Patterns and Characteristics of Internal Migration in Developing Countries

Joachim Singelmann, Louisiana State University
Keiko Osaki, United Nations
Marta Roig, United Nations

This paper addresses internal migration patterns in developing countries and examines selected demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of migrants. Cross-country studies of internal migration remain [scarce] due to the lack of internationally comparable sets of data. DHS, available for a significant number of developing countries, include the information required to identify and produce a comprehensive profile of migrants and internal migration patterns. Using DHS data, this paper presents findings for 53 developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The objectives of this analysis are (1) to identify the relative importance of the various patterns of migration flows [between urban and rural areas]; (2) to examine selected demographic (age and sex) and socioeconomic characteristics (literacy, occupation) of migrants participating in these various flows; (3) to discuss several hypotheses concerning reasons for the observed differences in [urban-rural] migration patterns and in the characteristics of migrants