Emigration

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Emigration is the act of leaving one's resident country with the intent to settle elsewhere. Conversely, immigration describes the movement into a country to live on a permanent basis. Together, immigration and emigration are part of the larger concept of migration, which also includes internal migration, or the movement of people within a country.

Reasons for Emigration[edit | edit source]

People emigrate for many reasons, with the most common being economic, social, political, or environmental.

  • Economic migration - This is when individuals move from one region to another to improve their standard of living or to improve their job prospects.
  • Social migration - This is when individuals move to be closer to family or friends or to live in a place with a culture or lifestyle that they prefer.
  • Political migration - This is when individuals move to escape political instability, war, or persecution.
  • Environmental migration - This is when individuals move to escape natural disasters or other environmental factors.

Effects of Emigration[edit | edit source]

Emigration can have a significant impact on the countries that people leave. This can include:

  • Brain drain - This is when educated or professional people emigrate to other countries, potentially causing a shortage of skilled workers in their home country.
  • Remittances - These are funds that emigrants send back to their home country, which can play an important role in the economy of the home country.
  • Demographic impact - Emigration can affect the age and gender distribution of the population in the home country.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Emigration Resources

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD