Migration into, within and out of the UK
migrationWhen people move from one place to another. is the movement of people from one area to another. The term covers a wide range of different movements from temporary, eg seasonal movements, to permanent changes in residence, either within a country or international movements between countries.
The majority of voluntary migrations can be explained by identifying a range of push factorA factor that encourages people to leave the place in which they live and to move elsewhere. and pull factorA factor which attracts people to move to a new place. factors. These include:
- gaining employment
- escaping poverty or natural hazards, eg earthquakes
- farming fertile land
- accessing services, eg schools and hospitals
- joining friends and family
- escaping war or civil unrest
- living in a warmer climate, eg during retirement
- attending university
Sometimes migration is forced - this is when a migrant has no choice but to move because of a natural disaster, war or persecution. Such a person is described as a refugeeA person living outside their own homeland as a result of war, famine or persecution..
There are reportedly more than 50 million refugees in the world. asylum seekerSomeone who leaves their own country for fears over their safety. They hope that the government in another country will protect them. are refugees who have applied to another country to become citizens of that country.