Where and why do people move?

When we’re thinking about where people move, understanding the diverse flows and types of migration helps us to make sense of the changing world we live in.

Throughout the course you may hear our experts discuss the following types and flows of migration:

Types of migration

Internal is the movement of people within a State involving the establishment of a new temporary or permanent residence.

International is the movement of persons away from their place of usual residence and across an international border to a country of which they are not nationals.

Migration flows

South-South migration (SSM) is the largest migration flow in the world. With the world’s 82 million South-South migrants forming about 36% of all global migrants, South-South migration is an increasingly significant factor in the economic and social development of many countries. MIDEQ focuses on the potential of SSM to reduce inequalities and contribute to development.

South-North migration (SNM), the second largest migration flow, is movement from the Global South to the Global North, such as Morocco to Spain or Mexico to the United States.

North-North migration (NNM) is the movement of international migrants from one Global North country to another, such as from Canada to the United States.

North-South migration (NSM) is the movement of people from the Global North to the Global South, for example from Japan to Thailand.

The International Organisation of Migration (IOM) is the migration agency for the United Nations (the UN). It supports the global management of migration, cooperation on migration issues and humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, be they refugees or displaced persons. Since 2000, IOM has been producing world migration reports.

Please download the latest World Migration Report 2020. You will need this report to complete our next step together.