Trends, Patterns and Causes of Internal Migration in Bangladesh

In spite of being the most densely populated countries in the world with urbanization and urban growth rates faster than other populous countries like, China and India, the issue of internal migration of Bangladesh has not been analyzed in detail where the effect of internal migration cannot be over emphasized. With the national level data of the Sample Vital Registration System of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, this study explores the trends, direction and causes of migration. Data of life time internal migrants shows a relatively stable rate of migration during 60’s and 70’s but in 80’s and 90’s has increased. Currently population movement has increased manifolds. Higher in-migration occurred in urban areas than in rural areas and there has always been an increasing trend in internal migration. Marriages, job search, acquiring job are the major causes of rural in-migration whereas job search, marriage, acquiring job and education are the causes of urban in-migration. For the age groups of 15-19, 20-24 and 25-29, female are always higher than male both in case of in and out-migration. This study would enable the policy makers to design appropriate policies for taking care of the problems of unemployment, regional disparity, and unplanned urbanization.