# Types of Migrants

- URL: https://www.atlasoftodaysworld.org/topics/types-of-migrants
- Published: 2024-02-01
- Last updated: 2026-10-16
- Author: Samar El Yassir, Anera Foundation (https://www.atlasoftodaysworld.org/authors/samar-el-yassir-anera-foundation)
- Category: Society
- Publisher: Atlas of Today's World (https://www.atlasoftodaysworld.org/)

There is no universally accepted definition for “migrant” at the international level. Amnesty International, for example, describes migrants as people staying outside their country of origin, who are not asylum seekers or refugees. This definition draws a distinction between voluntary and involuntary movements. On the other hand, the UN Migration Agency's (IOM) defines a migrant as a person who is moving or has moved across an international border regardless of the person’s legal status or whether the movement is voluntary or involuntary.

## Summary

- There is no universally accepted definition of who is a migrant.
- Migration can either be voluntary or forced.
- Economic, political and environmental reasons often motivate migration.

## Subtopic 1: Definition of migrants

- There is no universally accepted definition for “migrant” at the international level. Amnesty International, for example, describes migrants as people staying outside their country of origin, who are not asylum seekers or refugees. This definition draws a distinction between voluntary and involuntar

When discussing migration and analyzing its causes and types, determining who counts as a migrant is fundamental. Yet, there is no internationally acknowledged legal description of the term "migrant".^[[1]](https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/who-counts-as-a-migrant-definitions-and-their-consequences/) Migrants might be defined by their movement into a new country to stay temporarily or to settle for the long-term or by their legal status in the destination country.

Amnesty International, a global movement of more than 10 million people in over 150 countries and territories who campaign to end human rights abuse, defines^[[2]](https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/refugees-asylum-seekers-and-migrants/) migrants as people staying outside their country of origin who are not asylum seekers or refugees. This definition makes a distinction between voluntary and involuntary movements. As such, many organizations, including Amnesty International and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) agree^[[3]](https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/refugees-asylum-seekers-and-migrants/) that refugees are people who have escaped war, violence, conflict, or persecution and have moved to another country to find safety.

However, if these people are not yet legally recognized as refugees in the destination country, then they are referred to as “asylum seekers”.^[[4]](https://www.concern.net/news/refugee-idp-migrant-difference) This legal distinction is crucial as refugee status grants a number of protections under international law, the most important being "non-refoulement". This means that refugees have a right to protection from the country in which they seek asylum, and cannot be forced to return home. They also have the right to education, employment, healthcare, and freedom of movement under the UN's 1951 Refugee Convention, although these rights are sometimes violated .

People who are forced to flee their homes for the same reasons as refugees but have not crossed an international border are referred to as “internally displaced persons”^[[5]](https://www.concern.net/news/refugee-idp-migrant-difference) (IDPs). While IDPs may face the same hardships and challenges faced by refugees, assistance to them under international law is not obligatory.

On the other hand, the UN Migration Agency's (IOM) definition of migrants is not based on the reason for movement, the nature, or the length of stay. IOM defines^[[6]](https://weblog.iom.int/who-migrant) a migrant as any person who is moving or has moved across an international border or within a state away from his or her habitual place of residence, regardless of the person’s legal status, whether the movement is voluntary or involuntary, what the causes for the movement are, or what the length of the stay is.

## Subtopic 2: Voluntary vs. Forced Migration

- In the case of voluntary migration, individuals choose to relocate as they seek better economic and social opportunities. While voluntary migrants can be valued for their contributions to society, in other countries, they may face discrimination as they try to establish a new life for themselves.For

Migration can occur for a variety of reasons, but it is often broadly categorized into two types^[[7]](https://weblog.iom.int/who-migrant) : voluntary and forced.

#### Voluntary Migration

Voluntary migrants are individuals who choose to leave their home countries in search of better opportunities, whether that be for economic, social, or political reasons. These individuals often face numerous challenges as they adapt to their new environments and work to establish themselves in their host countries. Despite these obstacles, voluntary migrants have made significant contributions^[[8]](https://emm.iom.int/handbooks/global-context-international-migration/types-movements-0) to their host communities, including creating businesses and jobs, revitalizing neighborhoods, and adding diversity to cultural and intellectual landscapes.

In some countries, such as Canada and Australia, voluntary migrants have been welcomed and valued for their contributions to society. According to the Migration Policy Institute, immigrants in Canada are more likely than native-born Canadians to have a bachelor's degree or higher, and they are also more likely to start their own businesses. Similarly, in Australia, migrants have been credited with driving the country's economic growth and filling critical skills shortages.

However, in other countries, voluntary migrants may face discrimination, xenophobia, and other challenges as they try to establish themselves in their new homes. According to a report by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, immigrants in Europe often face discrimination in the workplace and are more likely to live in poverty than native-born citizens. Host communities may also view voluntary migrants as a threat^[[9]](https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2012/migrants-irregular-situation-access-healthcare-10-european-union-member-states) to their culture or identity, leading to tension and hostility.

Despite these challenges, voluntary migrants continue to make significant contributions to their host communities, and their impact is often far-reaching. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, it is essential that we recognize and appreciate the vital role that voluntary migrants play in shaping our societies and economies.

#### Forced Migration

While many individuals migrate willingly, many others migrate forcibly. Forced migration occurs when individuals are compelled to leave their homes due to circumstances^[[10]](https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/refugees) beyond their control, such as persecution, conflict, natural disasters, or environmental degradation. According to the United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the number of people forced to migrate worldwide was 79.5 million at the end of 2019. According to statistics from the United Nations, “33% were refugees, of whom ¾ are under UNHCR’s mandate and ¼ are Palestine refugees under the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA’s) mandate. 57% were internally displaced, 5.5% were asylum-seekers, and 4.5% were Venezuelans displaced abroad”.

Forced migration is a complex and multi-faceted issue that affects millions of individuals around the world. It occurs^[[11]](https://www.internal-displacement.org/global-report/grid2022/) when people are forced to leave their homes due to circumstances beyond their control, such as conflict, persecution, or natural disasters. Forced migration can have devastating consequences for individuals and communities, including displacement, loss of livelihoods, and exposure to violence and exploitation.

Furthermore, the effects of forced migration can be felt for generations, as individuals and families struggle to rebuild their lives and communities in new and often unfamiliar environments. In the subsequent sections, we will examine the different types of forced migrations, namely, economic migration, political migration, and climate migration, and highlight the urgent need for effective responses to support those affected by this issue.

By examining the drivers of these two types of migration, we can better understand the complex factors that shape migration patterns and their impacts on individuals, communities, and societies.

Whatever the reason for migration, all migrants share the same experience: that of leaving their countries, where they all have to cope with and adjust to a new culture, and often, a new language, while trying to maintain their cultural heritage and language.

## Subtopic 3: Causes and Types of Voluntary Migration

- Economic migrants voluntarily cross borders in search of better employment opportunities, higher standards of living, and better educational opportunities. Positive views indicate that such migrants may contribute to the economy by filling labor shortages and paying taxes. On the negative side, some

#### Voluntary Economic Migration

While refugees may be the most talked about type of migrant in the media, 90% of the world’s 247 million migrants have voluntarily moved^[[12]](https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/employment-and-growth/global-migrations-impact-and-opportunity) across borders for economic reasons. We may define economic migration as the movement of people from one country to another in pursuit of economic opportunities. These economic opportunities include higher wages, better employment opportunities, higher standards of living, and better educational opportunities. When economic conditions in a country or region become unfavorable or are at risk of deteriorating further, a larger number of people might be motivated to migrate^[[13]](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/world/20200624STO81906/exploring-migration-causes-why-people-migrate) to countries with better economic opportunities.

Economic migration movements^[[14]](https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/employment-and-growth/global-migrations-impact-and-opportunity) are characteristically slow compared to refugee influxes and often do not place stress on either the logistics or the social structure of destination countries. The idea that economic migration movements do not stress destination countries compared to refugee influxes may be surprising to some, but there are several reasons why this is often the case. Firstly, economic migrants tend to have more flexibility^[[15]](https://publications.iom.int/books/world-migration-report-2015-migrants-and-cities-new-partnerships-manage-mobility) in terms of timing their move and planning for their integration into the host country, whereas refugees often flee their homes with little time^[[16]](https://publications.iom.int/books/world-migration-report-2015-migrants-and-cities-new-partnerships-manage-mobility) for preparation. Secondly, economic migrants are often subject to stricter immigration policies and quotas, which can slow down the pace of migration. However, there are also arguments against^[[17]](https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/c3e35eec-en/index.html?itemId=/content/publication/c3e35eec-en) economic migration, particularly from the perspective of host countries. Some may argue that economic migrants take jobs from local workers, driving down wages and creating competition for scarce resources. Others may argue that economic migrants place an undue burden on social services and infrastructure, particularly if they are undocumented or do not have legal status. Indeed, undocumented economic migrants may be more vulnerable^[[18]](https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/c3e35eec-en/index.html?itemId=/content/publication/c3e35eec-en) to exploitation and abuse, and may face greater challenges in accessing healthcare, education, and other basic services.

Statistics show that economic migrants can have positive and negative impacts^[[19]](https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/development/how-immigrants-contribute-to-developing-countries-economies_9789264288737-en) on host countries. On the one hand, they may contribute to the economy by filling shortages, starting businesses, and paying taxes. In fact, the economic impact of migration has been intensively studied, but public opinion is still often driven by an ill-informed narrative against immigrants and their contribution to the economy, which is often portrayed in the media. These negative views include believing that migrants bring competition for jobs and social benefits and that they do not follow local labor laws. Numerous studies conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and specialized consulting agencies such as McKinsey indicate^[[20]](https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/employment-and-growth/global-migrations-impact-and-opportunity) that most economic migrants are working-age adults, a feature that helps increase economic activity in destination countries. Among other benefits, the OECD states that migrants, over the past ten years, accounted^[[21]](https://www.oecd.org/migration/OECD%20Migration%20Policy%20Debates%20Numero%202.pdf) for a 47% increase in the workforce in the United States and 70% in Europe. They also stated that economic migrants give more in tax and social contributions than they receive in benefits.

To cope with a lack of labor in certain sectors, or to revitalize their national economies, several countries have put in place advantageous measures^[[22]](https://www.talentbeyondboundaries.org/hiring-displaced-talent?) to attract foreign workers. Some of these countries include, but are not limited to, Canada, the Gulf States, the EU, and Thailand. Canada, for example, has initiated a flexible immigration system^[[23]](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/hire-temporary-foreign.html) under the "Hire Immigrants" program. This program can help attract and retain the right talent to fill labor shortages and bring new skills to boost the competitive edge of local companies.

There are also charities and non-governmental organizations that support migrants in securing jobs abroad. For example, Talent Beyond Borders^[[24]](https://www.talentbeyondboundaries.org/hiring-displaced-talent?) (TBB) is an international charity committed to opening employment opportunities for refugees and other displaced people across the world so that they may work in countries where they can access full rights and stability. TBB collaborates directly with refugee candidates to connect them with opportunities and prepare them for recruitment processes abroad. TBB also works with employers and governments in a number of countries — including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom — to secure job opportunities for candidates.

**AN:** _For decades, Lebanon where I live — a small Mediterranean country — has hosted hundreds of thousands of migrant laborers from different countries. These foreign workers compensate for a gap in our skilled and semi-skilled laborers in sectors such as agriculture, construction, and domestic work. At the same time, sources estimate the Lebanese diaspora to be at least double the number of citizens living inside Lebanon. Remittances from the Lebanese diaspora are critical to the national economy especially during its financial crisis.  The World Bank underlines the importance of Lebanon’s diaspora to the national economy, which was equivalent to 36.2% of the country’s GDP in 2020._

#### Family Migration

Another type of voluntary migration is family migration^[[25]](https://www.migrationdataportal.org/themes/family-migration) , which refers to a family member voluntarily leaving their home country to join one of their relatives who is already  living in another country. This commonly includes partners, spouses, dependent children, and elderly relatives going to join their family members in another country.

In fact, family reunification is an accepted legal reason for immigration in many countries because of the presence of one or more family members in the destination country. In general, data on family migration is scarce, and family reunion programs are the primary method to gather such data. Data on family migration in developing countries is either sparse or scattered, due to a lack^[[26]](https://www.migrationdataportal.org/themes/family-migration) of capacity or political interest in collecting such data_._

Many countries, including Canada and many EU countries, have developed family reunification programs to ensure the right of individuals to a family in alignment with Article 16 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights^[[27]](https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights) . Family migration as a general concept covers^[[28]](https://www.migrationdataportal.org/themes/family-migration) family reunification, family formation, accompanying family members of workers, and international adoption. According to the Migration Data Portal^[[29]](https://www.migrationdataportal.org/themes/family-migration) , around 1.2 million migrants in 2020 (37%) moved to OECD countries for family reasons_._

## Subtopic 4: Causes and Types of Forced Migration

- Forced migration is the involuntary movement of a person or people away from their country of origin. It is driven by political, economic, or environmental considerations. In the case of political migration, there is a real fear of persecution based on religion, nationality, or race. Vulnerable popu

#### Forced Economic Migration

Economic conditions can often be a significant motivating factor^[[30]](https://emm.iom.int/handbooks/global-context-international-migration/drivers-international-migration) for individuals who choose to migrate voluntarily. In many cases, people leave their home countries because they face significant economic challenges, such as high unemployment rates, low wages, or limited access to education and job opportunities. While these individuals may not be forced to migrate by external factors such as conflict or persecution, they still face significant pressures and may see migration as their best option for improving their economic prospects.

For example, in recent years, many individuals from Central America have migrated to the United States in search of better economic opportunities. These migrants often come from countries with high levels^[[31]](https://sgp.fas.org/crs/row/IF11151.pdf) of poverty and violence, and they may face significant economic challenges even if they are not personally affected by violence or persecution . Similarly, many individuals from African countries have migrated to Europe in search of better economic prospects, often undertaking dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean in the process.

It is important to note, however, that the dichotomy between forced and voluntary economic migration is not always clear-cut. In many cases, individuals may face a combination of economic, social, and political pressures that lead them to migrate, and it can be difficult to separate these factors out. Regardless of the specific factors that drive individuals to migrate, it is clear that economic conditions play a significant role in many migration decisions, and it is essential that we address these challenges in order to reduce the need for individuals to migrate in the first place.

#### Political Migration

Unfortunately, insecurity forces many individuals to flee their countries in search of safety elsewhere. Insecurity may be caused by war, whether a civil war or an invasion by another state. Other sources of insecurity could be state policies that violate human rights, or cause harm to people who oppose them. These people often feel threatened and are unable to return home for fear of persecution or because they believe that they will not be welcomed. A salient example is the Syrian refugees, who, since the beginning of the Syrian War in 2011, have been forced to take refuge in many countries around the world.  Others are simply not allowed to return to their rightful home countries because of occupation, as in the case of Palestinian refugees who have been forcefully displaced^[[32]](https://www.un.org/unispal/history/) since 1948.

#### Environmental Migration

Environmental or natural disasters often force individuals or groups of individuals to migrate or flee from their home region. Migration due to environmental factors can be either temporary or permanent, and is motivated by the adverse effects it has on people’s wellbeing or livelihood. These negative effects include the danger of death or physical injury as a direct result of the disaster or the loss of housing, possessions, work, or community. Such effects place survivors of natural disasters at very high emotional, physical, and mental risk and pose many economic risks and challenges. Scientists refer to those who migrate due to environmental factors as “climate migrants”, as the effects of disasters are displacing more people^[[33]](https://india.mongabay.com/2020/02/extreme-weather-events-causing-most-migration/) as compared to other reasons for displacement like conflict and violence. This is mainly due to the adverse effects of climate change.

“Many more people are newly displaced by [natural] disasters in any given year, compared to those newly displaced by conflict and violence, and more countries are affected by disaster displacement,” says the latest World Migration Report published at the end of 2019.

The report estimates 3.3 million new displacements in South Asia, caused by sudden natural disasters in 2018. These include^[[34]](https://reliefweb.int/report/world/more-13-million-people-internally-displaced-across-asia-2018) geophysical events such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions that accounted for most of the new displacement in Indonesia, and monsoon rains and flooding that displaced hundreds of thousands more in Myanmar. Japan was struck by an unusually high number of disasters, from storms to landslides, and small island states in the Pacific were also affected by geophysical activity and floods. India suffered the highest impact of natural disasters, with more than 2.7 million people displaced due to tropical storms and floods.

Climate migrants are predicted to take over other types of migrants in  terms of numbers, as multiple organizations forecast^[[35]](https://scrippsnews.com/stories/multiple-studies-forecast-worsening-natural-disasters/) worsening and increased natural disasters that will lead to economic catastrophes, food shortages, and increased migration. The United Nations' Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) projects a dramatic rise in natural disasters in the next eight years; from an average of 400 a year to 560 by 2030. The University of Oklahoma studied future rain events and predicts a dramatic increase in flash flooding in the southwest and center of the U.S., along the Mississippi and Ohio river valleys.

## Sources and further reading

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- [Economic migrants or refugees?](https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/economic-migrant-or-refugee/) — Refugee Council of Australia, 2020
- [Types of migrants](https://www.striking-women.org/main-module-page/types-migrants) — Striking Women
- [What is the difference between forced and voluntary migration?](https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/migration-facts/0/steps/34214) — European University Institute
- [Causes and impacts relating to forced and voluntary migration](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z8g334j/revision/1) — BBC Bitesize
- [Forced migration or displacement](https://www.migrationdataportal.org/themes/forced-migration-or-displacement) — Migration Data Portal, 2022
- [Should We Let Economic Migrants In?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aoa8_sOEXQk) — Good Morning Britain, 2022
- [The Great Displacement: Climate Migration in America](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQKdsF013yQ) — Carnegie Endowment, 2023
- [The need for family reunification -- to make families whole again](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_liyBrL0LqY) — Zion, E. TED, 2022
- [Environmental migrants - the last illusion](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJd6LqzYye8) — Grassani, A. TEDx Talks, 2013

## About the author: Samar El Yassir, Anera Foundation

Samar El Yassir is a development expert with more than 30 years of experience in the Levant and Arabia regions. Since 2011, Samar has been the country director of Anera (American Near East Refugee Aid) in Lebanon, a development agency that provides humanitarian assistance and supports the development of Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine. She is the winner of the Humentum 2020 Operational Excellence Award for her effective and expedient response to the impact of humanitarian crises in Lebanon and the region. She is a dual national citizen, holding both Lebanese and French passports. Born in Beirut, she is a graduate of the American University of Beirut and has a post-graduate diploma from the UCL Institute of Child Health.