Ravenstein Laws of Migration

Ravenstein Laws of Migration:
Introduction:
Ernst George Ravenstein was a British statistician who wrote two articles and
published a paper entitled “The Laws of Migration” in 1885 which is based on the
data related to migration between England and Wales in the 1880s decade. He
argued that migration was not random but governed by general laws and this law
was effected by variables such as distance, transportation, motive, etc. In his first
thesis, he put forward the general laws of migration which concentrate to the
internal migration, whereas second is based on the international migration.
Laws of Migration:
Law 1: Most of the migrants are from short-distance.
There is inverse relationship between the distance and the number of
migrants(volume of migration). If there is short distance between the place of
origin and destination, the volume of migration will be high compare to the
longer distance. So, the majority of migrants go only short distance.
For Example: In Nepal, most of the people prefer India than other countries since
India is closer to Nepal than other nations.
Law 2: Migration proceeds step by step.

Inhabitants of remote area tend to migrate towards the small town then
after the larger city. Most of the people are not able to migrate directly
towards the big cities from the rural areas.
Example:
1. Scholars have identified that Chinese immigrants use New Zealand as
step destination towards their preferred destination of Australia.
2. In the European Union, migrant workers from Ukraine migrate to
Poland, then UK in order to reach Germany.
3. Many illegal immigrants use Mexico as step destination to reach USA.
4. In Nepal, people of Durlung uses Kushma as step destination in order
to reach Pokhara.
5. Phillipines people use Hong Kong and Singapore to gain migrant
capital in order to migrate to the West Countries.
Law 3: Each migration current produces a compensating counter-current.
The volume of migration stream is larger than the counter-stream.
For Example: In the below figure, the out-migrants is greater than in-migrants.
Out-migrants represent the flow of migration to other places whereas the in-
migrants represent the compensating counter current. Hence, each migration
current produces compensating counter-current.
But: Countries or Places which are already developed and are decorated with
many facilities don’t experience this law. In this case, the out-migrants are higher
than in-mgrants. Here is less migration flow but high compensating current.
Law 4: Most of the migrants are rural born
Urban born people are less migratory than the people in rural areas. Most of the
people migrate for the betterment of their living and to acquire amenities. The
urban natives are already utilizing the urban facilities ,so there is not necessary to
migrate. But rural natives are deprived from facilities such as education ,health ,
transportation , communication and employment , so people migrate from
remote area to urban area.
For Example:
1. In Nepal, the percentage of Rural to Urban migrants are 33.5% which is
greater than the percentage of Urban to Rural Migrants (2.9%)
Law 5: Females are more migratory than males in short distance.
The volume of female migration is higher than the male in short distance as well
as internal migration only. This is due to the marriage causes. Whereas, male are
more common in international migration and cover long distance compared to
the female.
For Example: In Nepal, female dominates in internal migration. The percentage
of female internal migrants is about 63%% whereas the percentage of the male
internal migrants is about 38%. The main reason of Internal migration is marriage
(40.40% for female).
In Nepal, men are more engaged in international migration than female.
Law 6: Migration increases with the improvement in technology.
The advancement of technology creates job opportunities as well as facilities

for better livelihood .So, the size of migration increases with the
development.
The development of the technology cannot be shown in the single data or with
single indicator. I have used the research and development expenditure data to
demonstrate the development of technology. The principle I have used in this
case is simple, technology develop more when more expenditure is done.
In the above figure, the research expenditure has increased more which means
the development of technology is happening.
In the above figure, the percentage of the migrants are increasing. As the year
passes by technology has developed along with the technology migration has
also increased.
The above figure shows about the increase in population of Nepal. As the year
is passing by, we have seen the development of technology in Nepal and hence
the migrants population is also increasing.
Law 7: There is always a motive behind migration especially economic motive

There is motive behind migration where as economic motive have primacy
among the various factors governing magnitude of migration. Motive refer
to the employment , education and better earning.
The above figure shows the number of migrant workers in the world. In the world, out of 258 million
migrants, there are 164 million migrant workers. The main aim of migrant workers is to earn money
which is the economic reason to migrate. Hence, Ravenstein law which says migrant workers migrate
due to economic reason is also proved.
Let us also see Nepal’s case:

In Nepal, the maximum reason of international migration is private job (71%) which is followed by
Institutional job (10%). Job is also an economic reason to migrate. Hence, Ravenstein law is also proved
from Nepal’s point of view.
Conclusion:
Ravenstein law of migration is the corner stone of all the theories of migration. He is the pioneer of
migration theories. Although he stated his theories about 150 years ago; his theory is still relevant in
today’s age. The datas I have shown in this answer prove that Ravenstein theory is still relevant.

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Ravenstein Laws of Migration:

Law 2: Migration proceeds step by step.

The advancement of technology creates job opportunities as well as facilities

Law 7: There is always a motive behind migration especially economic motive

Let us also see Nepal’s case:

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