GCSE Geography: Population and Migration Guide

Population change

Population changes due to natural change (births minus deaths) and migration (people moving in or out of an area), with growth rates varying hugely between countries at different stages of development.

Types of migration

Migration can be internal (within a country, such as rural-to-urban) or international (between countries), and can be voluntary (choosing to move for opportunity) or forced (fleeing conflict, disaster or persecution).

Push and pull factors

Push factors are reasons people leave a place, such as poor job prospects or conflict. Pull factors are reasons people are drawn to a new place, such as better employment, education or safety.

Impacts of migration

Migration affects both the origin and destination areas — it can ease population pressure but cause a loss of skilled workers in the origin area, while boosting the workforce but straining services in the destination area.

Common mistakes

• Confusing push factors (reasons to leave) and pull factors (reasons to move to a place).
• Assuming migration only has negative impacts, ignoring economic and cultural benefits.
• Treating all migration as voluntary, forgetting forced migration such as refugees.