External Migration (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain what external migration is and what its causes and consequences are. Also, the types of migration and some examples.

What is external migration?

External migration or international migration is understood to mean that which comes from countries or regions different (and often far away) from those of destination. That is, we speak of external migration to distinguish it from migration coming from sectors of the same country or the same region. This is especially relevant if there is a border crossing between the regions of origin and destination.

This difference between external and internal migration allows the study and measurement of the migratory flow to and from a given region, thus constructing a migratory balance or migratory balance, which is the difference between emigration and immigration. Those Countries whose citizens usually migrate have negative migration balances while those that usually receive migrants present positive migration balances. Note that these terms are mathematical and not appreciative in nature (a positive balance does not necessarily mean something good or bad).

Throughout history there have been enormous external migrations, especially those motivated by large-scale war conflicts. When the capacity to receive the number of migrants exceeds a nation, refugee or displaced persons crises often occur when not humanitarian crises.

Causes of external migration

External migrations can be due to different factors, such as:

Wars, military, political or civil conflicts, as well as other reasons of force majeure that force you to leave the country of origin (natural catastrophes).
Bad living conditions in the country of origin and better in the destination country, which causes economic migration.
Personal reasons that lead to pursuing immigration, such as falling in love or individual life opportunities.

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Consequences of external migration

Similarly, external migrations entail different consequences, such as:

Growth of the labor force in the destination country, as well as the demand for labor, consumption and the total number of population.
Enrichment of the cultural, social and even genetic heritage in the destination community, thanks to the arrival of new individuals.
Growth in foreign investment, given that many migrants bring capital with them.
Contribution to the destination country of new knowledge from the country of origin.

Types of migration

External migration - internal migration — A country can be both a recipient of immigrants and a producer of emigrants.

Human migrations are usually understood according to their address: inside or outside a specific country. Thus, we can talk about emigration (when migrants leave) and immigration (when migrants arrive). A country can be both a recipient of immigrants and a producer of emigrants, but generally one of the two tendencies prevails.

In a similar way we can talk about temporary migration for those cases in which the migrant individual spends an indefinite time in the country of destination and subsequently returns to the country of origin, and permanent migration, when said return to the origin does not occur, and the migrant joins the fixed population of the country of origin. destination.

Expand in: Types of migration

Examples of external migration

Throughout history there have been many examples of external migration. During the Second World War, for example, the American continent received veritable waves of Spaniards, Portuguese, Italians and citizens of other European countries who were looking for new opportunities in territories free of the conflict.

In recent times, however, the citizens of African countries have sustained a prolonged external migration towards Europe, seeking better living conditions and fleeing in many cases from terrorist groups or Islamic radicalism. The same has happened within the South American continent, where Venezuelan citizens have emigrated en masse to countries such as Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Brazil and Argentina, reaching the figure of almost 4 million migrants in a few years, due to the brutal impoverishment of the quality of social, economic and political life in that country.

Internal migration

Unlike external migration, internal migration occurs within the borders of the same country or region without a change of nationalities in the process. This means that migrants come from other regions of the same country, for example, as occurred with the rural exodus during the 20th century, in which many residents of the rural regions of the West migrated to the main cities of their countries, aspiring to join the to industrial living and working conditions.

Continue in: Internal migration