Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Migration - Statistics & Facts
In its simplest terms, human migration is the movement of individuals or larger populations from one geographical region to another. Migration can be classified in many different ways, depending on its cause and scope, and people may migrate based on a variety of push and pull factors. Pull factors “pull” people toward a region and tend to be more positive, such as economic or education opportunities, higher living standards, and personal connections. Push factors, in contrast, “push” people away from an area, and may apply to issues such as unemployment or low wages, poor education or healthcare systems, and low living standards. Push factors may also be more severe, such as conflict, persecution, and food instability, and these can lead to displacement or refugee crises.
