Human migration is the movement of people from one place to another with the intention of settling temporarily or permanently in a new location. This movement can occur within a country (internal migration) or between countries (international migration)
. Migration is often driven by various factors, including economic opportunities, political or social conditions, environmental changes, and sometimes forced displacement due to war, persecution, or natural disasters. People may migrate individually, in families, or in large groups. Migration can be voluntary, such as seeking better jobs or living conditions, or involuntary, such as fleeing conflict or persecution
. There are different categories of migrants:
- Migrants : Those who move for general reasons like employment or healthcare.
- Refugees : People forced to flee their countries due to violence or persecution.
- Asylum seekers : Individuals who leave their country due to unstable conditions but not necessarily direct persecution
Nomadic movements and temporary travel (tourism, commuting) are not considered migration since they lack the intention to settle in the new location
. Historically, human migration has shaped the demographic, ethnic, and cultural composition of regions worldwide, including major movements like the Great Atlantic Migration from Europe to North America in the 19th and 20th centuries
. In summary, human migration is a fundamental human activity involving the relocation of people to new places for a variety of reasons, with significant social, economic, and political impacts globally