What is internal migration? | Migrants on the margins

The world's population
is increasingly urban.

Cities are home to 54%
of the world's population.

By 2050,
that figure will rise to 70%

with 5.2 billion urban residents.

Urban growth
in population occurs as a result

of the natural increase
between birth and deaths,

and migration to towns
and cities.

Migration is the movement of people
from one place to another.

There are two types of migration:

international and internal.

International migration
is when people move

from one country to another,

for example,
from the UK to Spain.

Internal migration
is the movement of people

within the same region or country,
for example,

from rural to urban areas.

These moves,
whether international or internal,

can be long or short term.

There are many reasons for migration:
economic,

social, political,
or environmental.

For some people,
they have no choice in their journey.

They have to move.

This is called forced migration.

It can occur as a result
of conflict,

development policies,
and natural disasters.

In the next 30 years,
more than 1.5 billion people,

more than 50 million a year,
are projected to move

into cities in Africa and Asia.

Megacities with a population
of more than 10 million,

such as Delhi, Beijing,
and Sao Paulo,

have been the most visible face
of urbanization.

But medium and small cities
that are not the capital,

and have a population
between one to 5 million people,

account for 59%
of the world's urban population

and are the fastest growing.

This urban growth
has two important trends.

Firstly, internal migration
is occurring in small

and medium cities
in low-income developing countries.

Secondly, migration is taking place
between such countries.

This is known as
South-south migration.

It is estimated that there are
approximately 740 million

internal migrants worldwide,

though actual numbers are likely
to be much higher,

as it is often difficult
to capture data

on these movements.

In less economically
developed countries and regions

migration may enhance people's lives
through access

to jobs, educational,
and health services,

creating the diverse societies
and labor needed

for economic growth.

However, migration may also put
social, economic, and

environmental pressure
on already stressed cities.

For example, socially,
it may generate inequality, exclusion,

and deprivation as a result
of poor quality housing

and tensions between new
and existing residents.

Economically, employment
may be informal and precarious,

which creates unequal access
to services such as health care

and education in communities,
particularly for young people.

Environmentally, water and energy
security may not be reliable

or be easy to access,
or be affordable for poorer communities.

Not only does migration impact cities,
but the experience

of migration impacts
people themselves.

For many seeking new prospects
or refuge,

moving may enhance their lives.

However, for others,
migration may lead

to them becoming trapped,

unable to fully integrate
into new communities,

through increasing insecurity,

unable to return
to their previous lives.

So how can cities adapt
to new urban challenges

of internal migration?

This is being addressed

by Sustainable Development Goal
number 11,

which aims to make cities
and human settlements inclusive,

safe, resilient, and sustainable
for all by 2030.

This animation is funded
by the Global Learning Program.

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