Health and Migration Terms

Asylum seeker

An individual who is seeking international protection and whose claim has not yet been finally decided.

Chain migration

A process by which migrants from a particular place follow other migrants to a specific destination.

Climate migration

The movement of persons compelled to leave their home due to environmental changes caused by climate change.

Displacement

The movement of persons forced to leave their homes due to armed conflict, violence, or disasters.

Emigration

The act of moving from one's country of nationality to another country from the perspective of the country of departure.

Immigrant

A person who moves into a country other than that of their nationality or usual residence.

Internal migration

The movement of people within a nation-state establishing a new temporary or permanent residence.

Internally displaced persons (IDPs)

Persons who have been forced to flee their homes but have not crossed an internationally recognized border.

International migration

The movement of persons across an international border to a country of which they are not nationals.

Place of transit

The country through which a person travels on their journey to their destination or back to their origin.

Refugee

A person who fears persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, or membership in a particular social group.

Remittances

Private international monetary transfers made by migrants to people in their countries of origin.

Return migrant

A person who has left and then moved back to their former place of residence.

Short-distance/local mover

A person who has moved within a political or administrative jurisdiction.

Xenophobia

Attitudes and behaviors that reject or exclude persons perceived as outsiders or foreigners.

Irregular migration

Movement of persons that occurs outside the laws or regulations governing entry or exit in their nation-state.

Labor migration

The movement of persons for employment purposes from one country to another or within their own country.

Lifetime migration

The total number of migrations experienced by a person from birth to a specific time.

Migrant

An umbrella term for a person who moves away from their usual residence for various reasons.

Migrant flow

The number of migrants arriving at or departing from a defined place over a period.

Migrant stock

The number of migrants present in a specific location at a given time.

Migration

The movement of people from their usual residence, which can be temporary or permanent.

Migration stream

A group of migrants sharing a common origin and destination over a specified time.

Mover

Anyone who has changed their residential address.

Net migration

The difference between immigration and emigration over a specified time period.

Place of origin (departure)

The location from which a migrant originates.

Place of destination (arrival)

The location to which a migrant moves.