Rural-to-urban migration refers to the movement of people from rural areas to urban areas. It is a type of migration that can be voluntary or forced, and it can be internal or international. The primary cause of rural-to-urban migration is the uneven development between rural and urban areas, resulting in more education and employment opportunities available in urban cities. Poverty, food insecurity, and lack of opportunities in rural areas are also push factors that can lead people to migrate to urban areas. Rural-to-urban migration can be a problem when cities cannot keep up with their population growth.

It is important to note that defining migration, rural, and urban is not easy, and all three concepts include many patterns and processes. The literature on rural-urban migration is concerned with multiple forms of mobility, including circular and return migration, and of immobility—that is, of not being mobile, staying behind or being left behind. Rural-urban migration may be internal or international, but the bulk of rural-urban migration occurs as internal migration.

Rural-to-urban migration is a significant issue in less developed countries, as many are in the middle of the urban transition. China has been experiencing the largest rural-to-urban migration in history, with rural-to-urban migrants typically finding better job opportunities in destination cities.

In summary, rural-to-urban migration is the movement of people from rural areas to urban areas, and it can be voluntary or forced, and it can be internal or international. The primary cause of rural-to-urban migration is the uneven development between rural and urban areas, resulting in more education and employment opportunities available in urban cities.