Emigration is the process of leaving one’s country or region to settle in another. It involves moving away from familiar surroundings, culture, and family and adapting to a new environment.
For instance, a person may choose to leave the United States and migrate in search of more prosperous job opportunities abroad. This process necessitates learning a new language and adapting to an unfamiliar culture and lifestyle changes.
In sociology, the concept of emigration has been studied extensively as a form of social mobility. It is often seen as a means of improving economic prospects and increasing social capital in new locations.
In addition to seeking economic opportunities, people may emigrate in search of better living conditions, such as improved healthcare or higher standards of education.
Political turmoil or persecution can also drive people away from their homes.
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Definition of Emigration
Emigration is the permanent or temporary movement of a person away from their home country, place of residence, or region for the purpose of relocating to a different place (FAO, 2018).
According to Darling and colleagues (2022), emigration means:
“…to exit and relocate from one’s country of origin to live in another on a permanent basis” (p. 336).
For example, someone from Mexico may choose to move to the United States as a permanent resident. This person is engaging in emigration since they are leaving their home country and relocating to another.
In its simplest form, emigration is the act of people leaving their homeland either temporarily or permanently for various reasons – be it because of economic hardship, political unrest, war, or persecution (Beswick, 2020).
Emigration can be a voluntary choice or an enforced situation where individuals are forced to depart from their home environment and start anew in another place.
15 Examples of Emigration
- A family decided to move from Ukraine to Poland due to the war in the region.
- An individual from India emigrated to Canada in search of better economic opportunities.
- A student moved from China to the United States to pursue higher education.
- A political refugee left their home country due to persecution and moved to another safe place.
- A group of people emigrated from Thailand to Malaysia due to poverty and lack of resources in their home country.
- A family from Latin America immigrated to the United States in search of better job opportunities.
- An individual left their home country to escape an oppressive political regime and moved to another country with better human rights protections.
- A family emigrated from Mexico to the United States in search of a better lifestyle.
- An person left their home country due to religious persecution and moved to another safe haven.
- A family left their home country due to civil unrest and moved to a country with better safety standards.
- A student from Saudi Arabia moved to the United Kingdom for higher education opportunities.
- An individual left their home country due to environmental disasters and moved to another with better environmental protections.
- A family from Canada decided to move to the United States in search of a more prosperous lifestyle.
- An individual from Nigeria moved to Germany in search of better medical care.
- A group of people left their home country due to oppressive political rule and moved to another democracy with better human rights protections.
Emigration vs. Immigration
Emigration means leaving one’s home country for a destination in another part of the world, whereas immigration means arriving in a new place.
Emigration is the movement of people out of their home country with the intent to relocate permanently or temporarily.
Immigration, on the other hand, is the movement of people into a new country or place intending to settle there (Green & Weil, 2010).
Emigration requires a person to depart their homeland and as a result, oftentimes necessitates relinquishing one’s citizenship. Meanwhile, immigration is the relocation of individuals into another country without any need to forfeit national identity.
In addition, emigration usually refers to the permanent or long-term relocation of people away from their home country, whereas immigration refers to the arrival of people in a new place for a shorter period (Green & Weil, 2010).
The same person is both an emigrant and an immigrant on the same journey, depending on which side of the border they are.
For example, a Mexican citizen leaving Mexico for the United States is an emigrant in Mexico and an immigrant in the United States.
Reasons for Emigration
People can leave their homeland and emigrate for a multitude of reasons, such as economic difficulty, political turmoil, warfare or oppression, environmental catastrophes, and family reunification.
They may also emigrate due to favorable conditions in other countries. A factor “pushing” someone away from a country is called a push factor; while a factor “pulling” someone to a new country is called a pull factor.
Here are some of the main causes of emigration:
1. Economic Hardship
Economic hardship can be a major factor in why individuals and families decide to emigrate. Oftentimes, people move in search of better job opportunities and higher wages that are not available in their home countries (Bodvarsson & Den, 2013).
For instance, a family from a third-world country may emigrate to another country with better employment prospects and higher wages to provide a better quality of life for the children.
2. Political Turmoil, Warfare, or Oppression
Political turmoil, warfare, or oppression can also be causes for emigration, especially when a person’s safety or freedom are in danger. People may emigrate to seek refuge and security away from their home country’s oppressive regime.
So, for example, a person may leave their home country to escape political or religious persecution or to avoid becoming involved in a conflict (Bodvarsson & Den, 2013).
When people flee a country due to untenable conditions, we call it forced migration.
Today, many refugees are fleeing from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan due to civil war and oppressive regimes.
3. Environmental Catastrophes
Environmental catastrophes can also lead to emigration. Many people may move away from areas affected by natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes in search of a safer home (Bodvarsson & Den, 2013).
For example, Hurricane Katrina caused approximately 1 million people to evacuate their homes in the southern United States and seek refuge elsewhere.
Similarly, a family in Bangladesh may emigrate due to recurrent flooding in their home country.
Go Deeper: Examples of Environmental Justice Issues
4. Family Reunification
Another reason for emigration is family reunification. Some may emigrate to be with their families, such as a daughter returning to her parents’ home country or a son immigrating to join his siblings.
We call this type of migration “chain migration” because people follow each other like a chain – or conga line!
In addition, some people may choose to move abroad to start a family or to provide a better life for their children. For instance, many Mexican immigrants come to the United States for work and a better future for their families (Bodvarsson & Den, 2013).
These reasons for emigration demonstrate that the decision to move can be motivated by many factors.
Due to economic difficulty, political turmoil, environmental catastrophes, or family reunification, emigrants often seek a better life for themselves and their families.
Economic Impact of Emigration
Emigration often has a lasting economic impact on both the country of origin and the country of destination, and this impact is quite different.
Impact on the Country of Origin
When people emigrate, they take with them their skills and knowledge that are beneficial to the country of origin. It results in a “brain drain” or a loss of skilled and educated people who could contribute to the development of their country.
Brain drain is a major issue, particularly in developing countries. For example, Haiti has lost about 40% of its educated population due to emigration (Abdelbaki, 2011).When people choose to leave for a better life overseas without facing any danger at home, we call it voluntary migration.
Besides, emigration can lead to a decrease in the country’s workforce and slower economic growth. It is especially true for countries that have a large number of people moving abroad for employment opportunities (Bodvarsson & Den, 2013).
In addition, when a country’s population declines, this affects the production and consumption of goods and services in that country. This factor reduces the potential for economic growth in the country of origin.
Impact on the Country of Destination
The economic impact in the destination country is usually more positive than negative. In many cases, the country of destination benefits from an influx of immigrants due to the new ideas and innovations they bring.
New skills, labor, and resources can also benefit the country of destination. Besides, immigrants are often willing to take on low-paying jobs and contribute to the development of their new country (Abdelbaki, 2011).
When relocating to another nation, emigrants are subject to taxation for their income and possessions following the new country’s regulations. These funds can create new sources of budget revenue (Bodvarsson & Den, 2013).
Still, money sent home by immigrants in the form of remittances can significantly boost the economies of both countries. Remittances provide much-needed financial support for families, which can help to alleviate poverty in the country of origin.
Conclusion
Emigration is a complex issue that affects many people around the world. It means leaving one’s home country due to economic, political, environmental, or family-related reasons.
Emigrants often hope for better opportunities abroad and may be motivated by the desire to seek a safer environment or reunite with their families.
Emigration can have both positive and negative economic impacts on countries of origin and destination.
With the right policies, governments can help to ensure that emigrants’ rights are respected and that both countries benefit from the process. Such actions can help create a more peaceful and prosperous world.
References
Abdelbaki, H. H. (2011). Estimation of the economic impact of brain drain on the labor expelling country.International Business & Economics Research Journal (IBER),8(12). https://doi.org/10.19030/iber.v8i12.3197
Beswick, J. (2020).Identity, language and belonging on Jersey. Springer Nature.
Bodvarsson, Ö. B., & Den, V. (2013).The economics of immigration: Theory and Policy. Springer.
Darling, C. A., Cassidy, D., & Ballard, S. M. (2022).Family life education: Working with families across the lifespan. Waveland Press, Inc.
FAO. (2018).State of food and agriculture: 2018, migration, agriculture and rural development.Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Green, N. L., & Weil, F. (2010).Citizenship and those who leave. University of Illinois Press.
Viktoriya Sus (MA)
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Viktoriya Sus is an academic writer specializing mainly in economics and business from Ukraine. She holds a Master’s degree in International Business from Lviv National University and has more than 6 years of experience writing for different clients. Viktoriya is passionate about researching the latest trends in economics and business. However, she also loves to explore different topics such as psychology, philosophy, and more.
Chris Drew (PhD)
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This article was peer-reviewed and edited by Chris Drew (PhD). The review process on Helpful Professor involves having a PhD level expert fact check, edit, and contribute to articles. Reviewers ensure all content reflects expert academic consensus and is backed up with reference to academic studies. Dr. Drew has published over 20 academic articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education and holds a PhD in Education from ACU.
FAQs
What are examples of emigration? ›
If you move to a different country, you emigrate. For example, if you emigrate from Canada and go to Italy, you aren't on vacation — you are making Italy your new home.
Which country has highest emigration rate? ›Top 10 Countries with the Highest Number of Emigrants (Former Residents living Internationally) - United Nations 2020: India — 17.9 million. Mexico — 11.1 million. Russia — 10.8 million.
Is emigration leaving a country? ›Emigration is the relocation or process of people leaving one country to reside in another. People emigrate for many reasons, include increasing one's chance of employment or improving quality of life.
What is emigration and one sentence? ›Emigration is the act of leaving a resident country or place of residence with the intent to settle elsewhere (to permanently leave a country).
What are 10 types of migration? ›- Chain Migration. ...
- Cyclical Migration. ...
- Economic Migration. ...
- Environmental Migration. ...
- External Migration. ...
- Forced Migration. ...
- Internal Migration. ...
- Interregional Migration.
| National rank | State | Net international migration rate per 1,000 inhabitants |
|---|---|---|
| — | United States | 1.80 |
| 1 | Florida | 4.13 |
| 2 | California | 1.87 |
| 3 | Texas | 2.24 |
Pull factors include higher wages, better employment opportunities, a higher standard of living and educational opportunities. If economic conditions are not favourable and appear to be at risk of declining further, a greater number of individuals will probably migrate to countries with a better outlook.
What state has the largest emigrant population? ›The cities of Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata are the largest destinations for internal migrants in India. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are the biggest source states, followed closely by Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan.
What are the two types of emigration? ›external migration: moving to a different state, country, or continent. emigration: leaving one country to move to another.
What are the 5 types of migration? ›- Internal migration: moving within a state, country, or continent.
- External migration: moving to a different state, country, or continent.
- Emigration: leaving one place to move to another.
- Immigration: moving into a new place.
- Return migration: moving back to where you came from.
What is an example of immigration and emigration? ›
The act of leaving is emigration. Immigration is the opposite. Immigration is the act of entering a new or non-native land. For example, a foreign exchange student from Italy would emigrate from Italy and immigrate to the United States.
What does a emigrant do? ›Emigrant is a noun, meaning "one who leaves one's place of residence or country to live elsewhere." It is synonymous with émigré, a word that is especially used of a person who has left for political reasons. The verb form of the word is emigrate.
What does emigrating to us mean? ›/ˈem.ɪ.ɡreɪt/ us. /ˈem.ə.ɡreɪt/ to leave a country permanently and go to live in another one: Millions of Germans emigrated from Europe to America in the 19th century.
What does emigration mean? ›: an act or instance of emigrating : departure from a place of abode, natural home, or country for life or residence elsewhere.
What are the 7 types of migration? ›There are different types of migration such as counter-urbanization, emigration, immigration, internal migration, international migration and rural-urban migration. What are their definitions?
What is migration Class 5 Example? ›Migration means movement from one place to another. For example, Cities provide better employment opportunities. There is attraction of city life in view of more comforts and amenities available there. Therefore, a large number of persons migrate from villages and small towns to the larger cities for better prospects.
What are 5 causes of the Great Migration? ›The primary factors for migration among southern African Americans were segregation, indentured servitude, convict leasing, an increase in the spread of racist ideology, widespread lynching (nearly 3,500 African Americans were lynched between 1882 and 1968), and lack of social and economic opportunities in the South.
What are 6 pull factors of migration? ›- Agricultural Geography.
- Cultural Geography.
- Economic Geography.
- Introduction to Human Geography.
- Political Geography.
- Population Geography.
- Urban Geography.
migration, n.
a. The movement of a person or people from one country, locality, place of residence, etc., to settle in another; an instance of this. Migration is, first and foremost, a normal human activity. Human beings have always moved from 'one country, locality, [and] place of residence to settle in another'.
- Workers will work for low wages and are prepared to do jobs that local people do not want.
- Increased cultural diversity.
- Skills gaps are filled.
- Boost to the local economy.
- Government tax revenues increase.
What are the top 10 states people are moving from? ›
- New York. ...
- Pennsylvania. ...
- Massachusetts. ...
- Washington. ...
- Colorado. ...
- Indiana. ...
- Michigan. ...
- Wisconsin. Ten thousand more families left Wisconsin last year than moved in.
The current net migration rate for U.S. in 2023 is 2.748 per 1000 population, a 1.29% decline from 2022. The net migration rate for U.S. in 2022 was 2.784 per 1000 population, a 1.28% decline from 2021. The net migration rate for U.S. in 2021 was 2.820 per 1000 population, a 1.3% decline from 2020.
What states are Americans moving to? ›Georgia, Arizona, Idaho, Alabama, and Oklahoma made up the latter half of the top 10 states with the biggest domestic net migration totals. In comparison, California, New York and Illinois saw the largest net domestic outmigration last year, respectively, despite California remaining the most populous state.
How does emigration affect a country? ›when people migrate to another country, they affect the country they leave behind. There may be costs to the households and communities that lose productive members, but opportunities are also created and overcrowded labour markets relieved. Policies can help reduce or increase the rate of emigration.
What is the impact of emigration? ›Emigration can affect political institutions in the home country through several channels, and can affect the supply side of the quality of institutions, the demand for (better) quality institutions, as well as the interaction between the two.
What are 5 pull factors? ›- Employment opportunities.
- Higher income.
- Better working conditions and facilities.
- Educational opportunities.
- Higher living standards.
- Better public services.
- Religious freedom.
- Freedom of expression.
| City | Total pop. | Rank by FB % |
|---|---|---|
| Hialeah, Florida | 218,901 | 1 |
| Miami, Florida | 433,143 | 2 |
| Santa Ana, California | 340,378 | 3 |
| Fremont, California | 205,521 | 4 |
And what's an émigré? The word immigrant is used when talking about the country moved to. Emigrant is used when talking about the country moved from. Someone is an emigrant when they leave their country of origin and an immigrant when they arrive in their new country.
Where did most immigrants move to in the US? ›More than 70 percent of all immigrants, however, entered through New York City, which came to be known as the "Golden Door." Throughout the late 1800s, most immigrants arriving in New York entered at the Castle Garden depot near the tip of Manhattan.
Why do people leave their country? ›Some migrants leave their country because they want to work, study or join family, for example. Others feel they must leave because of poverty, political unrest, gang violence, natural disasters or other serious circumstances that exist there.
Who are known as emigrants? ›
Immigrants: Migrants who move into a new place are called Immigrants. Emigrants: Migrants who move out of a place are called Emigrants.
What are the 4 categories of immigrants? ›In U.S. immigration, there are four main categories of immigration status, including U.S. citizens, permanent or conditional residents, non-immigrants, and undocumented immigrants.
What is the most common type of migration? ›The movement often occurs over long distances and from one country to another (external migration), but internal migration (within a single country) is also possible; indeed, this is the dominant form of human migration globally.
What is an example of human migration? ›The Great Migration, the flight of over a million African Americans from the rural South to the industrial North following the outbreak of World War I, is an example of a human migration that occurred within the same country.
What is an example of emigration in history? ›In history, here is an example of emigration: During the potato famine in Ireland between 1845 and 1849, roughly 1.5 million adults and children emigrated from Ireland to find a better life elsewhere, the main country of refuge being the United States.
What is a positive effect of emigration? ›It lowers the unemployment rate, which reduces job rivalry. It creates less demand on natural resources and services such as food, water, education, and healthcare. In addition, the countries of origin benefit from the migrants who return home after they have acquired new skills and knowledge in the host country.
Why do people emigrate to America? ›People may choose to immigrate for a variety of reasons, such as employment opportunities, to escape a violent conflict, environmental factors, educational purposes, or to reunite with family.
How can I leave the United States permanently? ›If you're planning to move out of the US permanently, or even give up your US citizenship, then you need a second passport. You can move to certain countries for 5 years and then apply for citizenship, or you can buy a passport and have it in hand in 90 days to 8 months.
Can a U.S. citizen leave the US? ›A naturalized citizen can live for as long as they wish in another country, with almost no risk to their U.S. citizenship status.
What does emigration mean in government? ›What is Emigration ? Emigration means the departure of any person from India for employment (whether or not under an agreement, with or without the assistance of a registered Recruiting Agent or employer) in any country or place outside India.
What is an example of immigration vs emigration? ›
Immigration and emigration
If people are forced to migrate, it is called deportation. Immigration means entering another country for a permanent or temporary residence or for some other reasons. So, if you leave your country, you will be an emigrant for your fellow citizens.
In U.S. immigration, there are four main categories of immigration status, including U.S. citizens, permanent or conditional residents, non-immigrants, and undocumented immigrants.
What are two reasons for emigration? ›People migrate for many reasons , ranging from security, demography and human rights to poverty and climate change.
What is the importance of emigration? ›The available data suggest that, on net, emigration has a positive effect on the sending country. For example, by decreasing the labor pool in the sending country, emigration helps to alleviate unemployment and increase the incomes of the remaining workers.
What are the 8 types of migration? ›- Internal migration: moving within a state, country, or continent.
- External migration: moving to a different state, country, or continent.
- Emigration: leaving one place to move to another.
- Immigration: moving into a new place.
- Return migration: moving back to where you came from.
Some people move in search of work or economic opportunities, to join family, or to study. Others move to escape conflict, persecution, terrorism, or human rights violations. Still others move in response to the adverse effects of climate change, natural disasters, or other environmental factors.
What are some examples 3 of human migration in history? ›Indentured labour (1834-1917) Migration to the New World (1800s-1930) Post WWII migration (late 1940s to 1960s)
What are the 5 types of immigration? ›- OVERVIEW OF TYPES OF IMMIGRATION STATUS.
- NATURALIZED CITIZEN.
- LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT (LPR)
- CONDITIONAL PERMANENT RESIDENT.
- April 1, 2013.
- SUMMARY OF FAMILY-SPONSORED VISAS.
- VAWA SELF-PETITIONER.
- SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE (SIJ) STATUS.
To immigrate is to settle in a country where you were not born. Here is an example of the verb immigrate using actress Natalie Portman, who was born in Israel. Natalie Portman immigrated to the United States at a young age.
What is immigrant give example? ›Simply put, an immigrant is a person living in a country other than that of his or her birth. No matter if that person has taken the citizenship of the destination country, served in its military, married a native, or has another status—he or she will forever be an international migrant.