Geographical analysis of internal migration patterns in Mongolia
Ts.-I. OTGONKHUU1,2, M. ALTANBAGANA2, S. ENKH-AMGALAN2,3
1National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2Institute of Geography and Geoecology of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
3International University of Ulaanbaatar, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Keywords: internal population migration, rural to urban migration, mechanical growth, in and out migration, distribution and settlement
Abstract
The article considers the problem of migration of herders from rural to urban areas of Mongolia in the wake of the country’s transition to a market economy in the 1990s. The consequences of these reforms were the loss of some livestock (the source of livelihood for rural residents), including due to natural disasters, and a lack of jobs. The article presents an analysis of the main indicators of the internal migration in Mongolia from 1990 to 2020 at the province and soum levels, and determines the changes in the population distribution and settlement system due to the internal migration. Over the past 30 years, the population of Mongolia has increased by 1203,2 thousand people, or 58,7 %. It was found that this population growth (averaging 2 % per year) differed greatly geographically. Thus, during this period, the population of Ulaanbaatar increased by 962,5 thousand people, or 179,4 % (an average of 6 % per year), which is directly related to the flow of internal migrants towards Ulaanbaatar. An analysis of the average annual population growth rate suggests that in two provinces and 21 soums, the population grew mechanically or by migration; the average annual growth rate above the national average was observed in 9 province centers and 19 soum centers. In the future, it is necessary to identify and analyze the factors influencing internal migration in order to reduce population concentration in Ulaanbaatar and other large cities of Mongolia and to stimulate return migration.
|
