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Mikdad

Migration
Key Terms:
• Migration – the movement of people across a specify boundary – national or international and live
there for a year or more.
• Voluntary migration is the movement of people usually voluntary and often involves looking, and
hoping for, a better quality of life and standard of living at the new destination.
• Involuntary migration is the forced migration of the people or individuals usually do not know
where their destination will be what their quality and standard of living will be like.
• Internal migration – the movement of people within a country which may be from rural to urban
or from urban to rural.
• International migration – the movement of the people from a country to another country to live
and work for a year or more.
• Immigration – moving in to a country from another country
• Emigration – leaving (moving out) one’s own country
• Net migration – the difference between the immigration and emigration is known as net migration
Asylum seeker – a person who has left their country of origin for fear of persecution. They have asked for
permission to stay in another country and are waiting for a decision on this. Example: people leaving
conflict in South-East Asia arriving by boat from Indonesia to seek asylum in Australia.

Refugee – a person who has been forced to leave their country of origin in fear of their lives. They run
away often with no idea where they will end up and with no permission to stay in another country.
Example: Palestine- Israel, Sri Lankan LTTE, Iraq civil war, Afghanistan terrorism.

International migrant – a person who moves to live and work in a different country for at least a year. If
they move for better work they are called economic migrants.
National migrant – a person who move to live and work in another place within the same country
Illegal migrant – a person who enters a country to live and work there without permission

Push and Pull factors:

Push factors are negative conditions at the point of origin which encourage or force people to
move.
Pull factors are positive condition at the point of destination which encourage people to migrate. The
nature of pull and push factors varies from country to country (and from person to person) and changes
over time.
Forced migration and voluntary migration – In voluntary migration the individual has a free choice
about whether to migrate or not. In forced migrations, people are made to move against their will. The
abduction and transport of Africans to the Americas as slaves was the largest force migration in history.

Push factors:
• Adverse climatic conditions
• Natural disasters (drought, famines)
• Social upheaval
• Poor employment
• Low income
• Intolerance
• Housing shortages
• Poor educational opportunities
• War with another country
• Civil war

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Pull factors:
• Amenities
• Attractive environment
• High standard of living
• Job prospects
• High wages
• Improved housing
• Tolerance
• Better medical facilities
• Chance of better education
• Family or friend may have already moved
• Safety

Barriers or problems in international migration

• Cost of travel can be high
• High cost of Visa
• There are legal restrictions
• Cultural differences – language, way of life

Most people prefer their own country:

• Existing job and work contacts
• Family and friends are near
• Familiar surrounding and culture
• Living costs may be lower

Migrants may return home:

• With capital to starts a business
• With new skills and qualifications
• If they have difficulty in setting overseas
• When they retire
• If they are forced to return for legal reasons

Advantage of emigration – the source (origin) country

• Reduced unemployment
• Benefits from the remittance (payments) sent back
• Returning migrants bring new skills to the country
• Returning migrants increase the social expectations
• Returning migrants are with high purchasing power
• Increased investments in projects like buildings

Disadvantages of emigration (move out from a country)

• There are disproportionate number of females left behind
• The non-return migrants cause imbalance on population pyramid
• Departure of youth cause a loss of cultural leadership
• The loss of people with businesses and political skills

Advantages of immigration (destination) (moving in to a country)

• Economic migrants tend to take up less desirable jobs
• Gain skilled people at low cost
• Can pay low wages
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• Will work long hours

• Cost of retirement transferred back to the home country
• Creation of multi-cultured society (life style, dress, tradition, food)
• Fresh ideas and intelligent people in research and development institutions
• Young talents in the field of sports, culture etc

Disadvantages:
• The cost of education to migrants children
• Fewer jobs for unskilled workers
• May move back once earned money
• Amenities problems – hospitals, schools etc with extra number of people
• There is an overdependence of some industries on migrant labour
• Discrimination against ethnic groups may lead to civil war (Indonesia – 1997-98)
• The loss of aspects of cultural identity particularly among the second generation
migrants
• Segregated areas of similar ethnic groups are created (Singapore – little India)
• Problems of illegal migration

Case study:

International Migration from Mexico to California, USA

California was, until the mid-nineteenth century, sparsely populated mainly by Native Americans. The first
migrants did not arrive in any large numbers until the midnineteenth century.

The first settlers came from Spain by sea in 16th and 17th centuries. The European settlers came
to California in mid-19th century. In early 20th century, the people from eastern and southern
Europe and Eastern Asia came to California. They are the voluntary migrants.

Since 1950s, many people have immigrated to California from north and east of USA. The Mexicans
(Hispanics) who were the voluntary migrants were initially seasonal migrated and increasingly permanent
migrants.

There is a 2000 km border between USA and Mexico. Estimates suggest that 1-2 million
Mexicans try each year to cross into the USA, mainly illegally. Illegal migration is a problem for
the US border patrol guard, 850000 illegal migrants were caught in 1995 and deported.

Push factors in Mexico:

Due to poor medical facilities (1800/doctor), low paid jobs, adult literacy rate (55%), life
expectancy (72 years) and unemployed (40%).

Pull factors:
Excellent medical facilities (400/doctor), well paid jobs, adult literacy rate (99%), life
expectancy (76yrs) and availability of many low paid jobs.

Negative impact on the USA:

• Illegal migration costs the US millions of dollars for border patrol and prisons
• Migrants workers keep wages low which affects American workers
• May move back once earned money
• Problems in cities due to cultural and racial issues
• Services such as hospitals and schools cannot cope with extra numbers
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• Mexican culture has enriched the US border states with food, language and music
• Mexicans are considered as a drain of wealthy by the US
• The incidents of TB has been increasing greatly due to migration

Positive impacts
• The migrants take the harder, dirtier, seasonal, more monotonous, more
dangerous, less skilled and less well-paid jobs.
• The migrants can accept low wages
• They are willing to work for long hours
• Increased population will spend more in local economy.

Negative impact on Mexico:

• The Mexican country side affects a shortage of economically active people

• Woman are in trouble for finding partners
• Young people migrate leaving the old and kids
• Immigrants send 6 Billions dollar a year to Mexico
• Certain villages like Santa Ines have lots 2/3 of its inhabitants Positive impacts:
• Chance of a job
• Better pay than in Mexico
• Can save money and return to improve life in Mexico
• The remittance send by the migrants will improve their family and standard of
living.

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Revisions Questions

1. What are the main reasons for rapid growth of population in Niger – an LEDC in
West Africa?

2. What are the main reasons for population decline in Russia?

3. What are the main causes and problems of overpopulation in Nigeria?

4. What are the main causes and problems of under-population in Australia?

5. What are the main consequences of the ‘One Child’ policy of China?

6. What are the main reasons for increasing population in Singapore?

7. Explain why it will be difficult to persuade people in Niger to have smaller

families?

8. Describe how birth rates and death rates changed in Russia between 1980 and
2008?

9. Suggest the possible impacts on LEDC of a large amount of emigration.

Ideas such as: loss of working population/loss of young population/jobs not filled/loss of economically
active/less pressure of jobs; under-population; increase in wages; shortage of skills or example/lack of
innovation; decline in economy/production is lower/GNP reduced; hard to produce enough food; families
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split up; declining birth rate; loss of traditional culture; money /remittances sent home by migrants; less
pressure on services/housing; resources wasted/less demand for resources; less taxes paid/taxes
increases/less government money e.g. for pensions; ageing population/increased dependency ratio;
gender imbalance; closure of businesses/businesses make less profit/less spending power; closure of
amenities or services or example such as schools or hospitals; less traffic congestion; less specified
pollution.

10. Explain the reasons for internal migration of a counry.

Content Guide: employment, health care, education, drought, food supplies, political issues,war, wages,
standard of living etc.

11. Suggest reasons why there are many high rise buildings in the city in CBD. Ideas such as: lack
of space/to save space/there is not much room/little land; high demand for land/lots of government
buildings /shops /businesses locate here/many people work in the CBD; expensive land/to reduce costs/it
is cheaper;

12. Compare the pattern of urban land use in cities in LEDCs and MEDCs.
Ideas such as: Centrally located CBD in both MEDC and LEDC; In both MEDC and LEDC there are distinct
zones of housing of different cost/quality; higher cost/class/quality housing tends to be close to CBD in
LEDC/further away in MEDC; lower cost/class/quality housing tends to be close to CBD in MEDC/further
away in LEDC; industry is close to transport links in both LEDC and MEDC/near edge of city in both/near
centre in both; areas of shanty town/squatter settlement in LEDC but not in MEDC; housing near CBD in
LEDC but industry near CBD in MEDC;

13. Describe the problems caused by traffic congestion in urban areas.

Ideas such as; delays/wastes time/have to allow more time/longer journeys; lateness for school/work;
loss of productivity/companies lose profit; increased risk of accidents/more deaths and injuries from
accidents; noise pollution; which makes concentration difficult; atmospheric pollution/exhaust
fumes/smog/appropriate named gas; acid rain or named effect; global warming or named effect; reduced
visibility; causes difficulty breathing/ problems for asthmatics/eye irritations; road rage/frustration;
difficult for emergency services to access; difficult for firms to get deliveries; increased use of fuel/higher
fuel costs.

14. Describe and explain the attempts which have been made to solve traffic problems.
Content Guide: ring roads, build /improve/repair roads by pass, pedestrianisation, public transport, cycle
lanes/bike hire schemes, park and ride; congestion charges; traffic lights; speed bumps etc.

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Population structure and control

Population pyramids change significantly in shape as a country progress through demographic transition

• The wide base of Niger’s pyramid reflects extremely high fertility. The birth rate in Niger is
48/1000, one of the highest in the world.
• The base of the pyramid for Bangladesh is narrower, reflecting a considerable fall in fertility after
decades of government promoted birth control programmes.
• The fact that the 0-4 and 5-9 bars are narrower than the two bars immediately above is evidence of
recent falls in fertility.
• In the pyramid of UK much lower fertility still is illustrated by narrowing of the base. The birth rate
in the UK is only 12/1000.
• In the case of Japan has a distinctly inverted base reflecting the lowest fertility of four countries.
The birth rate is only 9/1000.

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Divisions of population pyramid:

1. The young dependent population : 0-14 years
2. The economically active population: 15-64 years 3. The elderly
dependent population: 65 years upwards.

The dependency ratio:

The dependency ratio = %pop aged 0-14+%pop aged 65+ or dependents/working pop
____________________________ .
%pop 15-64

The youth dependency ratio is the ratio of the number of people under 15 to those 1564 years of age. The
elderly dependency ratio is the ratio of the number of people over 64 years to those 15-64 years of age.

The shape of the population pyramid:

The shape of the population pyramid:

1. Broad base: broad base shows a large number of children – high birth rate
2. Broad shape at the top: shows a high proportion of people living longer (higher
life expectancy)
3.
REVISION QUESTIONS

For a named country you have studied, describe and explain changes in the population
structure. Name of country… (2015)

Content Guide: Answers will depend on country chosen but most are likely to refer to;
• ageing population,
• reducing proportion of young dependents;
• increasing proportion of elderly
• male/female imbalance
• migration ideas; etc. Place specific reference is likely to consist of: named parts of the
chosen country/locational detail, population data etc.

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Case study Niger: A country with a high dependent population

• The Republic of Niger is a land-locked country in West Africa named after the Niger River.
• Its climate is mainly very hot and dry with many desert areas.
• It is an LEDC, and is one of the poorest countries in the world.
• Niger has the highest fertility rate in the world with 7.1 births per woman.
• Literacy rate is only 28.7% and the population below the poverty line is 63%.
• About 90% of the total workforce is engaged in agriculture; industry 6% and services 4%.
• The birth rate is 49.6 and the death rate is 20.3.
• The Niger population under 15 years is 48 percent with 3 percent of 65 years or more, which shows
that 51% of the total population is dependents.
• Bangladesh has 37% dependents; Japan 37% and UK has 34% dependents.

Problem of high young population in Niger:

✓ Niger has a large young population of 48%, which needs to allocate a substantial proportion of
resources to look after them.
✓ The young people require resources for health; need proper education, food, safe drinking water
and housing.
✓ The money required to cover such needs may mean there is little left to invest in agriculture,
industry and other aspects of the economy.
✓ It is difficult to meet the large demand of country’s resources, and may need to introduce family
planning to reduce the birth rate. However, the parents have different views and consider their children
as wealth.
✓ They also have to rely on their children in old age because of the lack of state welfare benefits.

Problem of ageing population in Niger:

✓ An increasing amount of money is needed for residential homes for the elderly people.
✓ More money is required for pensions to the retired people.
✓ Need more hospital and health care for the elderly people
✓ Increasing amount of the family doctor’s financial budget and time is taken up by the elderly.
✓ Less money is available for younger age group for their education and other necessities

Population Distribution and Density

Population density
• is the average number of people living in a square kilometre of land.
• The population density varies in different places.
• When the number of people living in a square kilometre of land exceeds 200, the area is densely
populated.
• When the number of people living in a square kilometre of land is between 10 to 200, the area is
described as moderately populated.
• When there are fewer than 10 people living in a square kilometre, it is described as sparsely
populated.

Population density = Total population

--------------------------------------
Area /Sq.Km

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Population distribution
• is refers to the spread of people in an area.
• The world population is unevenly distributed.
• The majority of the people in the world are living in Asia, which accounts for 60% of the
total world population.
• Africa ranks second and Europe ranks third in world population distribution.
• The South America and North America rank fourth and fifth respectively.
• The Oceania including the Australia and New Zealand has the fewest people, while
Antarctica has only scientists and explorers only.

• In ancient time, the main activities of the people was hunting, fishing and gathering
fruits.
• However, with the dawn of domestication and agricultural practices, people commenced
to settle down in a particular place.
• Some of the attributes that generally consider for human settlements in a particular area
are – Relief - low-land where the people can practice agriculture;
• Climate – in those places where there is no extreme climate; Availability of water for
drinking and farming; Fertile soil – for agriculture etc.

Factors affecting population density and distribution

1. Physical factors
i) Relief (Flat land)
ii) Climate (temperature)
iii) Soil (soil fertility)
iv) Natural vegetation (forest)
v) Mineral resources (gold, iron)

2. Human and Economic factors

i) Agriculture (farming)
ii) Mining and industry (oil, steel)
iii) Commerce (banking)
iv) Transport and accessibility (rail, road)
v) Politics and religion (stable government)

Reasons (factors) of people attracted to live in some areas

i) Flat land
ii) Employment (job opportunities)
iii) Fertile soil
iv) Reliable water supplies
v) Natural resources
vi) Good Transportation and communications
vii) Suitable climate
viii) Stable Government

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Reasons of people not living (not attracted) in some areas

i) Steep relief (mountainous regions)

ii) Arid climate (deserts)
iii) Infertile soils
iv) Marshy land
v) Extremely cold climate (polar regions)
vi) Dense forest

Reasons for low-density in rural areas

• Not enough flat land for agriculture (farming)

• Infertile soil (acidic or thin)
• Isolation and Inaccessibility (poor road transportation)
• Little work except forestry
• Relief (mountainous)

Reasons for high-density in rural areas

• Fertile soil (gently sloping land)

• Suitable climate
• Accessible (road transportation)
• Farming (machinery on flat land)

Reasons for high-density in the urban areas

• Transportation and communication

• Medical facilities
• Safe drinking water
• Educational institutions
• Job opportunities
• Industries
• Offices (administration and others)
• Commerce (banking, import and exports)
• Entertainment and Recreational facilities

Case study: Java and North Indonesia

Java is an Island of Indonesia and the site of its capital city. The population density of Java is 1040 per Km 2,
and it covers 6.9% of total land in Indonesia.
Causes of High Density
• Physiography – Java is a volcanic Island. Merapi is its most important active volcano. The
mountains help to split the interior into a series of relatively flat and suitable land for rice cultivation and
agriculture.
• Fertile soil – the volcanic soil of Java is considered as the most fertile soil. The volcanic ashes of the
active Merapi make the soil fertile. Certain regions are covered by alluvial soil

• Early agriculture development – ideal agricultural conditions and wet field rice cultivation
started in the 8th century. This allowed villages and kingdoms to flourish in this regions.

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• Tropical climate – the natural climate of Java Island is not extreme like in deserts or Polar regions.
Its moderate climate is one of the most important reasons for its high population density. The demands
maded on clothing and housing by the population are not much. The average temperature of Java is 28 0C
and the annual rainfall is 200 cm. The rainfall is distributed throughout the year.

Consequences of High population density:

• Overcrowding – Java covers only 6.9% of land in Indonesia when 60% of the total population
resides here. The population density of Jakarta is 4383 per KM 2
• Low living standards – Jakarta is a city of 10 million people. There are many fishing villages like
the one in Muara Angke. Less than 50% of Jakarta’s residents have access by water.
• Pollution – the cities are polluted with industrial and residential waste. Jakarta produces
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Revision Questions

1. Explain how physical factors can influence population distribution. (2015)

Ideas such as: more likely to live on flat land; people are more likely to live in lowland
areas/avoid living in mountains/live in a valley; people live in areas of temperate
climates/where it is wet/warm; people avoid areas which are too hot/too dry/too cold/areas
with extreme climate conditions; flood plains are avoided; swampy areas are not built on; in
tropical areas higher land is attractive to live in as temperatures are lower; large areas of
rainforest are sparsely populated; people live near a water source/rivers/nodal points for
rivers/where rivers meet; people live near fertile soil; defensive sites e.g. surrounded by
mountains/meander/on a hill; dry desert areas are avoided/have few people; near to natural
resources/fossil fuels/minerals;
2. For a named country you have studied, describe and explain changes in the
population structure.
Content Guide: ageing population, reducing proportion of young dependents; increasing
proportion of elderly; male/female imbalance; migration ideas; etc.
3. For a named area you have studied, explain why it has a low population density.
Content Guide:relief; accessibility / isolation; climate / low or high temperatures depending
upon location / rainfall / desert; water supply / desert / drought;employment / lack of jobs;
natural resources / resource availability; inability to grow food / soil fertility / inadequate food
supply; areas of dense vegetation/type of natural vegetation;etc.
4. For a country which you have studied, show the relief of the country and suggest
the reasons unevenly distribution of population.

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Reasons such as: explain using the reasons given below: differences in relief; high lands are
not densely populated; difficult to build (dev);for communications (dev); less than 200
metres sparsely populated; possible flood risks (dev); differences in precipitation; areas
above 2000 mm rain sparsely populated; as this creates rainforest (dev); difficult to
penetrate (dev); coastal location encourages trade; thus development of
industry/settlement/tourism (dev) etc

5. Referring to physical factors, explain why some highland regions are sparsely
populated. Ideas such as: communications are difficult/roads hard to build; difficult to build
on (steeply sloping land); isolation/far away from CBD/cities/towns; agriculture is poor in
mountains/food hard to produce/shortage of food; climate often cold/snow/icy/or
implications; poor soils/infertile; wet/windy;

6. Referring to economic and human factors, explain why many coastal regions are
densely populated.
Ideas such as: Settlements developed around ports/harbours/easier to travel abroad; trade
opportunities/imports/exports; much industrial development/factories; employment/job
opportunities; coastal areas have good communications/roads/rail links/transportation;
growth of tourism/examples of jobs in tourism; fishing industry/food from sea; first regions
to be settled idea;

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