a work contract is finished. Both types of migrants have a big impact on the countries they move to and the countries they leave.

Countries Welcoming Migrants

Countries that welcome migrants are often grouped into different types. Some are "traditional settlement countries" like the United States or Canada. Others are European countries that needed workers after World War II. Some countries receive many people from their former colonies. There are also countries that used to send many people away but now welcome migrants.

Some countries have a very high number of people from other places. For example, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), about 84% of the population comes from other countries. Qatar has 74% and Kuwait has 60%. Bahrain has 55% of its population made up of people from different countries. Many of these people come from India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. The number of people living in these countries from other places grew a lot, from 1.3 million in 1990 to 7.8 million in 2013.

When people move to other countries, they often send money back home to their families. This money is called remittances. Remittances help the economies of their home countries. In 2015, people sent almost US$400 billion home. This amount continues to grow each year.

The number of people seeking asylum or refugee status can change over time. For example, under the Trump administration in the United States, the number of asylum and refugee seekers was around 12,000 in 2020. This was a decrease compared to previous years.

Migration Facts

Further information: Human migration#Migration statistics

Some experts have predicted that if there were no rules about moving between countries, about half of the world's population might choose to live in a different country.

Reasons for Moving: Push and Pull Factors

People decide to migrate for many different reasons. These reasons can be grouped into "push factors" and "pull factors."

Push Factors are things that make people want to leave their home country:

  • Poor medical care
  • Not enough jobs or opportunities
  • Difficult living conditions
  • Fear of political problems or unfair treatment
  • Religious discrimination
  • Losing money or property
  • Natural disasters like floods or earthquakes
  • Bullying or feeling unsafe
  • Lower chances of finding a partner

Pull Factors are things that attract people to a new country:

  • Better chances of getting a job
  • Higher living standards
  • More enjoyable life
  • Better education opportunities
  • Improved medical care
  • Feeling safer and more secure
  • Being close to family members
  • Lower crime rates
  • Better chances of finding a partner

See also

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International migration Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.