Migration (Junior Cert Geography): Revision Notes

Migration

Migration refers to the movement of people from one place to another. This movement can occur within a country or across borders and can happen for various reasons such as seeking employment, safety, or better living conditions.

Migration Key Terms

• Migrant: A person who moves from one place to another, either within a country or across borders.
• Immigrant: A person who moves into a new country to live there permanently.
• Emigrant: A person who leaves their own country to settle in another.
• Economic Migrant: A person who moves to another country or area to find work or improve their financial situation.
• Asylum Seeker: A person who has fled their home country and seeks protection in another country because they fear persecution.
• Refugee: An immigrant who has been forced to leave their country due to persecution, war, or violence, and has been granted protection in another country.
• Inward Migration: The movement of people into a country.
• Outward Migration: The movement of people out of a country.
• Individual Migration: This occurs when a single person or a family moves from one place to another, usually for personal reasons like work or better living conditions.
• Mass Migration: This involves the movement of large groups of people from one region to another. It is often organised by governments or groups.
• Voluntary Migration: When people choose to move to a new place by their own decision, often for better opportunities or quality of life, without being forced.
• Forced Migration: This happens when people are made to leave their homes due to war, persecution, natural disasters, or other extreme conditions, and have no choice but to move elsewhere.

Reasons for Migration

Migration occurs due to various reasons, which can be divided into push factors and pull factors.

Push Factors

Push Factors are reasons a person leaves a place.

• Unemployment: Lack of job opportunities forces people to move elsewhere to find work.
• Lack of Services: Limited access to essential services like schools and hospitals drives people to seek better options.
• War: Conflict and violence make areas unsafe, leading people to flee for survival.
• Famine: Food shortages due to famine push people to move to regions with better food availability.
• Poverty: Poor living conditions and low standards of living compel people to migrate in search of a better life.

Pull Factors

Pull Factors are reasons a person migrates to a country.

• Employment: Better job opportunities in cities attract people, often leading to rural-to-urban migration.
• Better Services: Access to quality schools, hospitals, and transport systems draws people seeking improved living conditions.
• Attractive Climate: People prefer to move to areas with milder and more comfortable climates.
• Wealth: Higher standards of living and wealthier areas attract those seeking improved life conditions.

Consequences of Migration

• Population: Migration can lead to population decline in the area people leave, often resulting in an ageing population. Meanwhile, the population in the area people move to can increase, leading to higher population density, pressure on services, and housing challenges.
• Economy: Migration can weaken the economy of the source area due to a loss of workers, but remittances sent back can provide financial support. In the destination area, migrants often contribute to the economy by providing labour and increasing demand for goods and services, but this can also strain local resources.
• Society: Migration can cause social changes in both areas. The source region might experience a breakdown of community structures and social imbalance. In the destination region, migration can enrich cultural diversity, but it may also lead to social tensions, discrimination, or xenophobia if migrants are not well integrated.