Far more people are on the move within their own countries than across international borders, as shown by hundreds of millions of internal migrants reshaping nations from India's 453 million to China's 375 million and driving profound demographic shifts across every continent.
Key Takeaways
- In India, the 2011 Census recorded 453.6 million internal migrants, constituting 37.4% of the total population aged five years and above, with Uttar Pradesh contributing the highest number of out-migrants at 29.8 million.
- In the United States, the 2022 American Community Survey estimated 27.1 million internal migrants aged one year and over, representing 8.2% of the population, with a net migration gain of 1.2 million to the South region.
- China's 2020 Seventh National Population Census reported 375 million inter-provincial migrants, making up 26.6% of the total population, primarily flowing from central and western provinces to eastern coastal areas.
- In the US, from 2015-2019 ACS, California lost 1.2 million net migrants to Texas and Florida combined, part of a broader trend of 5.8 million total outflows from high-cost states.
- India's inter-state migration saw Maharashtra gaining 2.3 million net migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh between 2001-2011, per Census data.
- In China, Guangdong province hosted 30 million inter-provincial migrants in 2020, primarily from Sichuan (4.5 million) and Henan (3.8 million).
- In the US, 2022 ACS showed 45% of migrants aged 25-44, with median age 32 years, and 52% female among interstate movers.
- India's 2011 Census indicated 52% of internal migrants were female, mostly for marriage (47% of females), averaging age 22 for women migrants.
- China's 2020 census migrants were 55% male, 60% aged 20-49, with 70% rural hukou holders.
- In India, 32% of internal migration was due to employment, 21% marriage, per 2011 Census NSSO rounds.
- US 2022: 28% moved for job-related reasons, 18% housing costs, 15% family.
- China: 65% of migrants cited employment opportunities, 15% education, 10% family reunion in 2020.
- Internal migration in India contributed 20% to urban poverty reduction via remittances, World Bank 2022.
- US interstate migration boosted GDP growth by 1.2% annually through labor reallocation, Fed study 2021.
- China's migrant labor added 25% to manufacturing output in coastal provinces, 2020 stats.
The blog post shows internal migration is a massive global phenomenon driven by work and opportunity.
Characteristics of Migrants
- In the US, 2022 ACS showed 45% of migrants aged 25-44, with median age 32 years, and 52% female among interstate movers.
- India's 2011 Census indicated 52% of internal migrants were female, mostly for marriage (47% of females), averaging age 22 for women migrants.
- China's 2020 census migrants were 55% male, 60% aged 20-49, with 70% rural hukou holders.
- Brazil 2022 Census migrants: 48% female, 40% with secondary education, average age 28, 35% from rural areas.
- Australia 2021 Census: migrants 51% male, 45% university educated, median age 34, 30% overseas-born but internal movers.
- Mexico 2020 migrants: 49% female, 55% under 30, 25% indigenous ethnicity, 60% low-income.
- UK 2021 migrants: 53% aged 18-34, 48% female, 40% with higher education, 15% ethnic minorities.
- South Africa 2022: 52% female migrants, 65% aged 15-44, 70% Black African, 45% unemployed prior to move.
- Indonesia 2020: 50% female, 55% under 35, 80% Javanese ethnicity, 40% high school educated.
- Nigeria migrants: 47% female, 60% youth 15-29, 90% from Hausa/Fulani/Yoruba groups, 70% no formal education beyond primary.
- US migrants 38% had children under 18, 25% Hispanic, 12% Black, per 2022 ACS.
- India migrants 65% rural-rural, 20% illiterate females dominant in short-distance moves.
- China migrants 75% employed in manufacturing/services, 20% with vocational training.
- Brazil migrants 30% informal workers, 25% with tertiary education in urban inflows.
- Australia internal migrants 35% professionals, 28% families with children.
- Mexico migrants 40% agricultural background, 15% return migrants.
- UK migrants 22% students, 18% retirees in recent years.
- South Africa migrants 55% seeking employment, 50% urban informal settlers.
- Indonesia migrants 60% labor migrants, 30% married women.
Characteristics of Migrants Interpretation
While international migration debates often steal the spotlight, these global snapshots reveal a quieter, yet profound, story: internal migration is the world's predominant human rearrangement, driven less by crisis than by the universal engines of love, work, and family, yet its profile—from the American couple moving for a promotion to the young Indian bride leaving her village—is as diverse as the local circumstances that shape it.
Effects of Migration
- Internal migration in India contributed 20% to urban poverty reduction via remittances, World Bank 2022.
- US interstate migration boosted GDP growth by 1.2% annually through labor reallocation, Fed study 2021.
- China's migrant labor added 25% to manufacturing output in coastal provinces, 2020 stats.
- Brazil urban migration reduced rural poverty by 15% but increased slum populations by 30%, IBGE.
- Australia internal moves to cities raised housing prices by 10% in capitals, RBA 2022.
- Mexico migration remittances totaled $40 billion, 4% GDP, but left 20% rural aging.
- UK internal migration post-Brexit filled 15% labor shortages in agriculture.
- South Africa Gauteng migration increased inequality Gini by 0.05 points.
- Indonesia Jakarta migration strained water supply by 40%, BPS 2022.
- Nigeria Lagos migration caused 25% traffic congestion rise.
- India migration remittances averaged INR 50,000 per household annually, lifting 10% out of poverty.
- US migration to Sun Belt states increased school enrollments by 8%.
- China left-behind children numbered 67 million due to parental migration.
- Brazil migration improved female labor participation by 12% in destinations.
- Australia regional migration reduced youth unemployment by 5%.
- Mexico rural depopulation led to 30% farmland abandonment.
- UK net migration to North increased NHS staffing by 10%.
- South Africa migration remittances $1.5 billion, 1% GDP.
- Indonesia migration boosted MSME growth by 18% in urban areas.
- Nigeria urban migration raised informal sector employment to 80%.
Effects of Migration Interpretation
Internal migration is the world's restless economic engine, brilliantly lifting incomes and productivity on one hand while casually spilling a fresh set of complex urban and social challenges from its other.
Origins and Destinations
- In the US, from 2015-2019 ACS, California lost 1.2 million net migrants to Texas and Florida combined, part of a broader trend of 5.8 million total outflows from high-cost states.
- India's inter-state migration saw Maharashtra gaining 2.3 million net migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh between 2001-2011, per Census data.
- In China, Guangdong province hosted 30 million inter-provincial migrants in 2020, primarily from Sichuan (4.5 million) and Henan (3.8 million).
- Brazil's Southeast region received 2.1 million net migrants from the Northeast between 2010-2020, according to IBGE migration flows.
- Australia witnessed net internal migration of 68,000 from New South Wales to Queensland in 2021-22, per ABS data.
- Mexico's Mexico City lost 450,000 net residents to Estado de Mexico and Nuevo Leon from 2015-2020, INEGI reports.
- In the UK, London experienced a net loss of 250,000 internal migrants to other regions in 2020-21, mainly to South East England.
- South Africa's Western Cape gained 400,000 net migrants from Eastern Cape between 2011-2021, Stats SA data.
- Indonesia's Jakarta capital region attracted 1.8 million net migrants from West Java and Central Java in 2015-2020.
- Nigeria's Kano state saw 1.5 million inflows from rural northern states per 2018 DHS estimates.
- In the US, Florida gained 500,000 net migrants from New York and California in 2021 alone, ACS data.
- India's Delhi NCR region net gained 1.1 million from Bihar and UP in 2001-2011.
- China's Beijing municipality hosted 8.5 million migrants from Hebei and Shandong in 2020 census.
- Brazil's Sao Paulo state lost 300,000 net to Minas Gerais and Parana 2010-2020.
- Australia's Victoria state had net outflow of 40,000 to NSW in 2022.
- Mexico's Baja California gained 200,000 from Michoacan and Jalisco 2015-2020.
- UK's Manchester gained 50,000 net from London 2020-21.
- South Africa's Gauteng province net gained 1.2 million from Limpopo and Mpumalanga 2011-21.
- Indonesia's East Kalimantan attracted 500,000 from Java for new capital project 2019-2023.
- Nigeria's Lagos net gained 2.1 million from Oyo and Osun 2006-2016 estimates.
- US Texas gained 1.8 million net from Northeast and Midwest 2010-2020.
- India's Kerala net gained 500,000 from Tamil Nadu for jobs 2001-2011.
- China Shanghai received 9 million migrants from Anhui and Jiangsu.
- Brazil Rio de Janeiro lost 800,000 to Espirito Santo 2010-2020.
- Australia Queensland net inflow 120,000 from Victoria 2020-22.
- Mexico Guadalajara metro gained 300,000 from rural Jalisco.
- UK South West gained 100,000 from London for retirement.
- South Africa KwaZulu-Natal net loss 600,000 to Gauteng.
- Indonesia Sumatra gained 2 million from Sulawesi.
- Nigeria Abuja FCT attracted 1 million from Plateau state.
Origins and Destinations Interpretation
Around the world, the story is the same: people are packing up their dreams and leaving high costs, limited opportunity, or familiar homes, relentlessly chasing better versions of their lives in new cities and states, proving that the most powerful economic force isn't capital or policy, but a simple, determined human footstep.
Reasons for Migration
- In India, 32% of internal migration was due to employment, 21% marriage, per 2011 Census NSSO rounds.
- US 2022: 28% moved for job-related reasons, 18% housing costs, 15% family.
- China: 65% of migrants cited employment opportunities, 15% education, 10% family reunion in 2020.
- Brazil: 40% economic reasons, 25% family, 15% study per 2022 Census.
- Australia: 35% job change, 22% lifestyle, 20% family 2021-22.
- Mexico: 45% work, 20% family violence/disasters, 15% education INEGI 2020.
- UK: 25% housing, 20% job, 18% family post-2021 Census.
- South Africa: 50% employment search, 20% drought/food insecurity.
- Indonesia: 38% work, 30% marriage, 15% education 2020.
- Nigeria: 55% economic, 25% conflict, 10% marriage.
- India: Rural distress pushed 15% of migrations due to crop failure, NSSO 64th round.
- US: Climate concerns drove 5% of moves from California to inland states 2020-22.
- China: Urbanization policy influenced 40% hukou conversions for migration.
- Brazil: Amazon deforestation displaced 10% rural migrants to cities.
- Australia: Pandemic remote work spurred 12% moves to regional areas.
- Mexico: Cartel violence caused 18% displacements in Michoacan.
- UK: Brexit uncertainty prompted 8% skilled worker relocations.
- South Africa: Xenophobia riots triggered 12% urban outflows.
- Indonesia: Volcanic eruptions displaced 22% migrants from Java.
- Nigeria: Boko Haram insurgency forced 30% from Borno state.
Reasons for Migration Interpretation
From India's marriage-driven migrations to America's climate refugees and China's relentless urban pull, the global story of human movement is a desperate, hopeful, and often heartbreaking ledger where love, work, and survival forever duke it out for the top line on our relocation forms.
Volume and Trends
- In India, the 2011 Census recorded 453.6 million internal migrants, constituting 37.4% of the total population aged five years and above, with Uttar Pradesh contributing the highest number of out-migrants at 29.8 million.
- In the United States, the 2022 American Community Survey estimated 27.1 million internal migrants aged one year and over, representing 8.2% of the population, with a net migration gain of 1.2 million to the South region.
- China's 2020 Seventh National Population Census reported 375 million inter-provincial migrants, making up 26.6% of the total population, primarily flowing from central and western provinces to eastern coastal areas.
- In Brazil, the 2022 Census indicated 11.4 million internal migrants over the past decade, equating to 5.4% of the population, with significant movement from Northeast to Southeast regions.
- Australia's 2021 Census showed 2.8 million people who changed their usual residence in the past five years, or 11.1% of the population, with net internal migration of 150,000 towards capital cities.
- In Mexico, INEGI's 2020 Census counted 2.9 million recent internal migrants (past 5 years), representing 2.3% of the population, with 40% moving to urban centers over 100,000 inhabitants.
- The United Kingdom's 2021 Census recorded 3.6 million internal migrants in England and Wales over the previous year, or 6.2% of the population, driven by post-pandemic shifts.
- In South Africa, Stats SA's 2022 Community Survey estimated 4.1 million internal migrants since 2011, comprising 7.2% of adults, with Gauteng province attracting 1.8 million net in-migrants.
- Indonesia's 2020 Census reported 30.6 million lifetime internal migrants, or 11.2% of the population, with Java island experiencing a net gain of 2.5 million migrants.
- In Nigeria, the 2006 Census (adjusted 2022 estimates) showed 16 million internal migrants, representing 10.5% of the population, with Lagos state receiving 3.2 million in-migrants.
- In India, urban migration contributed to 15% rise in slum populations from 2001-2011.
- US saw 11% decline in interstate migration rates from 2000 to 2020 due to housing costs.
- China's floating population peaked at 297 million in 2018 before stabilizing at 375 million in 2020.
- Brazil internal migration rates dropped to 4.5% per decade post-2010 recession.
- Australia recorded highest internal mobility at 15% lifetime movers in 2021 Census.
- Mexico's internal migration halved from 5% to 2.5% between 2010-2020 censuses.
- UK internal moves surged 20% in 2021 due to remote work trends.
- South Africa saw 8% annual internal migration among youth 15-24.
- Indonesia inter-island migration grew 12% from 2010-2020.
- Nigeria's internal migration estimated at 20 million circular migrants yearly.
Volume and Trends Interpretation
Even as the world grows more interconnected, these patterns of internal human movement reveal a fundamental and relentless truth: people are voting with their feet, trading familiar hardship for distant hope, in a perpetual, monumental reshuffling of the deck that both builds megacities and empties hinterlands.
Sources & References
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