8.2.5—Rural-urban migration

Rural–urban migration moves people from rural to urban systems; push factors weaken the origin, pull factors attract the destination, and movement may be voluntary, forced or mixed.

Most rural–urban migration is internal. Compare a country's trend over time with deurbanization, in which people or activities move away from large urban centres toward smaller settlements or rural areas.

Drought may push a farming household while employment and services pull it to a city; later high housing costs or remote work may support movement away from the city.

Separate origin push, destination pull, internal/international boundary, degree of choice and the evidence for net direction.

A perceived urban advantage may not be real or equally accessible, and migration is not always wholly voluntary or wholly forced.